Madagascar Institute » Builds

Propane Propelled Gyroscopes – The Ride of the Future

Boris Klompus — Tue, 23 Nov 2010 16:40:03 +0000

Looking to add a little thrill to your chrome future?

My next project is an amusement device, based on those from the
past also wishing to push the envelope (be sure to snoop around the referenced by links for some great stuff):
http://www.google.com/patents?vid=USPAT846925,

http://www.google.com/patents/about?id=TChzAAAAEBAJ&dq=3141669,

http://www.google.com/patents/about?id=Dcc0AAAAEBAJ, with a fiery
twist.

It will be a gyroscope ride – 3 gimbals, with a rider inside -
however, each gimbal will have a propane cannon attached, top and
bottom, facing opposite directions. The rider, mounted inside the
inner most gimbal, will have throttle controls in each hand, bars with
big red buttons, giving control over direction and thrust, to propel
the gimbal rings and him or herself for a hell of a ride. The desired
effect is not only to allow the rider to experience a gyroscopic
effect, but also to send the fiery cannons spinning overhead, in the
periphery, and in front and behind. The ride will be hot.

Gaylen Hamilton: DIY Surgeon in action!

hans — Fri, 17 Sep 2010 15:36:19 +0000

Surgery at Mada!

hans — Thu, 16 Sep 2010 22:30:41 +0000

Hackett cut himself. Bad. He was attacked by a piece a metal. A sharp piece of metal. A sharp and mean piece of metal. Gaylen can now add “surgeon” to his resume. Coming soon: new class! Gaylen teaches DIY Surgery!

Chariot

lnzy — Thu, 16 Sep 2010 02:49:56 +0000

Max runs off with the chariot.

Monday, Sept. 13, 10am

stalker52 — Thu, 16 Sep 2010 00:18:53 +0000

Subject: Lindsay / Mood: Oblivious / Work: Driving to the ends of Brooklyn to buy and cut steel for the 360 swing

Subject was observed being very badass.

playing with scale

hans — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 19:51:03 +0000

Here’s some pics of the signage that my Queens Museum english class has produced so far:

Work on Voo-Doo Lilly

stalker52 — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 19:36:34 +0000

Lindsay and I spent a quiet afternoon developing new poisons and dangerous contrivances for the delight and enlightenment of the children.

signs/banners/backdrops update

hans — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 15:21:53 +0000

So, we had a lovely day arting in tents outside the Queens Museum… Here’s an update and some images of what we did, we’ll be continuing to work next week Sunday from 1pm-5pm and it would be most awesome if any of you joined.

Banners (posters)

Jet Ponies – underway
Voodoo Lily – underway
360 swing – underway

Backdrops (details)

Voodoo Lily – underway (image of some flower details attached)

Installation ready
(We’ve been creating stuff that can be used to create a sense of environment and installation in situ, once we know where everything goes… some of this may go in the chariot racing area.)

streamers (272 feet so far!) (image attached, it’s the red, yellow and black stuff)
circles (see image)

-Rivka

today was a day of motors

hans — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 03:19:46 +0000

Jhosef and I started off taking apart the tiny carb for the go-ped little mini scooter, that had a former life serving Erok as his playa ride. We got the thing apart into lots of tiny little pieces and pulled all the mystery bits of red rubber out, and re-assembled it back on to the motor. Jhosef went back to working bigger motors, and Hackett stepped up to get this go-ped running. Hackett tried to convince me to keep the go-ped on the improv workbench, but it just seemed so much easier to do it on the ground. Besides we could test the clutch. The thing now started and ran for a bit, albeit with lots of starter fluid. So Hackett pegged the throttle and we tried again. This time it really worked when I started, the motor raced, the clutch kicked in, and the go-ped went flying into a pile of metal. The motor didn’t quit there, the thing jumped around like a wounded alligator, while Lindsay and Jhosef came running out to see what made that big crash, only to see Hackett and me wrestling with a very live go-ped that would not do anything but full throttle. After trying all the stop switched, Hackett finally calmed the thing by slowing turning the throttle set screw until the thing started idling, and eventually died. Lindsay now has a motor for her chariot!

A bunch of work later, next up came Jhosef out to prove that “You are not going to win with brakes”. He got his brakeless Vespa-powered chariot running in the shop, so we hoisted it out the doors sideways, since that’s the only way it would fit. He then started it up and took off down the sideway, chasing a few pedestrians for a bit, then turning around in the intersection and almost taking a spill sideways. He then zoomed by the shop and started dragging his foot in a desparate attempt to slow the thing down. If he can armor it up a bit, looks like he’ll be the fastest chariot on the loop for Maker!

Voodoo Lily

lnzy — Sun, 05 Sep 2010 03:16:37 +0000

The VooDoo Lily is well under way thanks to our fabulous crew. We have many parts cut out and the shop is starting to crawl with snake like flaming buds and biting venus fly traps.
Jacquie, Townsend, and Nina were the first to jump in and make things happen. The photos don’t live up to the real thing but, here is a taste.
Come Join the crew. We still need motion experts as well as more wheels painted, flowers welded, mesh put on the forms and leaves cut out…and costumes if anyone has time.

Next work day is Sunday at 2:00pm

See you soon,
Lindsay