How to Make a Soda Can Jet Plane

Making an aluminum airplane is a creative way to recycle those cans.

Making a model plane out of a soda can is not only a fun craft, but can be a keepsake as well. Choose an aluminum can from your favorite drink or that matches a color theme to add a zip of personality to your decor, or pick a friend's favorite drink to make a personalized gift.

Things You'll Need

• 5 aluminum cans
• Heavy duty scissors
• Glue
• Leather work gloves

Instructions

Building the Body

1. Cut the top and bottom off one of the cans. Using a narrower can (like energy drinks) for this part (the body) of the plane will give it a more jet-like appearance.

2. Cut the top and bottom off the rest of the cans and cut them vertically down the side. Trim the sloped edge from the top of three of the cans. Flatten those cans out by grasping both edges and running them up and down along the edge of a counter or placing a heavy book on top of them. Set them aside.

3. Cut the flattened can that still has the slope on it about one-third of the way from the top. Make a cone shape out of this portion of the can, leaving a 1/2-inch hole in the top of the cone on the slope side of the can. The bottom of the cone should be the same diameter as the body of the plane. Glue sides to keep cone in place.

4. Bend the slope portion of the top of the cone in to make an airplane nose shape.

5. Wrap the bottom two-thirds of the piece into a tighter cone, leaving no opening at the top. The bottom of the cone shape should be the same diameter as the body of the plane. Glue in place.

6. Insert the larger cone into the front of the can (the main body of the plane). Glue in place.

7. Insert the smaller cone into the back of the can (the main body of the plane). Glue in place.

Adding Wings

1. Cut two flattened cans in half diagonally. This will make four long triangle shapes. There should be two triangles with a flat side facing one way and two with a flat side facing the other way. Glue two of the same shapes together on the shiny side so that the soda branding faces out on both sides. You should end up with two wing shapes that are colorful on both sides.

2. Glue the short sides of the triangles together to make one long boomerang-shaped wing. Snip the points of the triangle to make a flat edge about 1/2-inch wide.

3. Cut a 3-inch slit on each side of the main body of the plane. The slits should be in the 4 o'clock and 10 o'clock positions if you are looking down the nose of the body of your plane.

4. Push the wings through the slots in the body of the plane until they are centered on the plane. The V-shape should be angling away from the nose of the plane.

5. Squeeze some glue in the slots to glue the wings in place. Let dry.

6. Bend the tip of each wing up about 1/2 inch from the end.

Adding Wheels

1. Cut two 1- by 9-inch strips from the fifth piece of flattened can. Cut the first strip into three 1- by 3-inch strips. Roll the strips into a tight pole shape.

2. Cut three 1-inch circles from the second strip and set the rest of the strip aside. Bend each pole barley at the tip. Poke a hole through the center of each circle. Push the bent part of the pole through the hole in the wheel. Glue in place. Let dry.

3. Puncture a hole the same diameter as your wheel pole into your can in the center of the nose about 2 inches from the front of the plane. Insert one wheel pole into the hole.

4. Bend the top of the other two poles. Glue them underneath the wings about 3 inches from the plane.

Adding Engines

1. Cut what is left of the last piece of flattened can into a 9- by 3-inch rectangle.

2. Cut the rectangle in half.

3. Roll each half lengthwise into a cone shape with a 1/4-inch opening at the narrow side of the cone.

4. Roll the ends of the wide side of the cone in to make it look like the front of the engine.

5. Cut a triangle-shaped slit into the top of each cone about midway down the cone shape.

6. Slide one cone onto each wing about 2 inches from the plane with the triangle cut out latching onto the top of the wing to hold it in place. Squeeze some glue between the engines and the wings to hold them in place.

Adding a Tailfin

1. Using the 1- by 3-inch strip left over from Section 3, cut a tall trapezoidal tailfin shape.

2. Bend the side opposite the smallest side about 1/4 inch.

3. Glue the 1/4-inch bended portion to the tail of the plane.

Tips & Warnings

• Be careful handling the aluminum; it is fragile. Grasping too hard can cause it to cave in.

• Wear work gloves to avoid getting cut by sharp edges.

References

• Tesscar: Aluminum Crafts
• BC Air: Plans