Model Jet Car - Carbon Fiber!!

This was supposed to be a short and easy project for my son to enjoy. Well... Go big or go home! We made a Carbon Fiber jet car that takes an Estes Model Rocket with parachute if you want.

You will need:

Foam Board

Paper

Elmers Glue and water for a 50/50 mixture

Small paintbrush

Fiberglass and/or Carbon fiber cloth

Epoxy Resin

A toy car medium sized for parts - body, axles and wheels

Glue gun

Airbrush, paint and stencils

Micro bearings

Exacto knife

Scissors

Small rotary tool to cut small parts

Estes Model Rocket Engines

First was the design. After a little research on land speed record holding life size jet cars, I found a current record holding design from Australia. I modified it slightly as you will see with the drag racing spoiler I made for it.

Step two was cutting the design onto foam board and making a wire frame using paper to keep the weight down. This was a similar process to fuselage builds of planes or wooden ships. This also gave it a rough shape that would have to be smoothed out later.

In this next step I finished the paper wire frame with flat paper "panels" to cover the holes. After, the (50/50) water/glue mixture I made dried, I glassed one layer of fiberglass.

My son had a car that he broke so I took it apart and cut some of the body to use on the body of the jet car. I also used the base frame of the toy car to align the back wheels on in a step you will see later. Once the glass cured, I painted it black.

Step five was adding one layer of carbon fiber to add strength and also for the "look."

Here I needed to create a carbon tube that would hold the jet engine and a second tube that would either exhaust the gas build up inside the body or where the parachute will be deployed from.

Step seven I made some details that will help with aerodynamics and create a bold look. I'm not sure if the spoiler actually helps it grip the ground, but before I lit it up the first time I wasn't sure if the thrust would lift the jet car.

Alignment is key to make this thing go in a straight line. Later I found out that the surface had to be as smooth as possible. To decrease friction I purchased some micro bearings.

The finishing steps included some airbrushing, cutting some toy skulls up to add to the rear, a front spoiler (later removed), and epoxy finish to coat.

The finished product photos didn't have the parachute.