How to Create Your Own Model Car Sets

Car models require planning.

Creating a model car takes time and patience. Creating an entire car set, however, is definitely a long term project. Do not aim to have the entire set made within a few weeks. Make the cars one at a time and take your time with them so that they look authentic. Creating model cars is easy if you put the time and effort in and it doesn't even require much equipment. All you need are some basic tools.

Things You'll Need

• Balsa wood
• Balsa cement
• Paint
• Handsaw

Instructions

1. Design your cars on paper. Examine pictures of your chosen cars from every angle so you know all of their features. Copy these onto paper and draw them to scale.

2. Draw the designs onto a sheet of balsa wood. Draw every component of the car onto the wood sheet to the proper size ratio. These components include the hood, doors, roof, trunk and bumper. You can create the wheels out of wood too if you wish but you may want to buy them from a car model manufacturer. If you decide to buy them, design the size of the car models based on the size of the wheels you have purchased instead of trying to find wheels that fit the size of your models.

3. Cut the designs out of the balsa wood using a handsaw or a power jigsaw. Follow the lines precisely so as to avoid cutting off any vital parts of the car.

4. Paint the individual components of the car. Do this before assembling the car to prevent the wrong color getting onto wrong parts of the cars.

5. Assemble the cars. Glue them together with balsa cement. You will not need a lot of this adhesive as balsa is a light yet strong wood.

References

• Simply Web: Building a Pinewood Derby Car
• Quazen: How to Make a Wooden Car

Resources

• Wood Magazine: General Woodworking