Amazing Rubber Band Cars: Easy-to-Build Wind-Up Racers, Models, and Toys
interests by exposing them to different ideas This book is appropriate for the child who is interested in moving objects and building things It is also appro priate for the child who has never been exposed to engineering concepts For the child who isn't interested in books Amaz ing Rubber Band Cars has plenty of pictures not too many words and a practical spin read it and learn how to build toys It will spark a child's interest in reading Building toys from scratch may inspire a future engineer It may help the future pastry chef to make gingerbread houses But the most important outcome may just be a memory such as Remember when we made those rubber band cars
Note to Builders ll of the cars in this book are built with corru gated cardboard Corrugated cardboard is a thick board made of an arched layer between two smooth sheets You can tell if cardboard is corru gated by looking at its edge Corrugated cardboard is a good construction material for several reasons It is stiff enough to make parts that will resist bending Parts can be cut easily using scissors and holes can be punched using a push pin or pencil point Corrugated cardboard works well with white glue and it makes for solid assemblies And if you rescue old boxes from the trash the cardboard costs nothing and you are recy cling which is good for the environment Flat cardboard the kind you find used for a cereal box will work for the basic car but you will spend quite a bit of time holding flat pieces together wait ing for glue to dry Thick or solid cardboard makes nice parts but is difficult to cut with scissors That
doesn't mean you can't use these materials You should think of this book as a guide a starting point When you see how your car works try using differ ent materials and modify the designs to make them your own When gluing corrugated cardboard most pieces will stay together after about 30 seconds of holding them with your fingers White glue needs about 30 minutes to dry completely if you don't wait long enough your pieces may pop apart when you stretch the rubber bands If you don't want to wait 30 min utes give it a try earlier If anything fails you can always glue parts back together or make another piece Save your templates from all the projects in a large envelope so that they will not be damaged or lost when you want to build again Each template has been given a code to help you keep them straight The plans in this book attach the rubber band to the axle This keeps the rubber band with the car but it causes the wheels to stop turning as soon as the rubber band unwinds To maximize the distance that a car will travel the rubber band needs to release from the axle when its work is done thus allowing the car to coast ahead If you'd like to modify the design instead of attaching the rubber band to the axle you can wind the rubber band around the axle each time you wind the car An easy way to accom plish this is to hold the rubber band to the axle while
the first turn is made Friction will hold the rubber band while you continue to wind the car The rubber band will release when the axle unwinds Rubber bands come in different sizes and colors I used 32 inch by 1 8 inch bands on my cars Use whatever you can find If the rubber band stretches it can be used to move the car
