Introduction: Make a Fire Hydrant Using Plastic Stuff (and a Lot of Instant Glue)

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About: I'm Mario Caicedo Langer (M.C. for short), a Colombian STEAM educator living in Azerbaijan, BSc in Naval Sciences and former Navy officer. I am a CAD and 3D Printing enthusiast and an artist specialized in jun…

It was an ordinary time in life of M.C. Langer. You know, evil robo-planters, big prop guns, vibrobots with machine guns and stuff. But one day, the Publicity Dean of a Colombian university (and friend of mine) entrusted me a bizarre task: to make a fire hydrant (a tender cheesy one), who is the pet of the Cuerpo Oficial de Bomberos de Bogotá (Firefighters Brigade of Bogotá). And its name is "Cobbito".

- Wait a moment - I said - it has any weapon, missiles or "Rescue Heroes" stuff?
- It's a children's pet - the Dean reply - the idea is to make a cute hydrant using recycled things. For the kids. They love these things.
- Mmmmm... Why don't make another pet, a "G.I.JOE style" firefighter with a water blaster and a mega-axe? It would be more lovable for the kids and...
- JUST DO THE FREAKIN' HYDRANT!!

This is Cobbito:
http://www.bomberosbogota.gov.co/content/view/695/207/

(The horror!... THE HORROOOOORRR!!)


Well, I did it. And for being my first fire hydrant, it's not too bad!!

(Wait for the high quality final pictures. My camera was damaged, and I had to use again my mom's old camera.)

Step 1: 1. Materials and Stuff

First, you will need cyanoacrylate glue. In Colombia we don't have Gorilla glue (I wish), so I used Pegadit. It's the instant glue I always use in my projects.

Tools: Dremel (for drilling), screwdriver, pliers, cutter and a paintbrush.

MATERIALS:

FOR THE HELMET:
1. Plastic Bowl
2. A strip of EVA foamy
3. Facial cream top
4. Big plastic nut
5. 1 / 8 x 2 ½ " screw, with nut and ring

FOR THE BODY:
1. Toilet cylindrical plastic trash can (which fits inside the plastic bowl helmet)
2. Circular plastic container with cover.
3. 1 / 8 x 2 ½ " screw, with nut and ring

FOR THE FEET
1. Two (2) identical PC mice
2. Two (2) 1 / 8 x ½ " screws, with nuts and rings

FOR THE EYES
1. Two (2) white ping-pong balls
2. Two (2) black plastic circles
3. Two (2) 1 / 8 x 2 ½ " screws, with nuts and rings

FOR THE EARS:
1. Two (2) facial cream tops
2. Two (2) medicine small plastic bottles (can be replaced with shampoo caps)
3. Two (2) 1 / 8 x 2 ½ " screws, with nuts and rings

PAINTING: primer for plastic, red and orange spray lacquer, black acrylic paint


And remember:

1. If you don't have it, replace it!
2. Use protective equipment (dust mask and goggles)
3. Beware of drilled and soldered hot surfaces
4. Work in a good ventilated area.
5. Always have junk in stock
6. Enjoy!




Step 2: The Feet

Clean and open both mice. Cut the wires and left the circuit boards and the balls (we need weight in the feet)

Drill the upper side of the mice and make two holes on the cover of the plastic container. Attach every mouse to the cover using screws and nuts.

Step 3: The Body

Drill the center of the can and the container. Glue both bases and put togheter. Then introduce the screw intro both holes, for strengthen.

Glue the border of the container cover, them put together (as if you are closing the container).


Step 4: The Helmet

Make a EVA foamy strip of 2cm high and long enough to round the bowl. Turn up the boel and glue the EVA using the instant glue.

Drill the centers of the bowl and the facial cream cap. Then glue the ring, the plastic nut, and the cap to the top of the bowl. Pass the screw inside the center holes and screw on the nut.

Step 5: The Ears

Cut the bottlenecks of each medicine bottle, leaving only a cylinder.

Now, you have to drill the center, glue and fasten with a screw the bottom of each bottle, facial cream cap and bottle cap. It must remain a segment of the screw, for attaching to the body.

Step 6: Assembly and Painting

Drill holes on the left and right sides of the body, and attach the ears. Fasten with the nuts.

Glue the helmet to the top of the body.

Paint the hydrant with red lacquer. For the shoes soles (mice bases) use the orange paint (paint separately from the rest of the body, then assembly)

Step 7: The Eyes

Insert the screws into the center of small black discs.

Drill each pin-pong ball, pole to pole. Then, insert the screws (with the black discs).

Make two holes (tight enough for fasten the screws) in the hydrant front and insert the eyes.

Draw a mouth and... ready! Now, I can make some belic stuff ;-)

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