Make A Rubber Band Car - How To Build The Midwest Kit

This is the instruction sheet for using Midwest Kit 54602 to build a rubber band powered car.
The Rubber Racer is a wooden rubber band powered car kit from Midwest Products Educational Product Division.
Skill Level 1 Suitable for Those with No Prior Building Experience.
FEATURES:
Kinetic action rubber band powered vehicle...introduce students to Sir Isaac Newton's Laws of Motion.
The rubber band powered car is simple to build and fun to race!
A simple rubber band motor drive and variable traction ballast for hours of hands-on discovery and racing fun!
The Basswood in this kit is Micro-Cut Quality® wood, which means it has been carefully processed to exacting tolerances.
The Rubber Racer has a robust design that is easily assembled with the unique die-cut puzzle piece construction.
Metal axles and stylish plastic wheels.
Step-by-step, illustrated assembly guide.
INCLUDES:
One Rubber Band Car Racer
REQUIRES:
Assembly
2" x 4" (51mm x 101mm) Sanding Block
Masking Tape
Waxed Paper
6" x 10" (152mm x 254mm) corrugated Cardboard
Wood Glue, or Hot Glue Gun
Paint
SPECS:
Length: 8-1/4" (21cm)
Power: 1/16" Rubber Strip

This is the instruction sheet for using Midwest Kit 54602 to build a rubber band powered car.
This kit is ideal for classes and youth groups to use as a project to learn how to build and race a rubber band car. The kit is fun to build and race and is a tremendous educational kit.
You may use this page to preview the kit and see how it may be used in a classroom setting.

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Rubber Powered Racer
Midwest Kit # 54602
Assembly Instructions

Part No.
34602
34644
A-352
A-353
W-536
M-476
M-733
M-820
M-821
M-819
S-272
P-623
P-624

**Kit Contents**

Qty. 1 1 2 2 2 8 2 2 1 1 1 1 1	Description Die-Cut Body Blank Basswood 3/32" x 3/32" x 2-7/8" Motor Peg Rear Wheels Front Wheels Music Wire 1/8" Dia. x 3" Axles Brass Eyelets Rubber strip 1/16" x 9" Rubber Bands 1-1/2" Dia. x 1/2" Tire Treads Fuel Line 1/8" Dia. x 3/4" Transmission Sleeve Weight Double Stick Tape Rubber Power Racer Instruction Sheet Teacher' Guide (Kit #546 Only)	Materials You Will Need Sanding Block: 2" x 4" block of wood with sandpaper glued to the surface Masking Tape Waxed Paper 6" x 10" x Corrugated Cardboard Wood Glue

Basic Modeling Tips Read Instructions: This instruction sheet is very important. Don't forget to use it as a guide the assembly of your model's parts as you cut, sand and glue them together. Sanding: Use Medium Grit sandpaper. Use slow steady strokes. For finish sanding, use strokes that go with the wood grain. Gluing: Use Midwest's Tacky Formula Glue, Stock #362, or equivalent. Wipe away excess glue with your finger. Allow plenty of time for glue to dry. Do not use too much glue. . . less will dry quicker. Assembly Instructions IMPORTANT: Please read each assembly step and become familiar with the construction sequence before starting. 01. Punch out die-cut parts: A, B, C, 0 & E for the car's body. 02. Attach car body sides, A & B, to chassis floor, C. Note: The car body assembles like a 3-D puzzle. Assemble the parts without glue until noted. 03. While holding parts A, Band C together, slide the back end of the assembly over the edge of your worktable. 04. With one hand holding the parts together, take part D, the tailgate, and place it in position. With your other hand, wrap one small rubber loop around the body, as shown. 05. Now, tum the car body around and insert part E, the cross piece, into place. 06. Wrap a second small rubber loop around the car body's front end. The car body is now ready to glue.
Car Body Assembly with Glue 07. Note: The Rubber Racer can be glued together with any adhesive, but we recommend either Midwest Tacky Formula Glue (white), stock #362, or use a low-temp glue gun. Inspect the car body to note where all the wood joints are located. 08. Carefully apply a bead of glue on the inside of each juncture seam. Let the glue dry at least 15 minutes. GLUE ALL JOINTS FROM THE INSIDE Painting and Decorating 09. Before final assembly, your racer may be decorated. For best results, use a clear, water-based wood sealer before adding any decorations. Note that the racer can function either upside down (Salt Flats Screamer), or right side up (Baja Buggy).
Wheel Axle and Drivetrain Assembly 010. Note the square holes in the body sides. 011. Let us begin with the front of the car. Push one axle end into the axle hole on a skinny wheel (front). FRONT WHEEL 012. Insert the bushings (brass eyelets) and the axle through the car body. 013. You may now insert the opposite bushings and skinny wheel, as shown.
14. A similar assembly occurs for the rear axle assembly. Insert the remaining axle into one wide wheel. Also insert the bushings. as shown. 15. Wipe a slight film of liquid soap on the axle. 16. Carefully slide the transmission grip (silicon tubing) onto the axle. Push it until it is centered,then slide the axle through the opposite hole. TRANSMISSION GRIP 17. Slide on the final pair of bushings and the final wheel.
18 Slide the two short, wide rubber bands onto each back wheel for traction. 19. The single strand of rubber is the car's motor. Tie a simple overhand knot and create a very small loop on one end. 20. Slide the 3/32" x 3/32" x 3" Basswood strip through the first retainer hole, the rubber loop and the second retainer hole, as shown.
021. The final part, the metal weight, will be attached after some preliminary testing. The Rubber Racer is now finished and ready for racing. Note that the racer can function either upside-down (Salt Flats Screamer) or right side up (Baja Buggy). How to Operate the Racer 022. For the rubber motor to transmit its stored energy, the free end of the rubber band needs to be wrapped around the transmissions grip. Overlap the axle with a small section in parallel, as shown. 023. Next, begin wrapping the rubber motor by rotating the rear wheels towards the rear of the car. Try to keep some tension on the rubber strip so that it stays wound on the axle. Rotate the wheel 10 times to wind the rubber motor. WIND REAR WHEELS WIND 10 TIMES 024. Carefully place the car on the racing surface without releasing the wheels. 025. When ready, release the car and the rear wheels should rotate and move the car forward. Note: If you intend not to run performance tests on your Rubber Racer, you can stick the enclosed metal weight on the chassis. This added weight will increase the traction on slippery surfaces.	BAJA BUGGY SALT FLATS SCREAMER

Simple Experiments
01. Without weight on the chassis, how far does the car move?
02. Are the wheels spinning? Why?
minimal traction with the rear wheels
03. Try sticking on the metal weight, as shown.
04. Re-wind and launch your racer. Does it travel farther? Why?
Added weight or mass near the rear wheels increases friction between the wheels and the road surface for better traction.
05. How do you calculate speed?
Speed = Distance/Time
The kit is located here

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