In this Instructable I will show you how to make Sebulba's Podracer from the Star Wars universe! A podracer is a futuristic racing craft travelling at speeds of up to 1000 km/h (620 mph). Sebulba's racer is highly modified and features (illegal) weapons such as a flamethrower or a buzzsaw.

This model is about 50 cm long, 45 cm wide and 20 cm high. It comes with 2 Solar motors that turn around when sun/a bright lamp shines on one or 2 solar panels. The model took me about 2 weeks to build and 20 hours of video shooting and editing.

The steps are like this:

Parts Needed
Display Stand + Sebulba's Cockpit
Building the Split-X Engines
Wiring & Finishing up

Here you can see a video of the model, together with my Anakin's Podracer:

Step 1: Parts Needed

Buy K'NEX pieces at K'NEX User Group / K'NEX spares

Rods:

73x Black rod (16 mm)
60x Silver rod (32 mm)
16x White rod (32 mm)
2x Orange rod (32 mm) Part of Solar Motor
23x Blue rod (52 mm)
12x Dark Blue rod (52 mm)
15x Dark grey rod (86 mm)
1x Flexi-rod Orange (86 mm)
2x Green rod (128 mm)
2x Purple rod (190 mm)
1x Lila rod (190 mm)

Connectors:

4x 8-way White connector
15x 8-way Black connector
8x 7-way Blue 3D connector
9x 4-way Silver 3D connector
9x 5-way Grey connector
14x 4-way Black (Green) connector
7x 3-way Dark Grey connector
10x 2-way (V-shape) Grey connector
2x 2-way (V-shape) Orange connector
1x 2-way (long-shape) Brown connector
112x 2-way (long-shape) Orange connector

Clips/Other:

4x Clip with hole end dark gray (1-way connector)
40x Black clip with rod end
6x Silver clip with rod end
8x Orange clip with rod end
18x Clip with Ball end
34x Clip with Socket end
2x Clip blue
5x Interlocking Clip Tan/bronze
2x Hinge Black Half
5x Clip with Splice end Orange
2x K'NEXMAN Headtop Orange
2x K'NEXMAN Headtop Translucent Red
2x K'NEXMAN Mouthpiece Black

Panels:

2x Tri panel small Silver

Motor:

2x Solar Motor Orange
2x Solar Panel Black (1 is sufficient perhaps)
2x Solar Connecting Cable

Gears:

4x Gear small Dark Grey

Wheels:

2x Hub/Pulley Small
4x Hub Racing wheel (37 mm)
2x Wheel Open Centre Black (25 mm)

Other:

1x A4 Size paper and a colour printer

Step 2: Display Stand + Sebulba's Cockpit

In this first building step, I will show how to make the display stand and the podracer driver seat/cockpit.

Like all models, I designed the display stand the last. But, in this model it's so crucial for the model's stability, that it's the first step in this instructable. Why is it so crucial? Well, podracers are basicly two jet engines with a little cart behind them (That's how I would describe it), so the engines are basicly hovering above nothing. Sebulba's impressive Split-X engines tend to fall over when they're put on the ground, so because of that we're starting with the display stand.

In the last step you will find the appropriate Print-file (pdf) that lets you print out the model's details. Let's continue!

Step 3: Building the Split-X Engines

Can we stand still for a moment and realize how cool Sebulba's Podracer sounds? I mean, it even has a mean sounding name: Dual Mammoth Split-X Engine. Here's a link to help your imagination:

Other than that: In this step I will show you how to make these mean engines. It starts off with the power connection that runs in between the two parts. After that you make the base for the split-x and attach them to the display stand. Add orange, black and white parts and you're done.

Because K'NEX offers a -very- limited amount of orange parts, I had to get creative. I tried a design with the Big Air Ball Machine tube-part, but the scale of the model went up more than I wanted. Then I knew it: The K'NEX Solar motors are orange too! I was lucky: My brother owned one too, so if you're reading this: I borrowed your Solar motor for a while! :D

That also meant I automatically implemented a rotating part into the model. I think it's absolutely great, even though it's not accurate to the original Podracer. In the original, no moving/rotating parts are seen. Still I think it's a great addition and as it's Solar: it will not cost you batteries!

In the last step I will show you how to install the cables and finish the model.

Step 4: Wiring & Finishing Up

In this last step you'll first attach the display information, after that you install the cables and the solar panels. To make the motors rotate, a pretty bright sun is needed. OR: alternatively you can use a halogen-lamp (I used my halogen-bureau lamp -> it gets hot) I'm not sure LED lamps will work, perhaps a LED spot light. Energy-saving light bulbs are unlikely to work.

Then you're model is finished! Don't forget to make those mean engine sounds :) Have fun!

May the force be with you,

GWorks