The latest DIY ideas, techniques and tools for bikes, rockets, R/C vehicles, toys and other diversions.
This kit is amazingly cool and easy to use. POV (persistence of vision) displays show words or patterns that seem to float in mid-air; if youโve ever seen one, you know what a great effect it is. A line of LEDs flashes the Y component of what youโre displaying, and you provide the X by […]
I was looking for something to do with the kids. They raved about how much fun the rocket launching was at Maker Faire, so I brought some of that fun home with this kit, which is based on Rick Schertleโs project from MAKE Volume 15. The kit is an easy build, one or two hours […]
People my age remember red plastic toyย rockets from childhood that you filled with water, pumped with air, and watched as they leaped dozens of feet into the air. Well, things have gotten far more serious in the world of water-powered model rocketry, and hobbyists are reaching heights upwards of 800′ using plastic soda bottles, thin […]
Iโve built my share of catapults (see MAKE Volume 28, โGravity Catapultโ), and this floating-arm kit has thoroughly impressed me. The parts come pre-cut in solid ash, and you clip off tabs to remove them, just like the plastic models I built as a kid. A file will help clean up the tabs. Itโs put […]
The Rainbow Cube is a nerdy but gorgeous accent light consisting of a 4ร4ร4 cube of red-green-blue LEDs. Depending on how itโs programmed, colors appear to move, pulse, or wash through the cube in all directions, which is fascinating to watch. The LEDs connect to the PCB base via an ingenious structure consisting of thin […]
Drawdio is an electronic pencil that lets you make music while you draw. Itโs a great project for beginners: an easy kit with instant gratification. Invented by Jay Silver, itโs a very simple musical synthesizer that uses the conductive properties of pencil graphite to create sounds. The result is a fun toy that lets you […]
This pixel-scale,ย portable Meggy Jr game platform is fun for any gamer, especially those who know their way around an Arduino. About the size of a VHS tape, it offers an 8ร8 matrix of RGB LEDs and a lot of functionality with very little setup. It comes pre-programmed with Attack of the Cherry Tomatoes, a side-scrolling […]
