Bullet Bill Rocket by seamster
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Bullet Bill is a character that has appeared as an enemy in almost all of the Super Mario games from the very beginning. There are a few varieties, and their look and behavior has changed over the years. Like me, I'm sure you've been killed by a Bullet Bill many times.

I enjoy making crazy, non-traditional model rockets. I built regular ones as a kid, and I still find it extremely rewarding to test out new building methods and trying to push what I can do with simple, inexpensive materials.

I thought it would be neat to build a life-size Bullet Bill model rocket, as it provided all sorts of great challenges. I ended up building two versions, both of which I thought were beautiful in many ways, and they taught me a lot of new tricks.

Version 1 is covered briefly in steps 1 - 3. I began this first attempt with most of the planning focused on how to create a lightweight, visually accurate model of Bullet Bill. I didn't think much about its flight-worthiness until it was complete. At that point, I knew it surely wouldn't fly well, but thought, "Well, lets just go shoot this off and see what happens."

It didn't end pretty. The video is in step 3.

For version 2, which the photos show here, I applied the building techniques I learned with version 1, but paid closer attention to giving it a shot at actually flying. It was scaled down a bit, and built (somewhat) more like a real model rocket. The video of the launch of version 2 is in step 15.

Take a look at the steps involved and if you have any questions, please feel free to ask!
 
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Step 1: Version 1 - A quick view

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This is a quick view of version 1. Both versions were built from foam core, cardstock, thin painters' masking paper, and lots of glue. Version 1 was 19 inches tall, and 12 inches in diameter (without the fins attached). 

Construction details were very similar for both versions, and will be covered fully in steps 4 - 14.
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wit-bot says: Feb 24, 2013. 4:36 AM
so cool guys
yourmom1999 says: Feb 22, 2013. 9:09 PM
cool :) :)
Asriel Grim says: Dec 14, 2012. 4:28 AM
Amazing!! Awesome work!
jrast362 says: Aug 18, 2012. 1:44 PM
Please add the pdf for the rings on the head. i think your whole idea is great and I would like to make one for a school project, but i will need the ring dimensions to be able to do it right.
seamster (author) says: Aug 18, 2012. 2:44 PM
Please examine step six. The size of the rings you will need will be based on the exact size of the included pdf plans, once you print them.

Set a compass directly on the printed plans to get the exact measurements for each radius that will make up the layout for each ring. Put the point of the compass on the center line in the plan, directly inline with the distance you need to measure. Set the compass accordingly, and draw out each circle that makes up each ring using the compass as it is set. See? No real numbers when you measure, just set the compass and transfer the distance directly. I planned it this way so I could build another one of these at some later date if I wanted, with minimal trouble.

I hope that helps. If you have any trouble, just keep trying. You'll get it. Good luck.
jrast362 says: Aug 18, 2012. 3:18 PM
Thank you that is good to know
bigboom378 says: Jul 18, 2012. 11:59 AM
the pdf does not work please fix it
bigboom378 says: Jul 18, 2012. 11:25 AM
please could you include the instructions for the rings dimensions for the head because i would realy like to make one and i dont know how to make the rings
Flipyap says: Apr 9, 2011. 9:23 PM
i recommend adding resin to it in order to make the layer stronger, like the resin that some people use to make model helmets
badideasrus says: Mar 13, 2012. 12:34 PM
i think the idea was to go light, but resin is a good idea. he's not building a tank here tho. he wanted a light rocket, and his method works very well.
badideasrus says: Mar 13, 2012. 12:30 PM
... you gave me an idea for a mod for fallout newvegas.... anyone care to guess?
BalintRules says: Feb 13, 2012. 1:23 PM
omg
lol
wth
brb :)


