SmithsonianNSI Giant Volcano Kit

Years ago this kit was a poured plaster volcano that had lots of problems. They changed the kit to a string and cardboard base covered with plaster impregnated fabric strips that works much better and is lighter weight. I bought the new kit in 2011, and just bought it again in 2015 to do with another child. They started the new reviews from scratch, so my old review is not connected with this kit, but still applies:When my 4th child, my 6 yr old daughter, decided she wanted to do a volcano for her science fair project, I inwardly groaned. Having gone the modeling clay and salt dough methods in the past with my older children, I really wasn't up for doing this project again. So, I decided to make life easier and buy a kit from the local craft store. I brought it home, THEN decided to read the reviews on it before we started, as there are often good hints in them. Unfortunately I found this volcano had horrible reviews. No one seemed to have any success with them. I almost took it back, but decided to take a peak at the contents. They were completely different from what had been described by previous viewers, so we took a chance at it. It seems that Smithsonian has paid attention to the reviews and the new contents avoid all the previous problems. Instead of a poorly fitting plastic mold that you have to quickly pour uncooperative gray cement into, there are now 2 large cardboard circles that you use embroidery floss to weave a lava tube to. Sounds complicated, I know, but with an extra hand (I actually used my chin) to hold the lava tube in place during the first half, it really isn't difficult. (Use a knife to ensure the slits in the cardboard are all open before you start. Some of the pegs will have more than one string looped over them- just keep the strings all going vertical.) I then taped the structure down onto a larger piece of foamboard. (Not included.) Then, 2 rolls of plaster impregnated mesh tape are cut into 6 inch strips. You then dip the strips into warm water and drape and smooth them around the structure, overlapping them slightly until the entire volcano is covered. My 6 yr old was able to do this part completely without assistance. The plaster was completely dry by the following day. The result was nice and lightweight. The string structure resulted in vertical groove lines that we liked, because they gave the feel of lava flow lines. In fact, I kinda wish we had intentionally made the grooves a little more prominent. The old kit had no paint and was gray. The new contents include brown and green paints with a little sponge to apply them with. My 6 yr old used a paintbrush instead, and needed additional paint because she also painted the foam board base. The kit also includes a small vial of lava "glow" paint that we have yet to add. There are no longer non-working eruption tablets, either. Instead, you are expected to provide your own coloring, vinegar and baking powder (creates a longer eruption than baking soda, according to the directions). But, we have those on hand and specific amounts and instructions are given, so we expect success when we try it tonight. I don't usually write reviews, but felt I had to so people would know that this kit is no longer such a bust. It's been the easy experience I had hoped for! It's too bad Smithsonian doesn't get a fresh review slate to go with the new and improved contents. (Note: I don't know if the old kits are still out on the market. The box our kit came in looked exactly like the one above, except with a sticker touting the glow paint that it came with.)Edited to add: We added the glow paint. It isn't much, but is pretty impressive looking when the lights are turned off. The recommended amounts of baking powder and vinegar aren't really enough. It's more of a bubbling effect. The baking powder makes bubbles for a longer period of time, but baking soda has a quicker, more dramatic reaction. Anyways, the kit was great. She had the most beautiful volcano at the science fair. : )Update: It's 4 yrs later and my youngest child also decided he wanted to do a volcano for the science fair. Remembering this kit, we went ahead and got another one. He's 8 and my 15 yr old assembled the cardboard structure for him. We duct taped it down to a foam board and he plastered the strips on, then painted it and the foam board with his 10 yr old sister and 7 yr old friend. You definitely need more paint and a paint brushes in addition to what is in the kit. They now require a scientific method experiment at the science fair, so we tested a variety of volcano eruption recipes: vinegar+baking soda, vinegar+baking powder, peroxide+yeast+dish soap, mentos+coke, and ketchup+dish soap+baking soda to see what was the best. Based on our results, we created our own recipe: 50 ml dish soap+150ml vinegar+1 T baking soda. Baking soda makes the biggest reaction and is dramatically fast, while the dish soap makes bubbles that last. Note: the above recipe is too big for the volcano which holds only 1/4 c liquid. We'll have to size it down when we demonstrate it at the fair this week.

Straightforward volcano kit. Warning: It is a bit messy to construct. Plaster-coated strips flake, so be sure to put a drop cloth underneath! Double sided tape is provided to construct the frame of the volcano but I used a hot glue gun instead. It came out great and the kids all had fun helping me create this. I deducted one star because I don't think there was an adequate amount of paint provided. I had to add about 1oz of my own brown craft paint and also some additional orange to do a really good job covering the structure and create a good "lava flow" effect. The glow in the dark orange "lava" paint provided was a nice touch. The instructions for construction of the volcano or printed on the back of a nice poster with images and facts about volcanoes. Other than the insufficient amount of paint this was a fun activity for the kids and great value for the money.

Buy this to have a structure but instead of the tube it has for the explosion, use a plastic water bottle. One, it won’t leak through the foam sticker at the end and two you can have a bigger explosion.Also, I felt it didn’t have enough plaster and I bought an additional package at the craft store. In the end, it was useful and my son was able to use most of it for his school project.

This was a project for school and it was so easy. I e built the volcano in less than 10 minutes. We added some of our own paint and placed it on a tray. Super easy and a great value for the price.

The volcano itself was pretty great (we got the newer kind with plaster strips instead of a mold), but I was disappointed that the paints included had completely dried up. We couldn't use them at all. I had to run and buy craft paint to use, and my son was awfully disappointed that the glow-in-the-dark lava paint was not usable.I followed the included instructions to use baking powder and vinegar instead of baking soda and it didn't work at all. It's possible that my baking powder needs to be replaced, though.The box is a little misleading, in my opinion. It says that it includes two volcano bases, which suggests to me that you can make two volcanoes with the kit. Not the case - you use both bases for one volcano. I also thought that it included something to make the actual lava eruption glow, but it's just the paint.