DIY Rocket - Hints & Tips please

[Eve]

Ds who is 3 wants a Rocket from Father Christmas, and I have bought him a Thunderbird one.

However last night he declared he wanted a giant Rocket, so in work this morning I have got 3 very large cardboard boxes (that computers come packed in) and armed with some tin-foil I am going to attempt to make a giant rocket...just for a bit of fun for him!

My artisitc and creative skills are nil...anyone any suggestions as to how to make a rocket out of cardboard, tin foil and lots of sellotape!

[hmb]

What an excellent idea! And what a fun mum you are Why not make the rocket in 3 parts that you can take appart, and put ds's other present inside. One part from each box. Open out the boxes, and trim them to oblong shape. Then cover with tin foil (earier to do when flat. Bend into a tube (IYSWIM) and tape. Make the second one slighlty smaller than the first, so it fits in, and taper this one. Make the command module Out of the third, even smaller ones. If you are feeling flash, make 4 'rockets' out of yoghurt cartons and stick them to thebottom of the bottom section. Put the toys in the bottom bit, and stack the others on top. Write Santa's rocket on the side in glitter pen. Good luck, and happy christmas!

[Lucy123]

That is a good idea!

I would go a bit simpler than hmb though and just have two sections: a big cylinder and a cone. If you make the cylinder as big as you can you can still put other presents inside. For the cone you need to draw a big circle (draw round a dustbin or tie a bit of string to a pen at one end and a drawing pin at the other - pin to center of card and use like a compass). The length accross the middle of the circle (i.e. double the string length) should be a bit more than a third of the length of the top of the card that will be the tube section (if you're good at maths, work it out properly using Pi!). Then divide the circle into quarters and cut out a shape that is three of the quarters - this is the cone.

Hmm. This is a bit tricky to explain. Have you tried looking at the bbc children's website???

Hope it turns out well.