Hot Hobbies & Toys Posts
How To: Add battery power to a Power Wheels Jeep
So, your children have the same old boring Fisher-Price Power Wheels that all the other kids on the block have. Do you really want your child to be like all of the rest? No, I didn't think so. Turn those miniature Power Wheels, Dumar or Peg Perego vehicles into a little bit of realism, if you can handle it. All it takes is a little modification and you'll be wishing you were five again. With a few simple hacks, your son and daughter will be burning rubber, jumping curbs and burying those othe...
How To: Build a cool cardboard RC airplane
Model airplanes are cool and all, but making them out of your typical 8 1/2 X 11 printer paper isn't going to cut it for long, especially if any sort of rain or misplaced foot is involved. Make your awesome model airplanes even more awesome by crafting them out of sturdy cardboard instead.
How To: Make an RC snow plow truck
This video details how to construct a front plow for an rc snow plow truck. Using basic materials found at any hardware or hobby stores, you can make a servo lift plow. The video shows the proper way to attach and assemble it to a preexisting rc truck.
How To: Make a helicopter powered by rubber bands
This is a great little rainy day project you can make for almost no money, or a fun party trick you can use at the next office Christmas party! You will need two disposable drinking cups (stiff plastic or paper will work best), a fairly thick straw, a sturdy paper clip, a thick rubber band, a cocktail stick, a bead and a plastic ring you can get from the neck of a soda bottle. Assemble as shown, and then let it go!
How To: Build a simple mouse trap car
In this tutorial, we learn how to build a simple mouse trap car. To do this, you will need: a ruler, two records, a thin metal rod, and a mousetrap. First, you will lay the ruler down to measure out where you are going to place the records. Next, you will hold these into place by using the metal rod in between the two of them. If it's not secure, use washers and glue to keep it in the proper place. Then, attach the mousetrap to the middle of the rod in between the records. This is it! Now you...
How To: Make a lego Pikachu
This is a lego tutorial on how to make the #1 most recognized Pokemon of all time, Pikachu!
How To: Ballast your model railroad track
Okay, you've got all of your feed wires set up on your model railway track, now what? Ballasting. Check out this video tutorial to see how to ballast your model railroad track.
How To: Double your Jeep Power Wheels power and speed
So, your children have the same old boring Fisher-Price Power Wheels that all the other kids on the block have. Do you really want your child to be like all of the rest? No, I didn't think so. Turn those miniature Power Wheels, Dumar or Peg Perego vehicles into a little bit of realism, if you can handle it. All it takes is a little modification and you'll be wishing you were five again. With a few simple hacks, your son and daughter will be burning rubber, jumping curbs and burying those othe...
How To: Make your own mylar balloon
Mylar balloons are the best party favors. They are big and shiny and last longer than normal latex balloons. In this tutorial, learn how to make a mylar balloon at home, from scratch. Stop spending so much money at the party store, and next time you have a big event, make your own! Not only will you save money, but it will give your party a cool personal touch.
How To: Inflate a flat ball without a needle or pump
Well, you're all ready to play basketball, or dodgeball or football or kickball, but, your ball is flat. To make matters worse, you don't have a pump. To make matters even worse, you don't have the needle you'd normally use to inflate your flat ball. Well, this how to video shows you a simple life hack to get your balls up and bouncing again in no time. What you'll need is a can of compressed air, commonly used for cleaning keyboards, or other tech equipment. These cans come with plastic 'tub...
How To: Make bubbles for a miniature bathtub
In order to make bubbles for a miniature bathtub, you will need Amazing Casting Resin, Triple Thick, micro marbles/decorative beads, a dollhouse tub, and a miniature rubber ducky. You can purchase it in hobby stores: e.g. Hobby Lobby. Open it. Mix it well, according to the package. Poor it into the dollhouse tub. Allow the resin to set. It takes about 1 minute.
How To: Recreate Models of Christopher Columbus's Sailing Ships from 1492
Columbus Day celebrates Christopher Columbus's voyage to the Americas in 1492. In most of the New World, it's celebrated on the 12th of October, the day Columbus actually discovered the Bahamas. But in the United States, the holiday is observed on the second Monday in October.
News: 160-Piece Arsenal of Life-Sized LEGO Weapons
The LEGO Life-Size weapons flickr group has 160 LEGO constructed weapons- guns, knives, bombs and more. A selection below, click through to view more.
