How to Make a Rocket Powered Matchbox Car
Adding rocket power to a Matchbox car turns a regular toy car into a fun, fast projectile. You can test your rocket powered car with or without a string track. A good thing about the string track is that the rocket powered car is much safer than a car that has free reign to drive off, flip or project into the air and hurt someone.
Things You'll Need
- Matchbox cars
- Wire or duct tape
- Model rockets A10-PT
- Drink stirrers
- String
- Rocket igniter
Instructions
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1
Gather your Matchbox or Hot Wheels cars, along with other needed supplies. You can use any car you like, experimenting with different shaped cars to see how they drive. You also need an A10-PT model rocket, some heavy gauge wire or duct tape, a drink stirrer, a dremel or die grinder and an electric rocket igniter.
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2
Cut a groove for the drink stirrer into the bottom of the car, using the dremel or the die grinder. Cut the stirrer to size and then glue it into place onto the bottom of the car. If you don't plan on putting your car onto a string track, you can skip this step.
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3
Attach the model rocket to the top of the car using heavy gauge wire or duct tape. Take your rocket Matchbox car, the string and the rocket igniter outside.
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4
Run a long string from the rocket igniter to the end of your track. Before attaching the string to a stationary object, run the string through the drink stirrer on the bottom of the Matchbox car, and back the car up to the rocket igniter.
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5
Insert the igniter and clamp it onto the fuse of the model rocket. Stand back and ignite the model rocket using your rocket igniter. Watch your rocket powered Matchbox car take off.
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Tips & Warnings
If making the groove in the bottom of the car is too hard, cut a regular straw to size and attach it to the side of your Matchbox car.
Never let children play with pyrotechnic equipment without adult supervision.
If you don't use a string track, you run the risk of your car hitting someone or setting something on fire.
