Chain Reaction device

This is not really pioneering, but is quite an ingenious piece of construction. The task I gave this patrol was to produce a chain reaction device (like Heath Robinson or Rube Goldberg) in one and a half hours. I knew things would be interesting when I heard them discussing how to use a cell phone to start the reaction off...

8 steps:

• cell phone vibrates, then falls
• broom tips over
• (slight pause in this video)traffic chevron falls
• retaining pole knocked away
• rugby ball rolls down slope
• into hat
• unties highwayman's hitch
• releases keys which slide down into Koen's hand

Direct link to the video here

Large Gateway

I like to keep my eye on the scouting and boy scouts categories at SketchUp's 3d warehouse, and I picked up this gateway there today:

J. van Beijnen modelled it and says that it was based on a photo on the Dutch Scouting forum. Download the model here.
(see my tutorials to get up to speed on SketchUp)

a short break...

I've really enjoyed the last months blogging on Ropes and Poles. There's quite a bit of material up here, and I look forward to writing more.

BUT... right now, my mind and most of my time are elsewhere- concentrated on earning a Master's Degree in Architecture. So, until November or so, I won't be posting new content regularly. Take a look at the material in the archives (look at the links up at the top of the page), go out and build your own projects, send me photos, and I'll be back in November.

Peter

Zen garden

This Zen Garden was part of our campsite for Kontiki 2004, where the theme was Japan. It's not quite the real thing, but is an acceptable substitute for a Scout camp.
This sand garden is made with a sheet of heavy duty plastic (DPM from a builder's yard), pegged down at the edges and edged with cane. The sand was poured in and raked out. At the end of the weekend, it is simple to fold the edges of the sheet back, and then gather the sand up to pour back into a barrel and take back to the Scout hall.

Here is a detail of the rake, which our troop scouter made.
In case you are wondering, this also has a very practical application: we use a very similar setup when we need a large area of sand to demonstrate tracking skills- reading of footprints, taking of plaster casts and setting up of sand stories are all possible.