Fun & Games

The latest DIY ideas, techniques and tools for bikes, rockets, R/C vehicles, toys and other diversions.

Hardware store chessmen

Dan Woods, Associate Publisher of MAKE tipped me off to Julia Suits’ chess pieces made from nuts and bolts. She writes: Headed toward the light-bulb aisle in my local hardware store a few years ago,I stopped to admire the bins of nuts,bolts and the like. This is not unusual for me who likens this kind […]

In the Maker Shed: SolarSpeeder Kit

In the Maker Shed: SolarSpeeder Kit

Available in the Maker Shed at http://www.makershed.com

The SolarSpeeder Kit from the Maker Shed is a really fun kit to make and race. The kit comes with detailed instructions, and is easy enough for even a beginner to assemble. I really like the contoured circuit board, especially the gold flames. It really was amazing how fast this little solar racer ran across the floor after just a minute or two of charging. Next I have to try out some of the upgrades. I’ll keep you updated.

LEGO NXT 3D scanner

LEGO NXT 3D scanner

LEGO hacker Philo Hurbain needed a way to model some of the more complex LEGO parts for use in the LDraw LEGO CAD program. Most LEGO parts are easy to model, but something like the tiny LEGO frog, shown above, is a little more tricky. Philo’s solution: a 3D scanner made entirely of LEGO, save […]

Wearable metadata

Wearable metadata

Patty Maes of the Fluid Interfaces Group at the MIT Media Lab introduces what may be the must have gadget in the not so far future. The SixthSense prototype is comprised of a pocket projector, a mirror and a camera. The hardware components are coupled in a pendant like mobile wearable device. Both the projector […]