How To: Build a motorized gyrocar with a gyroscope and everyday household objects
Build your own miniature gryocar from a toy gyroscope in this fun little project with Kipkay and make it ride on skinny tracks! All you need is a toy gyroscope, a spraypaint canister top to fit the gyroscope assembly, and some assorted parts that you could probably find around the house (or at your local hardware store). Ask your parents for permission first!
How To: Build a working mini gatling gun out of Legos
Most of the guns that people make out of Legos or Knex are pistols. Small, easy to build, low maintenance. Those are all fine qualities. But if you want a powerful, destructive Lego gun that will blow all others out of the water, check this video out. It features step-by-step instructions for building a minigun out of Legos that will hold and shoot 120 rubber bands at a time! The second video is a firing demonstration. Those Legos never knew what hit them!
How To: Make a wooden fingerboard
If you're into fingerboarding, then you're going to want to watch this video tutorial to see how to improve your fingerboard skills. Watch to learn how to make a wooden fingerboard. With just a few materials, your finger-skateboard will be up and running in no time.
How To: Twist a Simple Leprechaun Balloon Hat for St. Patrick's Day
Balloon artists: Get prepared for St. Patrick's Day with this leprechaun hat that is quick and easy to make. Dress someone up as a leprechaun with this hat-plus-beard balloon hat creation and get the party started off right!
How To: Make a bridle and fly-line for your kite
You can't fly a kite without a bridle and fly-line, so let this instructional how to video show you the ABC's of kiting. For this project you will need: garbage bag, wooden dowels, cloth tape, ribbon, scissors, magic marker, yard stick, and a pencil. Have fun creating your kite with an adult helper.
How To: Make a dragon kite
The awesome kite in this how-to video has a long tail just like a dragon and is traditionally flown to celebrate the Chinese New Year! You will need RSN, tyvek, heavy duty plastic garbage bag, cloth tape, a bamboo stick - 48" long (window blind source), magic markers, a ruler (yardstick), objects to make 2 circles i.e. pot lid, string, a pencil, a toothpick, a hobby stick, and the step-by-step instructions in this video kite-making tutorial. Make a dragon kite.
How To: Make a Japanese Rokkaku kite with your kids
This instructional how to video will show you how to build a traditional Japanese bowed kite that's simple to make and has great soaring ability. Just watch and learn to make a battle kite. For this project you will need: rip-stop nylon, wooden dowels, cloth tape, double stick tape, scissors, string, toothpicks, yard stick, pencil, paper. Have fun creating your kite with an adult helper.
How To: Blow up a balloon by mouth
Watch this video to learn how to blow up a balloon with your mouth. This is great to know how to do if lose your pump, but it takes some practice.
How To: Build a rocket from everyday household trash
This video tutorial will show you how you can build a rocket from trash. That's right... trash. To make the rocket, you'll need a paper towel roll (or three toilet paper rolls), a spray can cap, a model rocket engine, scrap cardboard or wood pieces, hot glue gun with glue, a straw and a paper cup.
How To: Make a Bridge Out of Popsicle Sticks
Do you have free time? Then build your own bridge out of Popsicle sticks. Bre Pettis goes over the basics of building bridges. As a bonus, you get to watch other people stand on their own bridges and break them.
How To: Make a simple balloon cat
Learn how to make a simple balloon cat in a few twists of a balloon in this free ballooning tutorial. For cat lovers and children of all ages - This balloon creation is sure to please. Your Balloon Man, Mr. Fudge, is full of balloon tricks! Be sure to find other balloon videos on WonderHowTo from Mr. Fudge teaching everything from animals to planes! In a few twists and a few ties, you'll be an expert balloon artist in no time!
How To: Make mud and rubble in a WW2 diorama
In this tutorial, we learn how to make mud and rubble in a WW2 diorama. You can use corks as the rubble after you paint it and rip it into different pieces to make it look like destroyed buildings. You can purchase realistic water and gloss gel medium to look like water that is on the battlefield. If you mix them together with some chunky material, and then add in brown food coloring, it will look like mud. Using these tips and tricks, your diorama can look more realistic and look fantastic! ...
How To: Build spinning tops with everyday objects
In this tutorial, we learn how to build spinning tops with everyday objects. You will need: round recyclable plastic lids, skewers, hot glue gun, and washers or pennies. First, take your plastic lid and weight it with a penny, then poke a skewer through the middle of it. After this, you will have a top made out of homemade products! You can use anything that is laying around your home to make a top, no matter what it is. Just make sure you have something to place int he middle and the weight ...
