Your task is to build a fuselage.

You will need:

1. A paper towel tube (many kinds work, like a Reynold’s Wrap tube, etc.) but it must be the general length of a standard size paper towel tube. (In other words, don’t use a Christmas Wrap tube, or don’t cut one for use in this project – they are too flimsy!)

2. One half of a plastic Easter Egg, that will fit rather perfectly on the top of the tube.

(You decide which end of the tube is the top or bottom!) The egg-half needs to fit snuggly, but don’t force in onto the tube. The tube is useless, if the egg causes the cardboard of the tube to cringe or be bent in any way. It is sometimes difficult to find an egg-half that will serve this purpose, so be patient in your ‘hunt’.

3. You need about a square foot’s worth of stout cardboard material. The firmness of an old 33 RPM record is good. You might not find one of those, but use that as a gauge for the thickness you use.

4. Great scissors or a single-edge razor – the single-edge razor is best for the precise cuts you will need to make.

5. A ruler, Hot glue gun & glue.

Directions.

1. Draw three congruent quadrangles similar to the one below on the cardboard material. However, be sure that side “A” on YOUR quadrangles is between 3 an 4 inches in length!

2. Carefully cut out these quadrangles. They are now your rocket’s fins.

3. Find a way to accurately measure the distance AROUND your paper tube, and make three marks of equal distance on the tube near the bottom.

4. Use these marks as guides to make a 4” bead of hot glue on the tube on which to glue your

fins. Be sure to hold them perfectly straight up and down as the glue dries. This takes about one minute. (Glue ONE at a time, and to help keep them straight as the glue dries, look through the tube as you hold the fin to the glue, this will help you see if the fin is leaning to one side or not.)

NOTE – when you glue the fins on, let about ½ of the fin hang BELOW the bottom of the tube. This gives your rocket far better stability, and something to “stand” on when you’ve glued all three on.

5. Glue the short piece of straw straight up and down the rocket, and between any two fins of your choice. The bottom of the straw should be flush with the bottom of the paper towel tube (now called the “fuselage”!)

6. Paint or color your team’s rocket, but be aware that any out-of-balance enhancements can seriously affect flight, and postpone lift-off. Be perfectly symmetrical with everything you do!

Side A