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Hot Model Cars, Rockets & Trains How-Tos

iOS 14 Tips, Tricks, How-Tos & News

How To: Build a Simple High-Powered Water Rocket Launcher

There are plenty of things you can use at home to make your own rocket, like sugar, matchsticks, or even trash. They may not be as impressive as a real rocket, but they can still be a lot of fun. In this video, How To Lou shows how he made a high-flying water rocket out of some basic materials like PVC and a soda bottle. As Lou points out, the bigger your soda bottle, the further it will go. He used 1/2" PVC pipe, valves, and connectors, as well as some brass adapters. He added an air compres...

How To: Detect an air leak in a Nitro RC engine

In this tutorial, we learn how to detect an air leak in a Nitro RC engine. Air leaks damage your engine which will take your tuning and completely void it. Now, take some soapy water and apply it to your engine and anything that is connected in between. Block off one end of the host where you aren't going to blow into. Find where you think the leak is, then make sure you don't have a cracked tank. Next, make sure everything is sealed and apply soapy water. Blow in the other end of the valve a...

How To: Use the correct tires for the temperature and improve RC performance

Optimize vehicle performance by knowing the differences between the different tires available for your RC vehicle. Each type of tire (commonly referred to by the red dot, blue dot or green dot) is optimized for a specific operating temperature range. Knowing about the different temperatures and what tires are best suited for them could be the difference between first place and second. Find out more in this instructional video.

How To: Lay and ballast O-Scale 3-Rail track

In this tutorial we learn how to lay and ballast O-Scale 3-Rail track. First, lay the track down on a piece of bare plywood. Also, you will paint the wood to prevent it from absorbing liquid when you place glue on it. Put the track down onto a flex bed and then set the flex bed on the wood. From here, place the track onto the road bed and line it up. Make sure the track is centered completely. After this, take a track screw and secure the ends down. Continue to do this throughout the entire t...

How To: Build your own stomp rocket out of household materials

In this video, we learn how to build your own stomp rocket out of household materials. Materials you will need are: plastic bottles, bicycle inner tube, 2 feet PVC pipe, duct tape, masking tape, and file folders or card stock. Now, take your PVC pipe and roll paper around it and tape it. Then, remove the paper from the pipe and tape it more so it's completely closed. Then, make your nose cone for the rocket. Place this and the wings onto the rocket in your choice of colors. Then, make the lau...

How To: Paint your favorite sports team logo on a racing shell

In this video, we learn how to paint your favorite sports team logo on a racing shell. First, you will take your shell and trace out the logo on it with a Sharpie marker of your choice. Use tape to cover the areas that you don't want marked, so the lines come out cleaner and straighter. After you have done this, paint the logo onto the racing shell with small brushes and your choice of paints. Leave the tape in place until all of the paint has dried. Then, remove the tape from the shell and y...

How To: Make miniature models of Columbus's ships (Niña, Pinta & Santa Maria)

There's no better way to celebrate the discovery of the New World than by recreating Christopher Columbus's three ships from the famous voyage— the Niña, Pinta & Santa Maria. In this short ship-building how-to, you'll learn a simple activity for you and your kids, where you'll make miniature ship models of Columbus's boats with egg cups, brown paint, white paper (sails), toothpicks, clay and glue.

How To: Rust a model car to make it look old and beat-up

If you like making miniature models for their own sake or for use in playing Warhammer and other table top games, there may come a time when you want a shiny new model to look like an old rusty model. If you're working with plastic, you've come to the right place, because this video will show you how to give plastic models a rusty look that will blend them into your post-apocalyptic or just plain derelict scene.

How To: Assemble a model rocket for launching

In this Hobbies & Toys video tutorial you will learn how to assemble a model rocket for launching. This video will show you how to do this using the Estes Alpha model rocket. For this project you will need the rocket kit, masking tape, glue, sand paper, a knife, scissors and a pencil. First you sample the engine mount, glue it up and set it aside to dry. Next you cut out the fins and sandpaper them together. Then you apply glue on the inside of the tube up to 1 1/2" and push the engine mount ...

How To: Understand the inner workings of an RC car engine

Are you a radio control car enthusiast who's never moved beyond the store-bought toy models from Radio Shack? Then this nine-part series of videos is what you've been waiting for. It breaks down how RC engines work in exhaustive detail, including whole sections on carbs, pipe tuning, fuel mixing, and super chargers, among other topics. You may not be able to put your own RC car together entirely from scratch after this, but you will have a broad, deep understanding of how their engines work a...

How To: Make a simple bottle rocket

There's nothing like playing outside, especially as a kid. The grass beneath your feet, the blue sky in the air, and the endless amount of possiblity that lies in such a wide open space. This tutorial takes advantage of that space and shows you how to make a simple bottle rocket. Many of the supplies needed are easil found in your home and are usually cheap and inexpensive. So sit back and enjoy! Oh, and please be careful!

How To: Remove RC Lexan paint from a model car

To remove the lexan paint, obtain a bottle of brake fluid. Make sure you read the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) for its harmful effects, and put on a pair of gloves to avoid contact with the hands when applying the brake fluid. To remove a large area of paint, pour a little amount of brake fluid onto some paper towel, and rub the area in a circular motion until the lexan paint is completely dissolved and removed from the area. A Q-tip can also be used to remove smaller areas. Apply as muc...

How To: Make a wooden fingerboard kicker

In this how to video, you will learn how to create a finger board kicker from simple materials. You will need a saw, wood glue, an index card, and thin wood. First, draw three shapes. The top is a rectangle while the sides are triangles. Put glue on the top of the side pieces and place the top on. Glue the index card at the bottom of the kicker. You can also print a photo of a stop sign on a piece of paper with the index card under it and glue it to the kicker. Once you have done that, your f...

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