One kids favorite subjects to draw is birds and who does not love the toucan. Toucans are members of the family Ramphastidae of near passerine birds from the Neotropics. The family is most closely related to the American barbets. They are brightly marked and have large, often colorful bills. The name of this bird group is derived from the Tupi word tukana, via Portuguese.
How to drive a manual car – a quick and easy guide with pictures
Although manual gearboxes are commonplace, automatic gearboxes are increasingly popular –and the art of driving a stick shift (as the Americans would say) might be in danger of dying out.
If you want to learn how to drive a manual car read through our easy guide and find out how to do it in just a few steps.
(If you want to find out how to drive an automatic – check out our guide on how to drive an automatic car.)
Before you start
Typically, manual cars will have three pedals: clutch, brake and accelerator (in that order, left to right).
The brake and accelerator pedals are pretty simple – press the brake to slow down (the firmer you press it, the quicker you’ll lose speed), while using the accelerator increases the engine’s revs and causes you to speed up (the firmer you press it, the quicker you will speed up).
The clutch pedal is the one that makes driving a manual car more difficult than an auto.
Without going into too much detail, the clutch is essentially two metal plates that connect the engine to the drive wheels.
So by pressing down on the clutch pedal, you’re disconnecting the engine from the wheels.
How to drive a manual car
- Get in the car and put on your seatbelt
- Put the key in the ignition and turn all the way until the engine starts
- Put the clutch pedal down with your left foot (this the pedal on the left)
- Move the gear stick into first gear
- Use your right foot to press down on the accelerator (pedal on the right) gently to increase the engine’s revs very slightly
- Slowly lift the clutch pedal using your left foot until it starts to vibrate gently
- This vibration is known as the car’s “bite point” – this is where the clutch plates start to come together.
- Release the handbrake and the car should start to move slowly
- Increase the revs while slowly raising your foot off the clutch unit you are moving forward with only the use of the accelerator pedal
Remember – if you’re too quick lifting your foot off the clutch, or don’t give it enough revs, the car will stall: that’s where the engine cuts out and the red lights glow on the dashboard.
If you stall, apply the brakes, turn the engine off, return the gear stick to neutral and begin the process again.
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Animal Drawing: Toucan
One kids favorite subjects to draw is birds and who does not love the toucan. Toucans are members of the family Ramphastidae of near passerine birds from the Neotropics. The family is most closely related to the American barbets. They are brightly marked and have large, often colorful bills. The name of this bird group is derived from the Tupi word tukana, via Portuguese.
Materials: heavyweight drawing paper, sketching pencil, sharpie, and finish with watercolor pencils, chalk or choice of mediums.
Step #1: Draw guidelines across the center and down the middle of the paper. Draw a circle for the head and a larger oval for the body.
Step #2: Draw a circle for the eye. Draw a rectangle to start the beak. Draw the large beak/bill with three lines.
Step #3: Draw in your details and marking for the head. Draw a oval for the marking of the body.
Step #4: Draw a branch for the toucan to perch on.
Step #5: Draw tail feathers below the branch, notice the red inside feathers of the tail.
Step #6: Draw talons coming over branch, the toucan uses the talons more balance than to grip the branch.
Step #7: Time to create your jungle and finish your toucan with your choice of mediums.
