Hot Construction Toys Posts
How To: Modify your Nerf Iron Man Magstrike clip
See how to mod your Nerf Magstrike clip to make it shoot faster and farther then normal. All you need to do is cut the out the x-shaped air restrictors out of the clip to allow more air to shoot into the darts, making them fly faster than ever. Your Nerf gun will be the best on the block.
How To: Build a stabbing tip for your boffer LARP sword
Most boffer LARPs insist that you add a safe 'stabbing tip' at the end of your foam sword or dagger. This tutorial shows you how you can make a safe stabbing tip using kevlar and foam, which you add to the core of your sword.
How To: Build a popsicle catapult
This video demonstrates how to make a catapult out of popsicle sticks. For this project, you will need the following: 7” rubber bands, a box of popsicle sticks, a hot glue gun, a Dixie cup, and tape.
How To: Create a ship in a bottle
The ship in a bottle is an age old puzzle. The key to its mystery is pre-assembly, attention to detail and patience. Learn from a master craftsman and bottle ship builder the ins & outs of this art. Follow these step by step instructions on how to put a ship inside of a bottle.
How To: Make a paper crossbow
Learn how to make a paper crossbow with this instructional video. All you need is a couple sheets of paper, tape, large paper clip, scissors and a rubber band. Follow this simple visual demonstration to learn how to make your own. Basically you start off with paper tubes and construct them into your crossbow.
How To: Hack a VHS tape into a toy pinball machine
For about a buck, you can make a fun Mini-Pinball machine out of a VHS, just follow the steps in this how-to video. This is a great toy for kids, or anyone that wants to make a cheap version of the arcade favorite. Bring the VHS pinball machine into the car to stay entertained during long car rides. Watch this video gaming tutorial and learn how to convert a VHS tape into a toy pinball machine.
How To: Make a simple fully automatic rubber band gun
This is an instructional video showing how to build, load and fire the "Simple Fully Automatic Rubber Band Gun 2 (wooden)".
How To: Construct a mousetrap car
In this tutorial, we learn how to construct a mouse trap car. You will need: wood, string, wood glue, duct tape, scissors, markers, a mousetrap, wheels, and a drill to do this. To start, you will lift the mousetrap up and tape duct tape around it along with a long stick. Then, tape this to a piece of wood. From here, you will glue together two sticks and then put wheels on the top and bottom of it. Next, you will lay the mousetrap on top of this and then push it. Then it will roll away! You c...
How To: Turn a Cobra Crossbow into a larp safe crossbow
If you're only fighting with foam, you don't want a professional hunting weapon. But you can refit a commercial crossobw and make it larp safe. Starting with the Cobra crossbow, you can modify it to safely shoot foam tipped arrows at a boffer larp.
How To: Make a boffer mace out of foam, PVC pipe and latex
This tutorial shows you how to make a boffer larp safe mace. Get some PVC pipe, a foam noodle you can get at a drug store, and some soft foam for the head. Then cover your pipe with pipe insulation and sheath the weapon in latex.
How To: Modify a Nerf Big Bad Bow to shoot farther
In this Hobbies & Toys video tutorial you will learn how to modify a Nerf Big Bad Bow to shoot farther. Open up the front part of the shell by removing the screws. Make sure the spring on the launch piece stays together and pull out the barrel. Then dismantle the white restrictor piece and drill a hole in the center for more airflow as shown in the video. Now cut off the orange barrel as close to the wall as possible with a pipe cutter and sand it off. Take an extra piece of CPPC pipe and ram...
How To: Build a LEGO stroller
In this video you will learn how to build a LEGO stroller. The materials you will need are 4 of the small slanted bricks, one two by four thin brick, 3 two by 1 thick bricks, 2 one by one thin bricks, 2 one by one by four studded bricks, a small smooth brick, two odd angled smoothed bricks, 4 wheels, one one by two with dot in center bricks, and one one by two handle bricks. Then after carefully assembling the bricks as shown he will show you a example of what it will look like when you're fi...
How To: Make a collapsing K'NEX ball
How to make a ball that expands and collapses out of K'NEX.
How To: Make a homemade catapult
This is an advanced version of the classic "rubberband and pencil slingshot" that you've probably made a million times when bored in class. Watch and see how to make a homemade catapult out of office or school supplies.
How To: Make sanity reducing creepy Cthulhu tentacles
Now you too can build your own prop of eldritch horror! Guaranteed to induce a SAN check in anyone who sees it, this tutorial shows you how to build a set of flexible Cthulhu tentacles out of one inch furniture foam, half inch furniture foam, steel wire, pantyhose, one inch PVC tubing, epoxy and a jar of latex.
How To: Make a professional looking boffer weapon with latex inexpensively
Looking for a weapon making tutorial that goes beyond the foam noodle and PVC method? This tutorial shows you how to make a professional-grade sword using an ultralight core and latex. You'll also need a utility knife, a foam cutter and a dremel drill.
How To: Build a looping rolling marble machine with magnetic elevator
Wow! No longer do you have to buy those huge marble machine roller coaster toys — you can DIY one! This video covers the materials, tools and techniques used to make a homemade rolling ball marble machine. If you haven't seen this rolling ball marble machine toy in action yet, WATCH IT. It's a looping rolling marble machine made with wood, rebar tie wire and polyurethane tubing, featuring a magnetic elevator.
