Easy Parachute Man

This is a fun project a child can make from a simple kit. It's fairly easy to put together and well within budget if you’re making more than one. All the supplies are available at any home improvement store.

Needed:
common pliers
screw driver 
wire
shopping bag
nylon cord
duct tape

Step 1: Make the wire paratrooper

I was surprised by how much excitement this little wire paratrooper got. Apparently being able to pose it is a big plus for kids. A good feature about the hands is that when the man gets tangled up in the risers, you can easily remove the cord for an easy untangling. 

Start by wrapping a section of wire twice around a socket. Bend the free ends at 90 degrees at the same point in the loop. With the loop on the socket, twist the ends a couple times as shown.

Next straiten one of the ends directly away from the head while bending the other one perpendicular for an arm. Grab another piece of wire and put a 90-degree bend in it.

Place the bent wire right up to where the other arm is. Use vice grips to hold it in place. With another pair of pliers twist in the body. Check out the pictures.

Now all that’s left is to shape the hands and feet. The feet and formed over the jaws of the pliers while the hands are wrapped 3 times around a screwdriver.

File off any sharp edges for safety’s sake.

Comments

[brehzer]

I was wondering what size socket you used for this? Also, have you tried any other sizes?

[Mrballeng]

I think it was 1/2" though any size will work. I only used one size.

[Pfarmkid]

You could make one that could be shot out of a air cannon.

[pheenix42]

When I was a kid, I discovered that if you cut a bread bag longways, and if you did it right, you ended up with a nice square of plastic. Two strings of sufficient length with a spring clothespin clamped at the crossover made for a really good toy!

[Coxster]

This is awesome! Brings back childhood memories :)

[l8nite]

I like the little dude ! we used to do something like this when we were younger but with toy soldiers

[spiderham]

I used GI Joes, I also sent them "hang gliding" on my kite and gave them rocket packs I won't discuss here. :D

[l8nite]

12" GIJoes ! 1 or 2 cherry bombs in a metal tube shoved in the ground, joe (or sis's barbie) strapped to a rig and fired out over the bay... now I can hardly buy cherry bombs as an adult !

[jessyratfink]

Absolutely fantastic! :D

[canucksgirl]

Oh my gosh, that picture is just awesome. ;-)

[mslaynie]

This is so stinkin' cute!! Great job, as usual!