Making a toy car is an easy and fun activity that you can do at home. This activity can be a means for you and your children to get to know each other better. You can find the materials needed to make a toy car at home. So instead of having to buy a new toy, why don't you try making your own?
Step
Method 1 of 3: Making a Toy Car with a Plastic Bottle
Step 1. Clean the plastic bottle
Remove the label from the bottle and soak the bottle in a mixture of hot water and dishwashing liquid for ten minutes so that the remaining drink in the bottle can be cleaned easily. It can also remove any bacteria present on the bottle.
Step 2. Make a hole in the side of the bottle
These holes should be exactly on opposite sides as they will be where the axles will be installed.
Step 3. Make the axle
You can use various materials to make axles such as straws, sticks, toothpicks, wire (such as clothesline) and others. If the material you are using is long enough (such as a pencil) you may only need two. However, if the material you are using is short (such as a toothpick) you may need more of the material.
Step 4. Prepare four plastic bottle caps
These bottle caps will later function as car wheels.
Step 5. Paint the car and wheels
You can paint the outside of the bottle and the wheels and to make painting easier, paint the parts before you install them.
Step 6. Put the car axle into a plastic bottle
The number of axles needed will depend on the material you use to make the axles. If you are using a long axle, insert the axle through the hole on the side of the bottle until the end of the axle pops out of the hole on the parallel side. For short axles, such as axles made from toothpicks, fit one axle for each hole.
Step 7. Make a hole in the bottle cap
Thread a piece of string and tie a knot at one end. Make sure that the end of the knotted rope is on the inside of the bottle cap. Put the bottle cap back on the bottle mouth.
Step 8. Cut off the top of the bottle (near the neck of the bottle) to make a windshield
Use a sharp object such as a cutter to make a rectangular or square cut at the top of the bottle. Cut only three sides of the square so you can bend the piece up and make sure that the cut side is facing the front (bottle cap).
Step 9. Make a hole in each bottle cap that acts as a car wheel
Use a drill or other sharp object to make a hole in the center of the bottle cap.
Step 10. Attach bottle caps to each axle of the car
Insert both ends of the axle into the holes in the bottle cap. Pay attention to the car mount. The car cannot move if the size of the bottle cap used as the wheel is too big or too small. Make sure you attach the bottle cap with the outside facing the bottle so that the car is stable.
Step 11. Pull the rope to move the car
If you don't want to use the rope, you can move the car by pushing it.
Method 2 of 3: Making a Toy Car with a Milk Box
Step 1. Prepare four bottle caps
These bottle caps will later function as car wheels. Use a sharp object such as a cutter, scissors or knife to make a hole in each bottle cap.
Step 2. Place two bamboo skewers on top of the milk box
Measure and adjust the length of the bamboo skewer so that it is no shorter than the width of the milk box. These bamboo sticks will serve as axles. You can also install the axle of this car by making holes on both sides of the milk box that are parallel and inserting the axle into the holes.
Step 3. Attach the bottle cap to one end of the bamboo skewer
Make sure that the outside of the bottle cap is facing towards the milk box so that the toy car can be positioned later. Apply glue around the ends of the bamboo skewers and the holes in the bottle caps to make them firmer and make sure the glue dries properly before working on the next step.
Step 4. Prepare the straws
Cut the straw until it is shorter than the bamboo skewer and then insert the other end of the bamboo skewer into the hole of the straw. The existence of this straw can later help the car to move faster.
Step 5. Attach the bottle cap to the other end of the bamboo skewer
If you want the axle to be in the milk box, make sure you insert a bamboo skewer into the hole on the side of the milk box until the end pops out of the hole on the parallel side before you attach the wheel to the other end of the axle.
Step 6. Glue the axle to the milk box with adhesive tape
Install the adhesive tape horizontally so that it is parallel to the width of the milk box.
Step 7. Decorate your toy car
You can use materials such as paper, paint or colored markers, as well as pieces of various shapes to decorate your toy car.
Method 3 of 3: Making a Balloon Car
Step 1. Make a rectangular piece of cardboard
Use a ruler or tape measure to measure the length and width of the rectangular pattern and draw the pattern on the cardboard using a pen or pencil. The pattern should measure 8 cm x 10 cm. After the pattern is finished, cut the pattern using a cutter.
Step 2. Prepare four plastic bottle caps
These plastic bottle caps will later function as car wheels. Make a hole in the center of the plastic bottle cap using a drill or other sharp object.
Step 3. Cut a straight straw into two equal lengths
Lay it flat on the cardboard pieces and glue each piece with adhesive tape. Make sure the position of the straw piece is parallel to the width of the cardboard piece.
Step 4. Insert a bamboo skewer into each straw
This bamboo stick will later function as an axle.
Step 5. Attach the bottle cap to the bamboo skewer
Make sure the outside of the bottle cap is facing towards the cardboard piece so that later the wheel doesn't get caught on the edge of the cardboard.
Step 6. Cut a flexible straw
Make sure when bent the two pieces of straw are the same length. You can remove the rest of the non-bent part of the straw.
Step 7. Loosen the balloon
Fill the balloon with air then empty the air from inside the balloon and do this several times to loosen the balloon's rubber.
Step 8. Glue the balloon to the flexible straw with a rubber band
Attach the mouth of the balloon to one end of the straw, then wrap a rubber band around the mouth of the balloon, with the end of the straw already inside the mouth of the balloon.
Blow the balloon through the straw to test if the loop of the rubber band is tight enough to keep air from escaping the balloon
Step 9. Glue the balloons and straws to the cardboard pieces
Turn the cardboard so that the axle is at the bottom. Place the balloons and straws parallel to the length of the cardboard. Make sure the end of the straw is outside the end of the cardboard cutout.
Step 10. Blow up the balloon
Pick up the car and blow the balloon through the straw. Pinch the end of the straw with your fingers to hold the air. Place the car on a flat surface and remove the clamps on the end of the straw. The air coming out of the balloon will push your car.