How To: Use basic building techniques
Papa Tom teaches viewers the basics for building realistic miniature buildings using Scene-A-Rama Building and Structures Kit. This is great for school or art projects.
How To: Make a simple Knex gun with trigger
These are assembly instructions for a simple Knex gun with trigger
How To: Convert 2D Photos Into 3D Models
The video below demonstrates how you can convert you 2D Photos into 3D Models using 3Defy. You will need to follow these steps:
Star Wars: A New Hope LEGO Chess Set
WonderHowTo World LEGO People points us to an amazing chess set made with LEGO Star Wars characters.
How To: Disassemble a can for its parts
Aluminum cans are useful for various DIY projects, but they can be tricky to take apart. In this video you'll learn how to easily disassemble cans.
How To: Make a prop sword out of an aluminum bar
This will still hurt if you swing too hard! If you need a realistic looking prop sword, you can follow along with this tutorial to make the prop out of an aluminum bar. You'll need a couple power tools as well, so be careful around them!
How To: Build Halo 3 alien weapons with Legos
If you're into Halo 3 and you're into Legos, why not combine the two? Watch this video tutorial to learn how to build Halo 3 alien weapons with Legos, like the plasma pistol, the plasma rifle, the gravity hammer, and the brute shot.
How To: NASA Engineer Shows You How to Build a Mini Curiosity Mars Rover Out of LEGOs
You might have seen our post on this last week: It's a working reproduction of the Mars Curiosity Rover made with LEGOs, but it's a bit complicated for anyone without a decent amount of robotics knowledge. Plus, you need to have some Mindstorms NXT and TECHNIC parts lying around. If you want something a little simpler than programming a working LEGO rover, you could always build a scaled model of the MSL out of regular LEGOs. Not only is this easy to build and looks great, but the step-by-ste...
How To: Make a larp safe throwing weapon out of foam
All you need is some 3/4 inch pipe insulation foam, 1 inch pipe insulation foam, rice filler, electrical tape and some blue camping foam. Layer the insulation foam, add some blue camping foam and then tape everything up and apply paint or Plasti-dip as desired.
News: Full-Sized Mechanical Skeeball Machine Built Entirely Out of K'Nex—And It Works!
If you played with K'Nex as a kid (or still do), you know that it can take a lot of those tiny little pieces to build something. Just imagine how many it must have taken to make this full-sized, fully functional, coin-operated skeeball machine with a mechanical score counter. Instructables user Shadowman39 (aka Kyle) spent an entire year building this masterpiece. It's the same size as the ones you see in arcades, and it's coin operated, too. But don't try to feed it your pennies, it knows th...
How To: Make a replica Yukki Cross Artemis scythe from Vampire Knight for cosplay
Watch this video for instructions on making the Yukki Cross Artemis scythe from the anime / manga Vampire Knight.
How To: Build a Lego motor car
You can build almost everything out of LEGOS. They are versatile and fun toys and great learning tools. In this video, learn how to build a motor car out of LEGOS.
How To: Make a sword out of cardboard
Learn how to make a sword out of cardboard with this video. Materials:
How To: Build Halo 3 human weapons with Legos
If you're into Halo 3 and you're into Legos, why not combine the two? Watch this video tutorial to learn how to build Halo 3 human weapons with Legos, like a sniper rifle, the magnum pistol, the assault rifle, and the spartan laser.
How To: Make an easy switch blade knife
This is an easy to follow step by step video explaining how to make a switch blade out of easy to find objects. This is not a real knife but still has the function of a switchblade.
How To: Make a K'NEX mini gun
A lot of people got confused on how to make a simple gun out of K'NEX, so here you are. The simplest tutorial on how to make a mini gun.
How To: Make Nerf foam darts fly
Want more firepower for your Nerf guns? Here's an instructional video that shows a simple mod to make your foam darts fly! Increase their range by 25%. Watch this video tutorial and improve your game playing, but please, use caution!
How To: Make and build mousetrap powered car
Vroom! Power a balsa wood vehicle from the energy of a mousetrap! Fun and easy project brought to you by Make Magazine!
How To: Make a medium Knex gun
Assembly instructions for a medium sized knex gun
How To: Build a coreless punch shield for boffer combat
Construct your own shield for use in boffer combat! This tutorial shows you how to construct your own large punch shield out of several layers of blue camp foam, a length of PVC for the handle, a measuring tape and some DAP adhesive.
How To: Use the DAP adhesive to construct foam boffer weapons
This video shows you everything you need to know when constructing foam boffer weapons with Weldwood brand DAP contact cement adhesive. Always make sure you buy the red can, and don't get the gel formula. Also make sure you buy a timer for extra precision.
How To: Construct a basic boffer longsword using a foam noodle
This tutorial shows you a very basic method to create an effective boffer sword using PVC pipe, a foam noodle, duct tape and some open-cell foam for a stabbing-safe tip. You're also shown a good method for constructing the hilt. This is a great tutorial for anyone looking to make a foam sword for their favorite boffer larp!
How To: Make a boomerang-like comeback can kids toys
Boomerangs can be dangerous. Oatmeal containers aren't. That's what makes this kids toy the perfect build for school or play. After constructing this "comeback can" toy, you'll have a can or container that you'll roll on the ground or table, and it will always come back to you. You'll need an oatmeal container (or similar can), rubber band, nut, a couple paper clips and a pen.