Archive for the ‘Home’ Category

Harmless Tool or Alien Probe?

Saturday, January 12th, 2008

Alien Probe?

From “The War of the Worlds” by H. G. Wells, performed by Orson Welles & the Mercury Theatre, broadcast on CBS Radio Sunday, October 30, 1938:

“War of the Worlds” poster
We know now that in the early years of the twentieth century this world was being watched closely by intelligences greater than man’s, and yet as mortal as his own. We know now that as human beings busied themselves about their various concerns they were scrutinized and studied, perhaps almost as narrowly as a man with a microscope might scrutinize the transient creatures that swarm and multiply in a drop of water.

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Whirling into a New Year

Sunday, December 30th, 2007

Blade CX2

My goal for 2008 is to become a proficient helicopter flyer. I’m starting from zero—perhaps less than zero, since I found learning to fly a fixed wing plane so difficult. But after two and a half years I’ve become a capable airplane flyer, and I’d like to stretch my horizon.

In the year 2007, I accomplished two compatible goals: I trained myself to fly lower and much closer. I’m now very comfortable with that style of flying.

I also learned how to fly inverted, another early aspiration.

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Fetchomatic 3000

Tuesday, October 9th, 2007

Fetchomatic 3000

Inspired by Danh Le’s slingshot-spinning reel hybrid, I searched and found a commercial unit on the web for $89.95 here.

But that seemd unreasonably pricey, so I went shopping.

A trip to Sports Authority yielded the following:

  • 1 Daisy P51 Adjustable Slingshot with Wrist Brace: $9.99
  • 1 Zebco 33 Reel filled with 10-lb. test line: $13.49
  • Several six-packs of 1-ounce sinkers @ $3.79 apiece

At home I found a 7-inch-long scrap of black acrylic. I drilled six holes, used two pop rivets and two black cable ties and, 30 minutes later, produced the Fetchomatic 3000.

The sky is filling with clouds and we expect rain tonight and tomorrow, so no field trials for at least a day or two.

I look forward to nicer weather and trees filled with planes. :-)

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A Garage Full of Everything

Sunday, August 5th, 2007

My Garage

The other day, Frank D was showing us details of his British Lancaster bomber.

He was particularly proud of the greenhouse-style canopy and the pivoting gunner’s turret in the nose of the plane.

“I made these by molding clear plastic on a wood plug, holding it in front of a heater at about 250 degrees,” Frank explained.

The clear plastic was left over from blister pack packaging, the stuff enshrouding most electronic devices, hardware items, toys, you name it.

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