Home >> Toys >> Toy Vehicles

How to Make a Rubberband Car

If it's a long and rainy afternoon, you might think that there is little to do. But you just might have a few spare materials laying around from which you could make a rubberband-powered race car. They're relatively simple to make, and require only a little crafting expertise. The rubber band is a simple product, but there are some interesting physics involved. When you stretch a rubber band it stores potential energy that is then released as the elastic band snaps back into position.

Things You'll Need

Cardboard
Drinking glass
Ruler
Marker
Scissors
8 inches of 1/4-inch dowel
Glue
Binder clip
Elastic band
Tape

Instructions

Car Base
- 1
  Trace the mouth of a drinking glass on the cardboard four times to form four wheels. Cut out the circles carefully, making smooth edges so the car rolls evenly.
- 2
  Use the ruler to trace lines across the wheels. Trace two or three lines to find the exact center of each wheel and mark that center.
- 3
  Draw a rectangle that's about 3-1/2-inches by 5-inches in length onto the cardboard. This will be the body of your car.
- 4
  Add 1-inch walls along either side of the car body. Draw lines away from the front and back of the car, then connect them with a parallel line.
- 5
  Find the center of the back of the car and draw a notch. From that notch, make a 1-1/2-inch line into the center. Make marks 1/2-inch from the center of the back, and extend those marks by 1-1/2-inches into the middle of the car. Finish those marks by making a third line across the front.
- 6
  Draw axle slots in the walls and notch flaps. Hold the ruler parallel to the front and back of the car. At the front, make a mark in the center of the left and right walls. Place these marks about 1 inch into the base of the car. At the rear, make four marks: one each on the interior of the walls, and one each on either side of the center line. Place these marks about 3/4-inche from the center line.
- 7
  Cut out the car base and wheels. Make sure the wheels are smooth. Cut out the walls and front of the car, as well as the T-shape formed by the center line and vertical line.
Assembly
- 8
  Score the inner line of the walls and the notch. Push the blunt end of scissors along the lines, and fold them up.
- 9
  Cut out the six axle holes you made earlier: two in the front and four in the back.
- 10
  Break the dowel in half and slide the pieces through the axle holes. These form the axles.
- 11
  Attach the wheels to the ends of the axles. Cut the center lines slightly, push the axles through, then glue them into place.
- 12
  Clip the elastic band to the front of the racer with your binder clip. Pull the elastic back to the exposed axle and attach it to the axle. Glue and tape it to the center of the axle.

Toy Vehicles