Remembering Mike Dorffler, Cineroc Creator
A look back at the man, the Estes designer, who invented the Cineroc rocketry movie camera.
Fun & Games
The latest DIY ideas, techniques and tools for bikes, rockets, R/C vehicles, toys and other diversions.
Scratchbuilt: Bell H-13D Sioux
More solid-gold scratch-building from The Internet Craftsmanship Museum. Shown here, the original M.A.S.H. helicopter in magnificent brass by modeler Ken Foran. The work is a commission for Fine Art Models, for use as a master to cast molds for a production run.
MAKE Volume 28: Toys & Games
MAKE Volume 28 hits makers’ passion for play head-on with a 28-page special section devoted to Toys and Games, including a toy “pop-pop” steamboat made from a mint tin, an R/C helicopter eye-in-the-sky, and a classic video game console. You’ll also build a gravity-powered catapult, a plush toy that interacts with objects around it, and a machine that blows giant soap bubbles. Play time is a hallmark of more intelligent species– so go have some fun!
Hand-cranked Toy Piano Hack Keeps the Tunes Coming Forevermore
When a battery operated device runs out of juice, most of us reach for a fresh pair of AA’s. But when his daughter’s electronic toy piano had drained its batteries, Dominik instead installed a hand-cranked dynamo to power the instrument ad infinitum. He hacked apart an Ikea flashlight to co-opt its cranked generator and installed it inside his daughter’s plaything. Now a little bit of elbow grease keeps the tunes coming while saving the environment and a little bit of money to boot.
Make: Live 10/12/11 — Toys & Games (video)
Make: Live episode 18 featured makers in MAKE v28, the toys & games issue! Onyx Ashanti performs and talks Xbees and sensors, and Michael Colombo explains his reflective improvement to flashlight tag. David Harris made Charlie’s bear (above), originally designed for his nephew with cerebral palsy. It’s a location aware plush toy with an embedded RFID reader, speaker, Arduino and wave shield to play sounds when it interacts with objects.
Scratchbuilt: Vought F4U-D Corsair
Retired dentist Young C. Park built this 1/16 scale replica of the WWII-era fighter plane mostly from common aluminum roof flashing, like the kind you can buy in big rolls at most hardware stores. Dr. Park spent considerable time and energy developing special methods for working this material, including an annealing technique that’s a real gem of practical hands-on shop technique…
DON’T MISS IT! Make: Live Episode 18: Toys & Games
We’re broadcasting shortly! Tonight’s Make: Live, our streaming show and tell, celebrates the release of MAKE v28, the toys & games issue! Learn about David Harris’ RFID teddy bear, Onyx Ashanti’s Beatjazz controllers, and Michael Colombo’s version of flashlight tag.