File spoon-archives/puptcrit.archive/puptcrit_2003/puptcrit.0311, message 114


From: CzechMarionettes-AT-aol.com
Date: Sat, 22 Nov 2003 20:37:48 EST
Subject: PUPT: Relonial auld Worpool toyppet


Cher creaturiste,

As Vladimir Ilyitch Lenin used to say "there are as many ways to wind a 
rubber band, as there are to skin a menchevik." and, "To make a spool mouse you 
have to break a few elastics" and finally, in volume XXIIV of his collected works 
(17th corrected edition, Moscow, 1937): "Experiment, experiment, experiment!" 
 

Indeed, the spool toy of our childhood would jump and spin and do 
loop-de-loops, but the in occasional outburst they would make runs in straight lines, and 
it was worth it.  Their other antiques were captivating, too.

Vit Horejs

For more info on The Czechoslovak-American Marionette Theatre:
http://www.czechmarionettes.org
 

In a message dated 11/22/2003 1:05:52 AM Eastern Standard Time, 
uubald-AT-magma.ca writes:
Dear  Vit.
Thanks for the info on the spool toys.

Sorry all you puptcritters if I seem to be getting kind of out of topic.
I'd sure love to make an elastic-spool system that works, so I could find
ways to apply it to puppetry. Some interesting movements could be achieved
(beanie hat, spinning bow tie, spiral eyes.... robot arms doing the
windmill...)


I tried on my own, and I can imagine the fun one might get to have.
However, I quickly realised there is quite the little grouping of physics
involved...
Please help a guy who's been stuck in 2D design for most of his life, and
only for a few years has he tried the 3d realm! I am really fascinated byt
he whole mechanic laws!

So far, I realised there are many factors to combine into a good equilibrium.

-weight of the spool
-lenght of the "anchor"
-lenght of the elastic
-friction of the anchor on the spool when winded (which I solved by placing
a washer between elastic
and spool)
-durability of the elastic

So far, I get a startling burst out of it, like a jumping. But no rolling
for any distance.
I have tried with many calibers of elastics, and the only spool I have is
standard home sewing machine size, made of plastic(much too light I guess).

So, I was wondering, do you any more details/tips about how to make it work?
Thanks!



>Kathleen,
>
>I hope ProfWill's explanation helped you, but here's a belated contribution.
>
>We used to make simple spool toys as kids in Prague: A wooden spool from a
>sewing thread, the bigger size, a rubber band through the middle secured by a
>short stick on one end (it may be helpful to staple, tape or otherwise ancher
>this stick to the side of the spool, and a longer one on the other, off
>centre,
>so that one end is very short and the other drags on the gournd at an angle
>(about 45 degrees, but you can experiment to find the best angle). You
>wind the
>spool by either running it on a surface with the "anchor stick" dragging
>behind, or you wind it in your hands by twisting the "anchor" than you put
>it on
>the floor and the unwinding rubber band will propel it along.  It lacks the
>string wind-up, and being dressed up as an animal, but as kids we could
>play with
>it for hours.  Of course you and your stepdaughter could eventually discover
>on your own how to figure out the wind-up and how to dress the spool or build
>it into an animal.
>
>Simplicity of wooden toys and imagination!  Same as simple rod Marionettes
>with only 4 strings as opposed to 36 strings & multiple toggles; or
>Marionettes
>of any complexity as opposed to computer games, animatronics and other
>futuristic nonsense.
>
>Vit Horejs
>


----------------------------------------------
Mathieu RENE, CREATURISTE
Marionnettes, masques,  etc.
Puppets, Masks, etc.

http://www.magma.ca/~uubald

uubald-AT-magma.ca
Montreal, Canada
(514) 725 - 5821
----------------------------------------------


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