How To: Make a simple balloon helicopter
In this free ballooning tutorial, learn how to make a simple balloon helicopter by twisting two ordinary balloons. A must for a ballooners repertoire, take this balloon creation to your next party to impress! Your Balloon Man, Mr. Fudge, is full of balloon tricks! Be sure to find other balloon videos on WonderHowTo from Mr. Fudge teaching everything from animals to planes! In a few twists and a few ties, you'll be an expert balloon artist in no time!
How To: Pot mod a green laser
Put the newspaper down on a work surface. Pick up the 5 MW green laser pen and unscrew the battery cap. Remove the batteries and put them and the battery cap aside.
How To: Make a steamboat with copper, a candle, & a bottle
First, cut a plastic bottle down the middle the long way. Next, put a little candle in one of the halves.
How To: Make a layered liquids decoration with different density household fluids
Ransack your kitchen and grab some dish soap, vegetable oil, honey, food coloring, rubbing alcohol, tall glass, water and a spoon. Why? Because you're going to create a visually stunning display of layered liquids. This illustrates the effects of different densities in liquids, while becoming a cool, psychedelic art piece for the living room. It's a super colorful decoration!
How To: Make a working "robot" model hand
In this four-part science tutorial, learn how to make a model of a hand that works like a real hand: with tendons that move the fingers. This is a great tool to teach kids the body's inner workings. Part 1 includes an introduction and parts 2-4 include the step-by-step instructions to contruct this learning tool.
Baby Voldemort: The Creepiest of All Harry Potter Reborn Dolls
Demented newborn baby? No—creepy "reborn" baby modeled after what Lord Voldemort would look like straight from womb of his pure-blood witch of a mother. As if reborn babies weren't disturbing enough, artist Tracy Ann Lister has gone and created a slew of ultra-realistic baby dolls fashioned after the characters from the Harry Potter series. It was bound to happen someday.
How To: Make a homemade anti gravity toy
Make an antigravity toy with just some magnets, a pyrex bowl, coper wire, a playing card and some aluminium foil. This is really cool! You can even interact with the flying card when the bowl is shut! Put 3 magnets somewhere, making a circle,over them, place a bowl, then wrap the card with aluminum and place a neodium magnet on each corner, then make about 15 loops with the copper wire (make it a copper coil) and put it inside the bowl. Then put the card in the bowl. Be careful, The negative ...
How To: Build a big ass lava lamp
To create a massive lava lamp, you're going to need vegetable oil, Alka Seltzer, food coloring, and a water jug (a massive jug, like the ones you see in offices). Fill about one fourth up with water, and use vegetable oil to fill the rest. After filled, use an entire bottle of food coloring. After the food coloring floats to the bottom of the oil, take the jug to a safe area with some kind of light shining through the jug. Finally one by one drop the Alka Seltzer (about 34-36) into the water,...
News: Magnets, Sticks, and Sugru Combine to Make an Awesome DIY Construction Toy
With just sticks, some magnets, and a bit of Sugru, you too can be the proud owner of an awesome set of magnetic construction toys! The idea is very straightforward. Simply bond magnets onto the tips of thin sticks using Sugru, but the results look like a whole lot of fun.
How To: Weigh and attach the head to your reborn baby doll
In this tutorial, we learn how to weigh and attach the head to your reborn baby doll. First, insert the stocking into the head, leaving the remaining out. Then, pour in large glass beads until the head is your desired weight. After this, tie the stocking as close to the beads as possible, then cut off the additional fabric. From here, you will fill the head in with soft filling until it's completely full. After this, you can apply the cap and glue around the base of the head. When this is dri...
How To: Make a light sensing robot
Mousey the junk bot is a light sensing robot made out of an old computer mouse. Bre Pettis of Make Magazine goes over how the pieces are installed and talks about some mistakes that he wishes he could have avoided. This project requires a drill, a dremel, and soldering skills.
How To: Take apart a laser pointer
Have you ever had a combination of extreme boredom and an unrelenting curiosity? If so one thing you may have attempted to do is to take apart or "de-engineer" a common office laser pointer. In this online video we are shown how to take apart a cheap laser pointer. It should be noted if you are going to attempt to do this you should only try it on a laser pointer that is inexpensive so your loss will not be great if you should make an error.
How To: Make a simple homemade bottle rocket from household items
What's the best way to pass the time when you're bored beyond your wits? Make things explode, of course! But let's just say that you don't want your house to catch fire. The next best option that you've got is contained within this here video.
News: Mod old cell phones into robot spiders
Arachnophilia and technosexuals rejoice. This whimsical, skittering robot takes only 5 minutes of tinkering.