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Car with working steering

Build a sporty buggy with four separate axles, spoked wheels and manual steering. The open frame exposes the mechanism; turquoise sides, an orange seat and a roll hoop complete the cabin.

Age
8–12 years
Length
approx. 9 h
Level
Hard
Where you teach
Home
Purpose
Creative
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How to run this session

Stages and timing
  1. Draw two trusses
  2. Make four crossmembers
  3. Position and join the frame
  4. Fill the supported side panels
  5. Floor outline and ribs
  6. Install the floor
  7. Install separate rear axles
  8. Build the lower kingpin bearings
  9. Assemble and insert the knuckles
  10. Retain the knuckles and inner hub ends
  11. Draw the four wheel sides
  12. Build the wheel cages
  13. Complete the treads
  14. Slide on all four wheels
  15. Close the axle ends
  16. Make the tie rod and handle
  17. Connect the tie rod to the knuckles
  18. Retain the tie rod joints
  19. Build the seat
  20. Draw the hoop and cabin frame
  21. Install the cabin
  22. Add the low bumpers
  23. Steer right
  24. Steer left
  25. Straighten and try your route

What gets built

Build a vehicle that can be steered by hand.

What it practises
  • Building supported three-dimensional PLA structures.
  • Assembling axles, checking clearance and adjusting steering.

Success criteria
  • All four wheels rotate independently and the retainers stay on their axles.
  • Both front knuckles turn together and the tie rod remains rigid.
  • When pushed gently, steering changes the travel direction without rubbing against the cabin.

What you need
Filament
PLA
Colours
colour shown in the illustration, colour shown in the illustration, colour shown in the illustration, colour shown in the illustration
Also
3D pen for PLA: 1 item, PLA working mat: 1 item, Ruler: 1 item, Paper for drawing a route: 4 A4 sheets, Pencil: 1 item, Long-handled tweezers: 1 item

Files

The files for this plan are part of full access

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Version 14691987-6601-4074-8f28-84536ca53b64 Updated 2026-10-10

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