A Saturday build + a summer of backyard games
Operation: Marshmallow Marksman
Build marshmallow blasters from a few dollars of PVC pipe in about an hour, then put them to work with six backyard games and printable targets.
Coming soon. Recruit Training Manual coming soon to Etsy.
Top secret · Recruits only · Grown-up Range Officer required- Ages6 and up, with a grown-up
- Build timeAbout 1 hour for the first blaster
- Parts costAbout $15–25 for 2 rifles + 2 pistols
- Format41-page PDF, US Letter
Mission briefing
One 10-foot stick of half-inch PVC pipe, a handful of fittings, and a bag of mini marshmallows. That’s a Saturday morning project for you and the kids — and a whole summer of backyard games after it.
Operation: Marshmallow Marksman is laid out like a top-secret Recruit Training Manual: two complete builds with labeled diagrams and exact cut sheets, Range Rules up front, six games from Target Practice to Capture the Flag, a Backyard Science Lab, a dozen upgrades, and a Field Kit of print-at-home targets, score cards and a Certificate of Marksmanship.
Order of operations
Mission 1 — Supply run
One stick of ½-inch Schedule 40 pipe and a few fittings. The size matters: it’s the one a mini marshmallow fits just right.
Missions 2–3 — Build
Grown-ups cut; kids measure, mark and snap the pieces together. Dry-fit first — glue is optional.
Missions 4–7 — Train & play
Range Rules, aiming, then games: Target Practice, Knockdown, Capture the Flag and more, each set up in ten minutes or less.
Contents of the training manual
- The Classic Rifle and the Pocket Pistol — labeled diagrams, exact cut sheets, photographed steps
- A true-scale Full-Size Cut Guide to check every piece
- Range Rules and how to shoot safely and accurately
- Six backyard games plus a Backyard Science Lab
- A dozen upgrades: mouthpieces, barrels, stocks, scopes, stands
- Field Kit printables: range target, fold-up knockdown targets, score card, Certificate of Marksmanship
$9.99 · instant download. Digital download, print at home. Supplies not included.
Range Rules (non-negotiable)
- Adult supervision at all times. Cutting, gluing and painting are grown-up jobs.
- Ages 6 and up. Marshmallows are a choking hazard for young children — keep them away from kids under 4.
- Eye protection for everyone in any game where people are targets. No shots at faces or heads.
- Blow out only — never inhale through the mouthpiece. One blaster per kid; no sharing mouthpieces.
Supply Manifest
Everything to build two rifles and two pistols. Buy ½-inch Schedule 40 only — Schedule 80 looks the same outside but the hole is smaller, and marshmallows jam.
Requisition supplies →Intel: frequently asked
Do I need power tools?
No. A ratcheting PVC cutter or a fine-tooth hacksaw does every cut.
Can I buy the pipe on Amazon?
You can, but a 10-foot stick is usually cheapest at a local hardware store (ask them to cut it in half so it fits in the car). Fittings, the cutter and safety glasses are easy to get online.
Do I have to glue it?
No. Push-fit joints hold up to normal play, and unglued blasters can be rebuilt into new designs.
Enlist for the next mission
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