Last year, Make: contributor, Jimmy DiResta, did a crowdfunding campaign to raise money for a makerspace he’s planning to build on his farm in upstate New York. For the campaign, the site ToyBacker partnered with Jimmy to create a resin-cast DiResta figure as one of the backer rewards.
The 10″ tall doll turned out amazingly well and DiResta fans were thrilled to have their own mini-Jimmy to sit on their shop bench or desktop and inspire them. But makers being makers, some recipients of the figure also couldn’t help but want to “improve” upon their DiResta.
Pretty soon, YouTube videos and Instragram images began popping up with projects based on the DiResta doll. Here are three of them.
Paul Jackman, of Jackman Works, combined the ToyBacker figure with another iconic piece of DiResta swag, one of his handmade, DiResta-stamped ice picks. The rest is… well, watch the video. It’s great.
Another well-known YouTuber, Tim Sway, decided that Jimmy needed to loosen up a bit, try his hips at some hula dancing. The result is a grass skirt-wearing DiResta that has been magnetized so that he can keep Tim entertained in the cab of his truck, or if little Jimmy needs to get some fresh air, he gets to shake his tail feathers on the hood on Tim’s pickup.
On Instagram, wood and metal worker Kevin Lizotte fashioned these trademark DiResta ice picks for his doll, using brass rod stock with needles soldered onto them.
Are you coming to Maker Faire Bay Area this weekend? Full-size Jimmy DiResta will be there. I’ve put together a dream panel on Saturday (3:15pm, Show & Tell Stage), called “Talking Shop Tips with Jimmy DiResta, Mark Frauenfelder, Simone Gietrz.” Jimmy will also appearing with fellow well-known YouTubers, Bob Clagett and David Picciuto, on Saturday (11am, Center Stage) to discuss “It’s Not What You Make; It’s How You Make It”. We hope to see you there!
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