Build your own paper rocket!

http://www.groeg.de/puzzles/rocket.html

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Hi there! Still looking for something to shoot into the sky on new year eve? Here it is: Build your own little paper rocket - it comes complete with a pneumatic launch pad. Using pressurized air as it's only fuel, the rocket might rise as high as five meters. No fire and no explosives are used - it's perfectly safe for indoor use.

All you need is a printout of the rocket kit sheet a sheet of paper containing all paper parts for both the rocket and the launching platform. Simply download the

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Build your own paper rocket!

http://www.groeg.de/puzzles/rocket.html

rocket.pdf (70kB) PDF file. The Tips and Tools page gives some hints on how to get a proper printout of this file and also show up all the requiered tools. A color printout will make a cute rocket, but rockets made from black and white prints will just fly as high ... Many copy-shops can make both b/w and color prints from the files above. Print the file onto a light cardboard (approx. 160 g m-2); most color printers and copy machines can handle this. Please take care: The original file fits onto a "DIN A4" sheet. If you have to use the american "letter" sheets, you might have to resize the printout.

Building the rocket is rated "tricky". Folding the bellow requieres some endurance. The most important thing to observe is that all bellow parts must be air tight! The more precise you work, the higher the rocket will fly.

The most difficult part is the bellow's side wall. Cut it out and carefully scribe the bending lines! Then strictly follow the bending lines: Outside bend line Inside bend line as described in detail on the Tools and Tips page. The bends must not break! If they do, close the slits with adhesive tape, applied to the back side of the paper. The folded bellow is then glued to the base plate. Remember: The connection ought to be air tight! Fold up the flaps at the front of the base plate and glue them to the top side of the folded bellow. Build the starting tube by coiling the part around a pen or a stick. Slide it up through the top plate as shown on the left and glue it on the back (bottom) side of the top plate.

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Build your own paper rocket!

http://www.groeg.de/puzzles/rocket.html

After the glue of the first connections has dried, mount the top plate on top of the bellow. Check whether everything is air tight: Close the end of the starting tube with your finger and carefully press the bellow. If you find any escapes for the air, stop them up! Now build the rocket itself. Once again, the tubular part should be prepared by winding the paper around a stick or a pen. The finished tube must fit over the starting tube and slide easily along it. Form a cone as the rocket tip and glue it on top of the tube - once again: Air tight, please ... Build the fins and glue them to the sides of the rocket. Wait some minutes to allow the glue to dry.

Put the launch pad onto a robust and unbreakable surface! Remove all sharp or pointed object around the pad! Keep the airspace above the pad free from all faces!

Now you're ready for the first take off: Slide the rocket over the starting tube. Carefully bash onto the top of the bellow with your flat hand. Watch the rocket race into the sky - or most likely into your room's ceiling ... If you did a good work with the bellow, five meters of height should be no problem. If you have built the rocket - why not leave a comment in my guestbook?

New: Send in your flight data!

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Rocket tube

Caution! Keep airspace above launch pad clear of faces!

1998 by Grg

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Starting tube Fins Rocket tip

Build your own paper rocket

ZE RO !

More information, building instructions and more paper puzzles have a look at: http://www.groeg.de/puzzles

(c) 1998 - 2002 by Georg Eggers - groeg@groeg.de

Glue bellow side wall here

ER ce at fa pl G N ur ng A yo hi D d nc ol au th el no th o e D bov a

Bellow side wall

Inside bend

Glue bellow side wall here

Outside bend

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Glue to top side of base plate

Glue to bottom side of bellow top plate

Bellow top plate

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1998 by Grg

Base Plate (top side)

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