Oscar and the Bird: LED 3D Tractor

Gather the materials and tools indicated.

There is a black and white version and a color version of the template. We recommend printing this template on heavy cardstock.

Cut out the 4 wheels and the tractor body.

If using the black and white template, color the tractor.

Using a push pin poke holes through the front of the tractor where the LEDs will go.

Insert the LEDs making sure to orient the legs properly.

The Long LED Leg is Positive and needs to go in the hole labeled with +. The Short LED Leg is Negative and needs to go in the hole labeled -.

Flip over the tractor and bend the LED legs flat against the paper. Make sure to align the LED legs with the diagram on the back.

Measure and cut Maker Tape Paths "A, B, C, and D" using the diagram as your reference.

Measure, cut, peel, and stick a piece of Maker Tape down as indicated atop the letter 'A.'

The tape should hold down one of the Long LED Legs so it makes the electrical connection for our circuit.

Measure, cut, peel, and stick a piece of Maker Tape down as indicated atop the letter 'B.'

The tape should hold down both Short LED Legs so it makes the electrical connection for our circuit.

Measure, cut, peel, and stick a piece of Maker Tape down as indicated atop the letter 'C.'

The tape should hold down the other Long LED Leg so it makes the electrical connection for our circuit.

Measure, cut, peel, and stick a piece of Maker Tape down as indicated atop the letter 'D.'

This tape path should overlap path 'B.' and end underneath the Battery. This connects the Negative side of the battery to the Negative LED legs of the circuit.

Use Maker Tape to create a Tape Loop (with the sticky side facing out) and stick it down at the bottom of tape path 'D.'

If the Tape Loop is too large it may short out the battery.

Stick the Battery atop the Tape Loop ‘E.’ with the Positive (+) side up.

The Battery should stick down to the Maker Tape securely and the tape will hold it in place.

Install battery by pressing it into place atop the tape loop Positive (+) Side UP.

Measure, cut, peel, and stick a piece of Maker Tape down as indicated atop the letter 'F.'

This tape path will connect path 'A.', the Positive side of the battery, and path 'C.'

Fold the tractor so it matches the image.

Tip: Laying a ruler across an intended fold and using it to fold against is helpful in creating accurate folds.

Use clear tape along the edges to keep the panels together.

Your assembled tractor body should look like this and will have required 8 total pieces of tape.

Using clear tape make a loop of tape on the back of the two large wheels. These wheels get attached to the back of the tractor where it says "clear tape."

Make loops of clear tape for the two small wheels and attach them to the front of the tractor where it says "clear tape."

Congratulations! Your tractor is now complete.

Make more Oscar and the Bird themed projects! We've got more paper circuit activities to choose from.

Oscar and the Bird: Cat Card

Oscar and the Bird: LED Bird