Turtlecane

A rubber-band flying turtle. Set it up and launch it in five steps.

1Rubber bandover both hooks, inside the frame 2LEFT front: rear edge UP 2RIGHT front: rear edge DOWN 3LEFT hind: rear edge DOWN 3RIGHT hind: rear edge UP 4Wind here: turn the head turtle'sLEFT turtle'sRIGHT
Seen from above, nose up. Left and right are the turtle's own. The printed sheet shows it a little under actual size.

  1. Fit the band

    Loop a fresh rubber band over the hook behind the head and the hook at the tail, running inside the frame. Old bands stretch and snap.

  2. Twist the front flippers, at the narrow neck by the body

    Left flipper: lift its rear edge. Right flipper: push its rear edge down. About 45°.

    Twist once and leave it. PLA cracks if it is re-twisted often.

    LEFT frontRIGHT frontLEFT hindRIGHT hindnosenosenosenoseeach flipper seen from its own tip

  3. Twist the hind flippers the opposite way, at their tabs

    Left hind flipper: rear edge down. Right hind flipper: rear edge up. About 45°.

  4. Wind up

    Hold the shell with the tail towards you and turn the head clockwise — the right flipper goes down. Keep going until the band is tight and starts to knot.

    seen from behind, tail towards youright

  5. Launch

    Keep a finger on the head so it cannot spin. Point the nose slightly up, throw gently upwards and let go of everything at once. It flies about 3 m indoors.

Trim. If it rolls over instead of flying, add a little more twist to the hind flippers.

Before you fly

  • Not for children under 3. The rubber bands are small parts. Ages 6 and up.
  • Keep it away from faces and eyes. A wound turtle is a projectile.
  • Keep it out of hot cars and direct sun. PLA softens above about 60 °C / 140 °F.
  • Bands wear out. Two spares come in the bag; any thin household band of the same size does the job.

Real sea turtles nest on Cayman beaches. The Department of Environment explains what threatens them and how to help at doe.ky/turtles.