THAT WAS EPIIIIIIC!!!!
sokamiwohali says: Jan 13, 2012. 1:35 PM
nice dent in the nose...lol j/k just pullin your leg. try using Balsa next time. its lightweight and strong. Not only that, but an easy way to deploy your parachute better would be to figure out the best way to fold the parachute to get a more crispp opening (take the shrouds and make sure the gor edges are outside and the shrouds are in the inside. "S" fold EVERYTHING, and at the very tip of the chute, sew a drogue chute tab. does not have to be big. then take a plastic estes brand chute, baby powder it, add a little length of string to the loops of the drogue shrouds and stuff it in the cone. the drag from the rocket will pull the drogue out on its own, the length of string will allow a few seconds of acceleration to pull the mass of the main chute out to deploy. seems like alot of work but it really isnt (man its nice to be a rocket scientist sometimes!!! hehehe). ill make a picture up and post it here when done so you can better understand. Also consider making a X-Form parachte. they are quick to deploy, minimize wind drift, and rocket sway and are HIGHLY stable. i am in the process of making an ible on a X-Form.
ninjasamurai says: Aug 12, 2011. 5:51 PM
wow thats amazing but to me its IMPOSSIBLE to make such a complex rocket
sokamiwohali says: Jan 13, 2012. 12:08 PM
it cant be impossible to anyone... i mean seamster did it... if you know what your doing youll be fine.
smpash says: Jan 4, 2012. 7:06 PM
you should make the bullet bill the second stage of the rocket
bob.the.devil says: Oct 16, 2011. 8:32 AM
i soooooo need to make this
nareksown says: Oct 6, 2011. 4:12 AM
great instructable 10/10 send in a pic when im done =D
nerd12 says: Oct 5, 2011. 7:26 AM
after seeing the first one 'fly' i didn't think that the second would do so good but somehow the tail is very effective at stabilizing
nateharrison 2000 says: Oct 3, 2011. 4:50 PM
Great instructable. It will be the first one I make. By the way, can you launch it
with and without the tailpiece? please let me know. :D
seamster (author) says: Oct 4, 2011. 10:17 AM
It can only launch with the tailpiece in place.

Be warned, this is a tricky one! If you do make one, I'd love to see a photo when you're done! Good luck!
LexiLovesPie says: Jul 17, 2011. 1:32 PM
could I just make this without the stuff to make it launch and just use it as a cool paper weight?
seamster (author) says: Jul 17, 2011. 2:51 PM
Certainly!

If you do, post a photo so I can see it!
pratty boy 4 says: Jul 10, 2011. 11:46 PM
can u send me a pdf of the centre circle bits please
seamster (author) says: Jul 11, 2011. 6:08 AM
See step 6. All the information you need is there.
DELETED_Robert L says: Jul 3, 2011. 5:08 AM
(removed by author or community request)
seamster (author) says: Jul 3, 2011. 1:48 PM
Noted... "bullet bill" not in super mario land for the Nintendo colour. Thanks.
hjjusa says: Jul 2, 2011. 9:47 PM
I made a Bullet Bill from a plastic easter egg and a sheet of typing paper rolled into a cone. Took a C engine, that one of yours is a real work of art though.
thelastonekills says: May 9, 2011. 12:53 AM
cool 5/5
Jon5000345 says: May 6, 2011. 1:31 PM
I think that if you out recovery wadding in to the engine tube tube and placed the parachute on top of it in the tube the weight of the falling nose would pull the parachute out and deploy it. Try it without putting the parachute in the nose is another version of what im trying to say
jimopertrat says: Apr 13, 2011. 5:55 AM
sweet rocket!! 5* without a doubt cant beleive how high it went!
Appollo64 says: Apr 12, 2011. 6:48 PM
AMAZING instuctable. Where can I get the foam core, cardstock, painter's masking paper and such?
seamster (author) says: Apr 12, 2011. 8:57 PM
Foam core and cardstock are available at office supply stores or Walmart. You can find painter's masking tape at home improvement stores.

Are you going to make one? If you do, post a photo when you're done!
Raven Destroyer says: Apr 10, 2011. 9:24 PM
now we are going to make one that can be fired in a mortar XD still nice
bobdole5656 says: Apr 5, 2011. 1:56 PM
can i buy the second verson from u the longer and more slender one
seamster (author) says: Apr 5, 2011. 3:28 PM
Alas, it's mostly in scraps. I fixed and kept the Bullet Bill portion. Do you want that?
bobdole5656 says: Apr 10, 2011. 3:40 PM
ya sorry that i responded so late but yes how would i get it tho mail
rc jedi says: Apr 9, 2011. 10:23 AM
the paper was creative, an alternative may be the iron on covering for model airplanes. the artboard you used can stand moderate heat so we could use low heat covering like tower coat, or econocote. these are safe for styrofoam, so could be used instead of paper. plus, it is much stronger and puncture resistant. It patches easily. comes in all basic colors too. about $11 a roll 27" by 5 ft i believe.
http://www.towerhobbies.com/products/towq1000.html

great project! good pictures too.
seamster (author) says: Apr 9, 2011. 11:20 AM
Yep, I've had a few people mention that. I might have to give that a go sometime. Thanks for the tip!
seabananers says: Apr 9, 2011. 8:27 AM
no if only that fat plumber would move back to brooklyn
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