All mouse trap cars require a mouse trap. It would be fun to create one's own moving mouse trap car. What are the materials needed to create one? What are the steps in doing it?

Here's how to create a mouse trap car's basic design and structure which would be used every time a mouse trap car is built.

The things needed for building a mouse trap car are:

1. Mouse trap
2. Kevlar String
3. Two pieces metal rods (4 mm in diameter and 11.5 cm in length) for the car's axles
4. One piece of Plywood 1x3 inches for side rails
5. One piece of Plywood 6x3 inches for the deck
5. Four CDs to be the wheels
6. Four washers (4mm inner diameter)
7. Eight rubbers (4mm inner diameter)
8. One metal rod (2mm diameter, and, for the lever arm, 8 inches long)
9. Scissors
10. Tape
11. One piece of wire (3 inches long)
12. One drill (4mm)
13. Pliers
14. Exacto-Knife
15. Glue
16. Wire-Cutters

After gathering all the materials you needed, here are the steps on how a mouse trap car:

1. Using the exacto-knife, get the side rail and mark a long line going to the center (like a hotdog) and cut it to create two matching pieces.

2. Make sure that the smooth side of the pieces is at the top by using the tape to indicate which side is the front piece. Then, settle the deck where it is wanted to be placed and put a mark on the two sides. Afterwards, choose where the axle holes should be. It is strongly recommended to put each hole on the edge to diminish air resistance.

3. Now, drill the marked axle holes. Be sure that the axles really fit the holes. Enlarge the holes if necessary.

4. Remove the tape once done with the axles. Put glue to the smoother side of the rails and the deck as indicated by the mark. The tape can be used to hold the pieces together until it dries.

5. Disassemble the trap by yanking out the staples unattached to the string and the bait holder. Then, cut the metal quadrangle so the only side left is the one attached to the spring. Keep the other side of the mouse trap.

6. Glue in the mousetrap to the dried car skeleton where the quadrangle is facing front. Glue in the mouse trap car's lever arm and the cut side to the lever arm's end.

7. Assemble the wheels and axles once the glue is totally dry. Slide in the axles to its hole. Slide in a metal spacer on the side rail. Slide in the rubber washer (pointy side is outside) then another rubber washer (this time pointy side is in). Repeat the steps in the other side and the on the back part.

8. Attach the wheels to the rubber washers on the four sides.

9. Wrap around the wire on the back side of the axle. Put a glue to keep it together. Be sure to let a small piece stick out.

10. Tie to the hook set in the lever arm's end the string. Measure the string's length until it touches the back axle. Leave an extra inch for the loop. Once sure that the loop can reach the back axle, tie a knot to secure then cut off the string.

11. Connect the loop and the wire of the back axle by circling it all-around the wire.

12. If everything is glue-dry, carefully turn backward the back wheels as the lever arm is slowly guided to the back. Set the car on the ground and see how it runs.

Knowing how to build a mouse trap car plus having friends or family to actually create one is more fun and promotes creativity. A mouse trap car can be customized base on one's preference but for now it is good to learn how to build one.