Has a rainy day been rather challenging with the kids inside? Try this fairly simple craft that recycles cans and makes them into a fun airplane. Your kids will love working with you on this project. This is a great craft to do with kids who are about 8 to 10 years old.
Draw the plane design on paper. Before getting started, decide what type of plane you want. Look at photos or design plans to get the shapes of the wings, fuselage, propeller and tail piece. Sketch out the pattern for the various parts, including propeller, two wings and tail piece. Once you have the sketch, cut out templates for later use.
Cut the tops and bottoms off six clean,dry cans. Throw away the tops. Tap a hole in the center of each bottom. Cut the can bodies from top to bottom, and smooth the rectangular sheet flat. From one sheet, cut six long struts 1 inch by 3 1/2 inches. Fold in half lengthwise, crimp, shape the ends into tabs and set aside. Cut two short wing struts 1 1/2 inches by 2 inches. Fold in half crosswise, crimp, shape the ends into tabs and set aside.
Press two bottoms together with the convex sides out, then ease the rim of one bottom around the other. Repeat for the second wheel. For the wheel strut, cut a 7-inch length of wire hanger. Cut a 5-inch by 3-inch rectangle; fold in half lengthwise with the wire tightly crimped into the fold. Tap a hold in the center of the sheet; trim the metal. Cut a rectangle 3 inches by 7 inches. Fold in half crosswise, trim to shape and rivet. Make four 1/2-inch cuts along the bottom surface, creating five tabs. Tabs 1, 3 and 5 will be inserted into the body of the plane; tabs 2 and 4 will be split apart to support the tail. Make a single slit in the upright. Cut a rectangle 3 inches by 6 inches. Trim to shape. Cut three slits to receive the three tabs on the tail upright. Cut a slit in the surface of each side of the horizontal tail piece.Push the three tabs on the upright through the slits on the horizontal tail piece. Do not fold back yet. On each side of the upright, run a thin strut between the upright and the horizontal surfaces, flattening the tab on the reverse side. For the tail rest, cut a 3-inch by 3/4-inch strip, fold crosswise, trim and rivet.
Cut two strips 3 1/2 inches wide from one of the flat sheets. Overlap the strips to make a rectangle 3 1/2 inches by 13 inches. Rivet the overlapping area. Cut two slits to fit the tabs on the long struts on each wing, 2 inches from the end. Round both wingtips. Crease 1/2 inch of the long side over a hard edge to form a U-shaped channel. Repeat on the second long side. Tap a hole in the center of the finished wing. Repeat for the second wing.Cut two strips 2 inches by 8 inches and rivet together for the propeller. Round the tips. Tap a hole in the center. Crease the tips diagonally, pinwheel style. Sandwich the last two can bottoms around the long strip so the center holes are aligned, and ease the rim of one bottom around the other.
Tap a hole in the center of the can bottom. Cut two 4-inch long slits 1 inch apart along the length of the underside of the can. Tap a hole in the underside of the can, between the two slits, 1 inch from the bottom edge. Tap another hole opposite, on the top surface. Half an inch on either side of the top hole, cut slits to receive the short wing struts.Thread one wing, unpainted side out, through the slits. Follow with the wheel strut. Center both pieces. Bend the two halves of the wheel strut away from the body at an 80-degree angle; bend the bare wires outwards at a 90-degree angle. Thread the wheels onto the wires, cap the ends with a 1/4-inch piece of plastic tubing.Cut a 2 1/2-inch piece of wire. Push 1 inch into the bottle cork. From the inside of the can, push the wire through the hole in the can bottom. Thread on 3/4 inch of plastic tubing and then the propeller, then cap with 1/4 inch of tubing.Attach the top wing to the fuselage with the two short wing struts and set at diagonals. Attach the upper and lower wings to each other with the four long wing struts. Cut a 6-inch piece of wire and pass it through the holes in the wheel strut, lower wing, underside of fuselage, top side of fuselage and upper wing. Bend the wire ends into small loops for hanging. You will want to hang and show off your creation.
