Mario Kart Cardboard Hovercraft
Are you a fan of the Nintendo franchise? If so, you’re probably a fan of the video game series Mario Kart. Like with everything though, there are regular fans and super fans. YouTuber DanCreator has proven his superfan status with his latest creations; the Mario Kart Hovercraft and arcade cabinet.
Many people have tried to bring the Super Mario world to life before now, but nothing says truly creative than making something using one of the world’s most sustainable and recyclable materials available: cardboard.
After all, paper is recycled on average 3.5 times a year in Europe, and with 74% of paper and 83% of paper-based packaging in Europe being recycled into new products [1], it’s no wonder creators such as Dan are choosing cardboard as their medium for creativity.
How Does it Work?
DanCreator is more than a YouTube star, he’s also an artist that makes and assembles childhood memories using cardboard. He does so with very minimal electronics and always with recyclable materials.
For instance, his Mario Kart craft, and arcade game set have been constructed with cardboard and glue. The Hovercraft doesn’t fully levitate off the ground. Instead, it uses inflatable tubes with transparent bottoms to create an illusion that the car is hovering off the ground. To make Dan’s creations more sustainable, he often re-uses parts from one creation to another if he can. For instance, using the steering wheel from the cardboard arcade cabinet on the hovercraft reduces the duplication of parts.
Not Just Carts and Crafts
It’s not just Nintendo -inspired creations that Dan creates. Alongside his marble run creation, (which took over two months to make and features intricate ramps and curves) he has created a life-sized, fully functioning air hockey machine. He even provides templates for his creations in the description of his videos on his YouTube channel. So you too can create a cardboard air hockey table out of the paper packaging that you have at home.
Food And Drink Dispensers
Dan has created a cup noodle vending machine as he ‘thought about how to sell cup noodles for 500 yen which stocked for 125 yen. The switch turns on and the timer operates only when a 500-yen coin is inserted. When the lamp turns on, hot water can be dispensed for 100 seconds.’
Dan has created a cup noodle vending machine as he ‘thought about how to sell cup noodles for 500 yen which stocked for 125 yen. The switch turns on and the timer operates only when a 500-yen coin is inserted. When the lamp turns on, hot water can be dispensed for 100 seconds.’
He has also designed and produced a cardboard soda fountain. It has intricate mechanics with 90% of the structure being made up entirely of cardboard.
If you fancy trying your hand at creating some innovative cardboard creations like Dan, you can head over to his YouTube channel and get creating! However, if you fancy some smaller-scale paper crafts to get you started, you can pop on over to the Creations section of the Love Paper website and get your craft on.
Sources
- CEPI, 2020 + Eurostat 2018
- DanCreator YouTube
- Yanko Design
The Paper Fact File
Paper is one of the most sustainable and recycled materials in the world!
Visit the Paper Fact File to discover the facts about paper’s sustainable attributes. Some might surprise you!