Best project for beginner's pioneering?

I received an e-mail this week asking for advice on the best simple project for people who have never done any pioneering before. I suggested an A-frame, because it is a simple, stable structure that is quick to build and can be used for many fun activities.

But I'm interested to hear what other people think. What have YOU used for a first project?

The Combined Fish Harvester: vintage chain reaction project

Like the breakfast machine, this device comes from John Sweet's weekly column in the 1950s (page 104 of the 1953 Scout annual). He writes:


...
A rather more orthodox use for cast-off mousetraps is proposed by Patrol Leader Phillip Edwards of the 12th Stockport Mallory Patrol, but also breaks new ground by suggesting that we might all go fishing with baited mousetraps. What a fascinating idea!

J G Gardner, of the 95th Manchester Curlews, has had the same idea, which he has elaborated in his wonderful Combined Fish Harvester. This device can be set up on the bank of any stream when the water bailiff isn't looking. All you need is a couple of mousetraps, a few odd spares, a pair of pulleys, about half a mile of string and a fine day for it.

What happens is this:

The baited mousetrap A is anchored by means of a Highwayman's Hitch to the staple B, the releasing end of the string being tied to the spring-arm of the trap. When a fish is caught, the trap is released, from B and is hauled up by brick H, which also swings the pivoted pole D so that the arm O sweeps F aside and allows C (with the mousetrap and fish dangling from it) to the spring-arm of which is tied a match which strikes itself on the matchbox 1 and is plunged into the fuse of dry grass L, which lights the fire M, which boils the water in N; which cooks the fish (and the mousetrap), which is finally consumed by the scout Patrol. “Boiled mousetrap, if well seasoned with pepper and salt” writes J G Gardner, “should have no deleterious effect on the flavour of the fish, which will probably taste pretty horrible anyhow”'.

I now see that in copying Gardner's drawing for purposes of reproduction I have made a very silly mistake which will no doubt be at once apparent to one and all. No need, therefore, for me to draw your attention to it.
...

Theo Jansen's walking sculptures

(thanks to AxelHH for the photograph)
Theo Jansen is a Dutch artist who builds enormous, walking sculptures powered by the wind. He calls this type of creature a Strandbeest- 'beach animal'. I first saw these sculptures in a South African BMW advert (watch it here). Theo talks about his sculptures at the TED conference, and you can watch that video or download it here.

The question is, would it be possible to pioneer one of these out of ropes and poles? Theo uses PVC tubing, and works to very precise measurements for the legs of these creatures. But considering that he has also built a creature called Animaris Rhinoceros out of steel, it might just be possible. Mekanizmalar has an incredible animation of the walking mechanism, that lets you play around with different lengths of the various parts, for those who want to experiment. Any takers?

Water writing

Here's on for those used to celebrating tomorrow with fireworks: 'Tekes Esh' is a ceremony in Israeli Scouting that I have blogged about, where Scouts write messages and draw pictures in flames- using fire-proof pioneered structures soaked in paraffin.

Omer and the Shevet On group (sorry, Hebrew only website) in Kiryat Ono, Israel, had an idea for a safer version of this idea, powered by glow sticks(available from Amazon) and water. Omer writes:

"The idea was born because you have to bring firefighters here any time you want to light fire inscriptions (and that costs a lot of money) so we decided to think cheap...=]

What you need:
A lot of 1.5 litre water bottles (from recycling bins usually...) filled with water
An iron net
Iron poles (to lash the inscription to the ground)
Ropes (!)
Sticklights (and lots of em...try to get the cheap ones)

All you gotta do is lash the bottles on the shape of the letters (when they are already filled with water) onto the net.

When you want to light the inscription, break all the sticklights and drop them into the bottles (some whole and some cut into pieces)"

Thanks Omer - this is a very effective display that can be used where safety laws don't allow fire writing. Glow sticks can be a little pricey but for a special event this is really impressive. The good news is that unlike fire writing, glow sticks can last up to 12 hours, so your signs will be visible all night!