Got some leftover pipework? Make some rockets!

This post was originally titled "Can a leftover sealant tube be turned into a rocket?" - our answer was no - so we just went with waste pipes instead...

For these rockets you will need:

32mm or 40mm waste pipe (around 30cm per rocket)
1 pushfit straight coupler (same size as above)
Coloured card
Cellotape
String
Paint (I think any will do - just needs to stick to the pipe)
Scissors (and edging scissors for flames)
A hole punch
A box (for the space port)

1. Get painting, we used Ronseal outdoor paint because that's what I had in the garage bit it worked perfectly well. It also dried in a couple of hours meaning that the whole project could be finished in one day.

2.
a) Make the booster section using a straight coupler. I used pushfit but compression joints would have done just as well.

b) Cut triangular sections of card (as shown) the same height as the inner part of the joint. Snip the side to create alternating flaps.

c) Stick 3 boosters onto the joint using tape on the flaps.

3. My favourite part - the flames!!
a) Cut thin strips of red, yellow and orange card (around 1cm x 10cm) using a mixture of edging scissors.
b) Make holes around 1cm from the top of each strip - we used a single hole punch.
c) Thread string through a pile of around 20 different coloured strips and tie them off.
d) Pull the string up through the "booster" pipe and tape it down - the rocket will hold it in place.

4. Attach the main rocket (once the paint has dried!!)

5. Make a top for the rocket by cutting a circle of card and folding into a cone. We have left these loose, but you could obviously attach them with tape or something like blu-tack.

6. The space station: FInd a box and make holes slightly smaller than each rocket you have made so that the 'flames' can sit inside the box whilst the rockets are stood on it.

7. Decorate.




Failing all of the above just buy one of these...

Rocket