How to Make a Model Helicopter Out of Recyclables
Few engineering feats are as hard to replicate as the design of a helicopter. The means helicopters use to stay in the air are more complicated than the ones airplanes use. In particular, the mechanism by which the two propellers balance each other is hard to model. However, a simple visual model of a helicopter is easy enough to make out of recyclables found around the house.
Things You'll Need
- 2 aluminum cans
- Paint
- Paper
- Glue
- Party streamers
- Box cutter
- Scissors
- Superglue
- Straw
- Thumbtack
- Threading needle
Instructions
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1
Paint one of the aluminum cans to make it look like the front part of the body of a helicopter. Remove the tab and cover the opening at the front of the can with a piece of paper so that the opening doesn't interfere with the appearance of the helicopter body. Paint a blue square on the front of the can; this will be the window. Paint the rest of the body any color you like.
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2
Glue a long funnel to the back of the can. Use party streamers, because they are very narrow, much like the back of a helicopter.
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3
Cut two propellers out of another soda can. Use a box cutter to slice the bottom and top off the can. Cut the remaining cylinder down the middle with scissors, leaving you with a sheet of aluminum. Cut a long, narrow figure-eight shape out of the sheet for the top propeller. Cut a shorter figure-eight shape out of the leftover aluminum.
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4
Attach the bigger propeller to the top of the aluminum can. User superglue to glue the propeller to a straw, and the straw to the top of the can. Superglue is needed because plastic and aluminum will not adhere with regular glue.
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Pin the smaller propeller to the back of the helicopter (the narrow end of the funnel). Poke a hole in the middle of the propeller with a thumbtack, then stick the propeller into the side of the funnel using a longer needle (for example, a small threading needle).
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit Ablestock.com/AbleStock.com/Getty Images
