These slides show most of the steps needed to construct a homemade remote-controlled race car. The prepped DPDT switches, 26 gauge wire, and motors can be purchased through AllElectronics.com.

1. Make a
Remote controlled Race Car
By Elisabeth Anderson
Computer Resource

2. Parts needed
4 bottle caps (wheels)
40’ black 26 AWG wire
40’ red 26 AWG wire
(2) DPDT switches
Straw and wooden skewer
(2) 3-6V DC Motors
6-volt battery case holder
(4) AA batteries
Cardboard box, cardboard, hot
glue gun
We will put our
switches into a
box instead of
cutting our own
controller as
shown here.

3. Hot Glue Battery Holder
Center the battery
holder onto the top
edge of the box and
trace around it. Use
a hot glue gun to
create a large “X”
inside the box you
drew. Press the
battery holder into
the glue.
Battery box glued in place.

4. Align & glue the battery holder and wires
Thread the wires
carefully through
the hole on the back
side of the box. You
can widen the hole
with the tip of a
pencil if needed and
then secure with
some hot glue.

5. Trace openings for the switches
Use the small
rectangular
template to trace
two switch
openings on the
lid.
Miss Anderson will cut
them out with an
Exacto knife.

6. Add Switches to Box
Orient your switches the
same way into the box so
that after wiring, the top
switch propels the car
forward; the back switch
sends it backward.
Miss Anderson will solder all
wires for you.

7. Hot glue the side of the 4 wheels
Smooth out the hot glue as
you apply it over the edge
of the bottle cap. You are
basically giving the
bottle cap some “tread”.
(The back wheels will be
drilled with a larger hole
for the skewer.)

8. DC motors
You will need only
two DC motors for the
front wheels.
(Miss Anderson will test
each motor, apply oil to
the spindle, and then
solder a negative and
positive wire to the
terminals.)

9. Attach Bottle Cap to Motor Spindle
Do not allow the
wheel to be crooked.
It should be
perpendicular to the
motor when glued.

10. Cut Your Race Car out
Carefully cut out your
car parts and put your
name on all parts.
You might need help
cutting this area.
Teacher can use an
Exacto knife.

11. Attach both wheels!
Attach a motor to each
side of the race car
using hot glue. Let cool
before proceeding. Hot
glue each motor’s wires
onto the inside surface
of the race car and
leave the long wires
trailing out the back
end.
The wires for the
right wheel should
be on the right side;
wires for the left
wheel on the left
side.

12. sANDWICH TIME!
Apply more glue and fit the
top part of the body over
the wires. Press and hold
till the glue cools.
Apply glue
where the dots
are shown.
STOP! It’s time to test your
motors before you glue down
the upper body.

13. More hot glue
Add more hot glue to the
side of the race car,
sealing it together. You
can use the nozzle of the
glue gun to thin the hot
glue as you apply it.
Apply hot glue around the
rim of the bottle cap.

14. Prepare the back axle
Glue a straw on the
underside of the
car’s back end,
centering it (the
straw will be cut
down to length
later). Not shown in pic:
run hot glue over
the straw to keep
it attached to
the body.

15. Glue Wheels to Wooden Skewer
Push the bottle cap down the
skewer, as shown in class. When
cooled, thread the skewer through
the straw and then glue another
bottle cap on the other side.
Note: Leave some space on the
skewer so that the wheels turn
freely.

16. Cut the skewers a bit beyond the outer cap.
Cut here

17. Cut and glue additional details to car

18. You’re done! Take it for a test drive.