Blowgun Launched Toy Parachute

Blowgun Launched Toy Parachute

There are a couple of 'problems' with toy parachutes....

1. How to get them up in the air.

2. The shroud lines always get tangled.

Well, this Instructables hopes to address both issues.

First off I thought I'd try something different to get the parachute into the air. A blowgun.

My imagination was sparked after running across a 1930s toy parachute with blowgun on the internet. Mine is similar but with improvements!

Second, I took care of the tangling shroud lines by threading them through plastic tubes. Drink stir sticks to be precise. They keep the parachute canopy out front during launch and with rigid shroud lines they don't tangle.

So let's get on with building this contraption!....

24 in long piece of 1/2 in. dia. PVC pipe

Six - 7 in. long plastic drink stir sticks (7" is longer than most)

Approx 2" square piece of 2mm thick chip board (heavy solid cardboard; I suppose thin wood would also work)

4 ft of light cotton string (Dollar Tree)

Thin plastic shopping bag

Self-adhesive plastic tape ('Scotch' tape)

One 1/4" x 20 steel nut (Not Shown)

Two paper images of paratrooper (Not Shown)

White or other glue (not shown) to affix the paratrooper image

Super thin solid wire (Dollar Tree)

1/2 in PVC Coupling (Optional - A bigger mouthpiece)

1/2 in. PVC Elbow (Optional - If you don't want to tip your head back so far to launch.)

TOOLS

Aviation Snips

Glue Gun

Scissors

Fine Point Felt Pen

Trace the inside of the PVC pipe onto the chip board to get the correct size. I cut off a thin sliver of pipe to make tracing easier.

Cut the chip board with Aviation Snips. You could also use a coping or band saw. The snips leave a nice clean cut.

I checked fit by placing the round base inside the pipe sample.

Cut out a piece of chip board to 1-3/8 in. x 1/2 in. for the paratrooper body.

Three holes need to be placed along the top edge. The holes are 3/32 in. dia.

I tried drilling them, but it gave really messy rough edges. I then had the thought to use a hand-held metal punch to punch the holes in the chip board, which worked spectacularly, with clean smooth holes.

The BIG Picture:

There are three holes across the top of the paratrooper board. Three separate strings will each be threaded through a tube, the paratrooper board, and another tube. Each string functions as two shroud lines, one on each side of the paratrooper (a tube on each side). The strings are not attached to the paratrooper board per se, they are just threaded through a hole in the top edge of the paratrooper board.

.

Thread a Shroud line:

Cut the string into three 16 inch lengths. Each string is used as two shroud lines. Tie a knot in one end of each string. The un-knotted end of each string is threaded through the stir sticks (tubes) by using a piece of super small solid wire. The wire is pushed through the tube. Once the wire exits the tube it is bent around the string and the end of the wire is inserted back into the tube (back on itself). The wire is pulled through the tube pulling the string with it. This threads the string through the tube.

Thread the string coming out of the tube you just threaded, through one of the paratrooper holes, again using the thin wire to pull it through. Then thread the string through another tube, followed by another knot.

The order of assembly from one end to another is: knot, exposed string, tube, paratrooper (chip) board, tube, exposed string, knot.

At each far end of a tube you want about 1/2 in. of exposed string between the tube and knot.

Repeat the threading procedure for each of the three strings.

When you are done you should have 6 shroud lines coming off the top of the paratrooper chip board.

Use hot glue to fasten the paratrooper body to the round base.

Hot glue the 1/4" x 20 Steel Nut to the bottom of the base.

[CAUTION - Choking Hazard - Make sure your steel nut is securely fastened to the bottom of the base. And the base securely fastened to the body of the paratrooper. You don't want the nut or anything else coming off and dropping into your mouth as you get ready to launch the paratrooper.]

Glue the images of the paratrooper (printed from the internet) onto both sides of the chip board.

Take a thin plastic (grocery) bag and cut it so it will lay flat.

Trace a circle onto the plastic bag using a template and pen. I used a 8 in. dia. spool.

Carefully cut out the parachute canopy.

Take a protractor and mark the locations where the shroud lines will be attached. Since there are 6 shroud lines they need to be spaced 60 degrees apart (360 degrees in a circle / 6 shroud lines = 60 degrees apart).

Carefully maneuver the shroud lines into place and attach them to the canopy with self-adhesive tape.

The knot faces toward the center of the canopy.

The knot should extend out from under the tape to prevent the string from slipping out from under the tape.

It can take some gyrations to get all the shroud lines into position and taped but have patience and work carefully.

Take the circumference of the canopy and wrap it around the plastic tubes. Twist the tip a bit more to reduce the diameter of the parachute. Carefully insert the parachute into the PVC pipe. It should slide easily without binding.

Push in the shroud lines (tubes) followed by the paratrooper and push the nut-end into the tube as far as you can with your finger.

You are now ready to launch!

Find an open area with little wind.

Take your preloaded blow gun and aim toward the sky.

Give a hard puff of air to launch your paratrooper skyward.

Watch him float back to earth.

Retrieve and Repeat.... Retrieve and Repeat... Retrieve and Repeat (You get the idea).

Enjoy and have fun!

.

An encore presentation of the slo-mo:

Note that the slo-mo can be a bit deceiving. The parachute probably went about 15 feet high and fell quickly to the ground. (It occured to me I should try it without the steel nut for possibly longer hang time.)

Lower height and quick turnaround time makes this paratrooper ideal for small yards and small children, and you can safely launch in a breeze.