Duct Tape Biplane

The Gray Baron, designed to honor those who served in ww1, made by a material designed in ww2.

The technique of making duct tape rods is difficult to learn, but you will be able to make things entirely out of duct tape. Such as houses, cars, electronic stands, stems for duct tape roses, and many more. Let your imagination guide you, press on to see what other awesome things you can make out of duct tape. I believe in you! now get to it!

Duct tape rods, this is where it all begins! A mouse pad has been the best material I've found that allows me to roll the tape sticky side down. Start off by ripping off a piece of duct tape roughly the same width as the mouse pad and gently put it face down. Then using your thumb and index finger tips pick up the sticky side and fold it over trying to make it as small as possible(photos 3,4, and 5). Do it the whole length of the strip till it all has one fold over( photo 6). Then grab one end and carefully lift the duct tape strip off the mouse pad and lightly put it back down without pressing it into the pad. This will make it easier to roll.( photos 7 and 8). Then put put your 8 fingers on the sticky part and push forward evenly and the sticky part should roll and catch the non sticky side. your fingers should stay straight and just roll the tape.

Trouble shooting. Warning this is a frustrating technique to learn and will take lots of practice.

1.The tape doesn't want to roll?
lift the tape off the pad again and. gently put it back down.

2.The mouse pad is too thin and goes with the Duct tape. try gluing the mouse pad to something firm like thick card board or wood.

3. The roll always crinkled. make sure you are pushing evenly or cut the strip in half lengthwise and it should crinkle less.

4. Tip when making roads always try to make them longer than your desired length, you will almost certainly have to trim the ends.

Now we have one sticky rod which has its uses, but for now we need to place a piece of duct tape sticky side up roughly the same length as the rod. Carefully place the sticky rod on the edge of the strip. Put you fingers on it again and roll it across. You should have one completed rod, to make it thicker just tear another piece of duct tape and put it sticky side up and roll your non sticky rod across it. Keep doing that till you get your desired thickness. photo 19 on the far right is the rod with half thickness I took one strip and cut it in half and did the above steps. Far left rod used about 12 strips of duct tape and is really ridged. Then cut off the ends with a strong and sharp pair of scissors and you have a finished rod that can be used to the ends of your imagination!

Duct tape rods cut list
12 rods at 6 1/2 inch
7 rods at 1 1/4 inch
4 rods at 2 1/2 inch
2 rods at just under 2 inches for front wheels
1 rod at 1 1/2 inch for rear wheel.

propeller rod half thickness a 1 1/2 inch . The propeller at 2 1/2 inch

Assembly, my favorite part! Grab four 6 1/2 inch rods put them in a square (photo 1) and secure all 4 together with two over lapping pieces of duct tape.

Wings! place four 6 1/2 inch rods side by side. Place a piece of duct tape on each end and one in the middle. then flip over the whole wing to fold over the other side of the tape.Then place another piece over the seam of the first piece. (photos 3,4, and 5)


Tails! put the four rear wings rods together and tape them in the middle(photos 5,6,7, and 8). now do the same for the Rudder( photos 9,10, and 11).

To make the whole process easier I pre cut a bunch of strips of duct tape about 3/4 inch wide( photos 12 and 13)

First put the tail wing in between the rods of the main body. Then put the rudder on top in between the body rods. Attach them together with duct tape. A strip on either side of the rudder and one coming up from the bottom should be enough.

The main duct tape wing! Center the wing about one inch back from the nose on the under side of the body. attach 2 overlapping pieces of duct tape from the wing to the body. Then to keep those pieces in place wrap a long piece around the body.

Top wing supports! Mark the center of each side of the wing with a sharpie. Then take a strip of tape put it halfway on the support rod (photo 9). Put the rod on the mark at the edge of the wing and fold the remaining tape under the wing. Once both rods are on, take a skinny piece and wrap it around both rods, this is when they will stay straight up.

Place the top wing evenly on top, then starting from the support rods wrap a strip of duct tape over the top of the wing. Take a long skinny piece of duct tape and wrap it around the supports to secure the pieces you just put on.

Take two rods about 2 inches long and fold them in half. Then place a strip of duct tape on each end with enough over hanging to fold over the top of the wing. I put the wheels halfway between the supports and body. Once the wheels are on wrap a long skinny piece around the wheels to keep them from popping off. The back wheel is done in a similar manner just use a rod about 1 1/2 inches.

The propeller rod is a small rod that only uses half a strip to make. one quarter of a strip to make a sticky rod and another quarter to cover it. The shafts for the propeller is about 1 1/2 inches long, and the blades are 2 1/2 inches long. Attach the blades to the end of the shaft by placing a short strip of duct tape on the blades in the middle. Then put the shaft in the middle and fold over the duct tape to secure it. Stick the propeller in the middle of the four rods on the nose of the plane, pushing it in about an inch.

Make a rod and keep adding layers till it's just a little bit smaller than the width of the body. Then cut it roughly at a 45 degree angle and again at 70 to 80 degree angle like the picture. Put the Windshield on the body and put a strip of duct tape over the top to secure it.

Now enjoy your duct tape Biplane!

I hope you enjoyed this instructable, if you have questions please comment and I'll do my best to get back to you in a timely manner.

Thank you!