Introduction: Water Rocket With Easy Launching Pad (simple!)

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Do you believe it? A water rocket launch pad with no PVC needed. In this Instructable, I will show you how to build a simple water rocket and launch pad that is very effective. Water rockets like these launch naturally rather than manually. Please try this simple project. This rocket usually launches around 30psi, allowing it to launch 100+ feet

Step 1: Gather Materials

For Rocket:
-Plastic soda bottle (1 liter size is perfect)
-Thin Plastic (like from a gallon of water jug)
-Hot glue gun
-Glue for the glue gun (Duh)
-Plastic cup
-Electrical tape
-scissors
-utility knife
-permanent marker




For Launch system:
-Bottle Cork
-Electrical Tape
-Air pump with inflation needle
-Drill
-Smallest drill bit you can find
-Old can (like a 28 oz. can)


Some materials are shown in the following picture:

Step 2: Fins!

Cut out a section of your plastic (using utility knife) and draw your desired fin shape in the piece of plastic. Cut this fin out, and use it to trace two more fins. When done tracing, cut out remaining two fins. Next, fold the edges of the fins over about 1/2cm where they will be in contact with the rocket. This provides a bigger surface area when glueing the fins. Discard the remaining plastic.

Use the images below for help:

Step 3: Nose Cone and Fins

Glue the fins on to the bottle vertical with the bottle. (in other words, the normal way) Use the glue gun for this. Squeeze the glue on to the flap of each fin and attach to the bottle. Repeat this step for all fins. Finally, reinforce the fins with more glue to create a watertight seal to the bottle.

Next, it's time to make your nose cone. Take a plastic cup, and cut down one side of the cup until you reach the bottom of the cup, then cut the entire bottom of cup out. Then, curl the cup to form a cone shape and glue. Finally, glue to the end of the bottle and tape to ensure that the cone is attached. Use pictures for help.

Step 4: Finishing and Launch System

Now that you finished your rocket, do what you want with it. Spray paint it, add a recovery system, whatever you desire.

Now for the launch system
Materials:
Drill with TINY drill bit
Cork
Electrical tape
Big 28oz can
Air pump with inflation needle

Take your cork, and drill a LITTLE hole through the center. (where the inflation needle will be)
Next, tape around the circumfrence of the cork. Do this until it will fit very tight in the nozzle of the bottle.


To launch:
1) Fill the rocket 1/3-1/2 way with water
2)Stuff the cork in the neck of the bottle util pratically impossible to push any farther into the bottle.
3)Put the inflating needle through the cork (make sure the needle is already attached to the pump before doing this
4) Hold the hose alongside the rocket and place into can. Arrange the rocket so it is facing straight up or in the direction you want to launch. It should look like the pic below.
5) Start pumping and you should notice bubbles in the rocket. Make sure everyone is not near the launsh zone of the rocket. If you are pumping, stay as far as possibe from the rocket as you can (be ready to get splashed!) Once around 10 psi, you may hear a leaking noise. This is normal. The rocket should launch around 35psi (THE ROCKET WILL LAUNCH BY ITSELF). If it launches before 30psi, you need to put more tape around your cork. Replace cork every 20 launches, and every inflation needle every 50 uses or until it breaks. If your rocket is at 70psi, let the air leak out and try again.

Have fun and remember that I am not responsibe for your actions in this project. Be safe and ALWAYS do this outside.