Ornithopter

Intro: Ornithopter

Here's how to make an ornithopter powered by a rubber band.


You will need the following: (All my measurements are in inches.)

Wood: (Balsa works well, but i used coffee stirring sticks)

2 x 1 in.
2 x 1 1/2 in.
1x 2 1/2 in.
3 x 3 1/2 in.
1 x 4 1/2 in.
2x 5 in.

Wire: (paper clips work well)

1 x 2 1/4
2 x 2
1 x 1 1/4

Other Stuff:

Rubber Band
Super glue
Needle nosed plyers
beads
glue gun
Tissue paper (Other light materials work.)

STEP 1: The Body

First, cut out all of your wood and wire, Then start Gluing together.
Take your 4 1/2 in. stick and glue on the 1 in. sticks as shown in the picture. Then glue the 2 1/2 stick across the top.

STEP 2: The Tail

Then glue your three 3 1/2 pieces together in a triangle.

STEP 3: The Wire

After that, bend your wire as shown in the picture above.

STEP 4: The Beads

Now you can glue your beads on and put the wire pieces on (don't glue the wire! they should turn freely.)

STEP 5: Tail

Glue the tail wire piece on.

STEP 6: Wing Spars

You'll need to glue the 5 in. sticks to the wire pieces. then take the 1 1/2 pieces and punch two holes in the end and slip the ends through as seen in the picture.

STEP 7: Wings

Here's the wings you'll need to hot glue them to the spars. As for the tail just trace it and cut it out.

STEP 8: Finish

Just attach a rubber band, wind it and give it a toss!


Ask me for any questions

Enjoy!

Comments

[kmkirk]

These instructions need improvement. You left steps out and counted on people to look at the pictures to add pieces and to be able to tell where and how to place them.

[JohanN4]

Good inspirations, nice one :) I made mine with bamboo only and it flies well!

Check the video:

Will make tutorial soon.

regards,

JanN

[arod1234501]

Bye bye orinithoper

[SonjaM30]

what kind of beads are you using to support the paper clips for the cranking mechanism? It just says beads in the material list.

[arod1234501]

You have to use beads that fit threw the wire

[koushik009]

Can I know the total weight of the ornithopter??

[arod1234501]

You used a food weighing thing.

[810798]

how do you bend the paper clips?

[arod1234501]

You use the needle nosed plyers.

[810798]

where did you get all the materials?

[arod1234501]

I got mines from Michaels and online.

[andreacorradi]

When do you glue the paper on the wings? Before or after putting the wings in the beads?

[810798]

after,I guess.

[Mr_Beast101]

Can you be a little more descriptive on your steps and pictures please.

[TeeradaT]

It can fly?

[Dilberp1]

Very Good!!

[Arellano5]

shoe do you do this, it's so hard? How do you keep the front pieces from falling off

[canadiankidengineering]

And also, how do you do the crank? Mine keeps hitting the frame and it does not spin very smoothly....

[colem16]

i took the prop block from a rubberbadn plane and used it for the crnk

[colem16]

do you hve to sign up for pro to get all the plans