From traditional crafts to modern crafts, we’re covering news and interesting projects to educate you and keep you inspired. Design trends and pop culture related projects are here to inspire.
Brian writes in with the best and only resource I’ve seen that has most of the Head Mounted Displays / VR-Helmets in the market – “No instructions on how to make your own, but if you were going to make your own, you’d probably want to start here…” Link. See our previous use our previous us of VR glasses with the iPod VR.
Unmuseum.org has a great history of the first Kong movie including how it was made “Released in the spring of 1933 Kong, the story of an oversized ape captured on a remote island in the Pacific and accidentally released on New York City, was an immediate hit. The quality of special effects exceeded all previous pictures and audiences sat amazed as the giant gorilla chased actress Fay Wray through the jungles of Skull Island, and later the concrete canyons of New York City.” Link. In MAKE 02 we have a fun article about making your own stop motion films too.
Music to your wrists! Here’s the complete instructions on how to make a bracelet out of your old guitar strings. A quick 20 minute project where all you need is a few guitar strings and a soldering iron. Thanks Star! Link.
A Make reader is wondering about using “Plastex” – “Have you heard of ‘Plastex’? I’m interested in the home casting materials of plastex and friendly plastic – the former, in particular, anecdotally seems like it make have enough structural integrity to actually make useful items from and not just use it for gap-filling repair work as it is sold, yet seems much easier to work with than the entry-bar for other types of molding. I have not experimented with these items on my ‘to do’ list. (actually I did use friendly plastic as a kid – it melts however at high temperatures which could be a liability).” Have any Makers out there used this stuff? I’ve only see it here and here.
Arno writes “Just like the Yamaha papercraft site you wrote about earlier, this site has some nice 3D papercraft in different categories such as: animals, science, buildings of the world, seasons, holidays, games, kids, etc.” [via] Link. The Science section is my favorite. As paper becomes smarter, with micro-ink technology, these papercrafts will become 3D models that can also dispense code and information.
Greg Smith’s kids started a company that makes costumes for Roombas. The company is “myRoomBud” and they’re currently selling a few different variety of Roomba skins. Mooba Cow, Roor the Tiger, Zeb the Zebra and Spotty the Leopard. They’re motto is “If you don’t dress up your Roomba, it’s just a naked vacuum.” [via] Link.
Paolo writes “Here’s a project developed by the Federal Polytechnic School of Lausanne to build insect robots that are able interact with cockroachs communities.” On the site there are photos, videos, PDF schematics and software to download. Link. In MAKE 02 we had a Made on Earth with a roach controlled robot…something for these little guys to look forward to I suppose.
