|
|
 |
|
|
| |
 |
|
|
| by:
Paul Lewis
photos: Dave Starrett
illustration: Len Churchill |
SPACESHIP SUPERSTAR |
| This
UFO wagon invades just in time for Hallowe'en |
 |
| Watch
the skies and get ready for some out-of-this-world
trick-or-treating in this retrofitted wagon |
|
Hot off
the intergalactic drawing board, this UFO profile and mounting
system is designed to transform any child’s wagon into an interstellar
spacemobile—just the thing for trick-or-treating missions deep
into new neighbourhoods. Although the project is made to fit
the popular Little Tikes wagons that are invading the planet,
you can easily adapt it for just about anything with four wheels.
You’ll have to hurry, though. Hallowe’en is only a few weeks
away.
The
best material for this project is signboard, also called MDO.
This is an exterior-grade plywood covered with a weatherproof
cellulose veneer. It’s smooth, lasts forever outdoors, and doesn’t
develop surface splits like other types of plywood. MDO costs
more than exterior ply, but it’ll more than pay for itself in
the long run.
 |
| CLICK
ABOVE TO ENLARGE |
|
Since toy
wagon bodies aren’t strong enough to support the side panels
solidly on their own, we’ve added three 1 1/2" hardwood dowel
crosspieces to brace one side against the other. The top front
dowel also works as a handle for little aliens on lookout duty.
Although you could simply drive screws through the signboard
into the ends of these dowels, it’s not as strong. The plans
show how metal cross dowel connectors and bolts do a much better
job, retaining their strength after dozens of disassembly cycles.
 |
| CLICK
ABOVE TO ENLARGE |
|
First, expand
the grid diagram, transferring the shape onto your signboard
with a pencil before painting it by hand. A hand-held jigsaw
(with a 10 teeth-per-inch blade) is the best tool for cutting
out the UFO shape. The plans show how this particular wagon
needs a spacer base and two spacer blocks on each side to create
a flat mounting surface for the UFO profiles that bolt through
the hollow wagon sides. Other wagons may not need spacer bases
(or need differently shaped ones). Once you have your UFO sides
cut, it will be easy to see what you need for the wagon you
have.
| You Will
Need |
| Part |
Material |
Size |
Qty |
| UFO
sides |
Sides |
1/2"
x 31" x 48" |
2 |
| Spacer
base members |
Bottom |
1/2"
x 5" x 24" |
2 |
| Spacer
blocks |
Bottom
Cleats |
5/8"
x 5/8" x 5" |
4 |
| Cross
members |
Bottom
Cleats |
1
1/2"dia. x 21 7/8" |
3 |
| Bolts,
wing nuts and washers for sides |
1/4"dia.
x 4" |
4 |
| Bolts
and cross dowel connectors |
1/4"dia.
x 2" |
6 |
| Little
Tikes 2-in-1 Wagon #4584 |
|
|
|
|
|
| FREE
NEWSLETTER |
Subscribe to our newsletter. Every few weeks, you'll get a behind-the-scenes
peek at the magazine, the web site and the folks who put it all together.
CLICK HERE |
|
|
PROJECTS
