Steps to make a CO2 dragster

Each day fill in what you did accomplished on the "Weekly Worklog." Use the steps below as a guide for what to work on each day. At the end of the week give you worklog and work you have done to your instuctor for grading.

Check out winning car designs. Pull down "Showroom" near top of the page and check out TSA links.

Learn the CO2 Dragster Design Limitations. Get limitations sheet and quiz from your teacher.

Draw many thumbnail sketches for your dragster.

You need to draw as many quick thumbnail sketches as you can for your vehicle. But first, begin by reading the common concerns below.

Common Concerns

There are some common questions or concerns that you may share with others. See if there are any on this list that are of concern to you.

What are thumbnail sketches?
Thumbnail sketches are small, quick idea sketches that help designers tap into their creativity to generate their best solutions to problems.

Why 10 or more thumbnail sketches?
Several reasons. Generally people can only see one idea at a time in their mind s eye. Lots of sketches let you see more than one at a time. Designers have found that the process of drawing small, quick sketches makes it possible to work out details. When you work out the details for one idea, other possibilities pop up. Trying to do this all in your head, where it is hard to see more than one idea at a time, is impossible for most people. Those who can do it often make good designers. However, these good designers draw on paper because they come up with more ideas and therefore better ideas that way.

But I already know what I want.
It is great to have a concept to start with. However, without drawing lots of thumbnails for that idea you cannot know how great of a design you can create.

I cannot come up with more ideas.
The hardest part is putting the pencil on the paper, perhaps because people fear being laughed at. The trick is to just draw something, anything, and then draw it again and again making slight changes each time. Try curving something that is straight, or changing the angle of a line or making it shorter or longer or fatter or who knows. Just put the pencil down and sketch. Making changes as you go will allow you to improve on your ideas.

But I cannot draw.
No problem, do not draw, sketch. It is not art work, and it does not have to be hung on the refrigerator.

Sketch a half-size rough of your design.

Use CADKEY software to draw a full-size drawing of the wood block.

Follow instructions "To Load & Print 'CO2 body' File."

Draw full-size drawing of your car on the CAD drawing of the wood block.

Cut our drawing to make a template.

Trace template on foam block.

Sand prototype to shape.

Perform wind tunnel test on prototype.

Design color scheme.

Discuss making modifications to your design with your instructor.

Trace template on wood block.

Drill axle holes.

Drill any other holes.

Cut out side view.

Cut out top view.

Sand car to shape with power sanders.

Sand out mill marks with 80 grit sand paper.

Sand out 80 grit scratches with 120 grit sand paper.

Sand out 120 grit scratches with 220 grit sand paper.

Apply sanding sealer to dragster.

Lightly sand car with 220 grit sand paper.

Paint your dragster.

Insert screw eyes.

Attach wheels and axles.