Amazing Projects



We here at B3ta love it when a plan comes together. Tell us about incredible projects and stuff you've built by your own hand. Go on, gloat away.



Thanks to A Vagabond for the suggestion



( , Thu 17 Nov 2011, 13:12) We here at B3ta love it when a plan comes together. Tell us about incredible projects and stuff you've built by your own hand. Go on, gloat away.( , Thu 17 Nov 2011, 13:12)

Monkeying with the Moon

For some years I've been working on a large model of the Moon - well, the nearside, anyway. It's about 50cm across, a size chosen to be as large as possible while still able to fit through doorways. It's made of fibreglass, with the surface modelled in Milliput, working by eye from maps and photos.



The project has been on hold while my daughers were young (kids are Time Vampires, and this is a long process) but I'm planning to get back into it soon.



Here's a picture; one side is the real moon, the other is my model. Can you tell which is which?







Obsessed? Me? Well, the clue's in the username...

( , Thu 17 Nov 2011, 14:30, For some years I've been working on a large model of the Moon - well, the nearside, anyway. It's about 50cm across, a size chosen to be as large as possible while still able to fit through doorways. It's made of fibreglass, with the surface modelled in Milliput, working by eye from maps and photos.The project has been on hold while my daughers were young (kids are Time Vampires, and this is a long process) but I'm planning to get back into it soon.Here's a picture; one side is the real moon, the other is my model. Can you tell which is which?Obsessed? Me? Well, the clue's in the username...( , Thu 17 Nov 2011, 14:30, 44 replies

I take it you didn't mention this to the adoption agency?



( , Thu 17 Nov 2011, 14:31, closed) ( , Thu 17 Nov 2011, 14:31,

Very impressive

the Vallis Alpes rille has always been one of my favourite lunar features.

Mainly because it's easy to confuse one crater for another, but not for a bloody great gouge in the regolith!

( , Thu 17 Nov 2011, 14:36, closed) the Vallis Alpes rille has always been one of my favourite lunar features.Mainly because it's easy to confuse one crater for another, but not for a bloody great gouge in the regolith!( , Thu 17 Nov 2011, 14:36,

I also like this area because you can clearly see the different mountains in the Apollo 15 photos

... and even make out the bend in Hadley Rille where they landed. Not quite visible in this photo, unfortunately.

( , Thu 17 Nov 2011, 14:42, closed) ... and even make out the bend in Hadley Rille where they landed. Not quite visible in this photo, unfortunately.( , Thu 17 Nov 2011, 14:42,

Brilliant



I do hope you’re doing this in your shed?

( , Thu 17 Nov 2011, 14:37, closed) I do hope you’re doing this in your shed?( , Thu 17 Nov 2011, 14:37,

Well the garage, in fact - the shed used for my other, odder hobby...

But since they form a combined shed/garage complex, I think I conform to the "Blokes and their Sheds" stereotype quite nicely. There's even a home-made beer barrel on the workbench...

( , Thu 17 Nov 2011, 14:52, closed) But since they form a combined shed/garage complex, I think I conform to the "Blokes and their Sheds" stereotype quite nicely. There's even a home-made beer barrel on the workbench...( , Thu 17 Nov 2011, 14:52,

oh! lets swap shed pics!



( , Thu 17 Nov 2011, 14:53, closed) ( , Thu 17 Nov 2011, 14:53,

gaz'd



( , Thu 17 Nov 2011, 15:52, closed) ( , Thu 17 Nov 2011, 15:52,

you dirty bastard



( , Thu 17 Nov 2011, 17:20, closed) ( , Thu 17 Nov 2011, 17:20,

Let me guess...

.. the garage is for the moon, and the shed is where you're genetically engineering a new type of monkey?

( , Thu 17 Nov 2011, 17:10, closed) .. the garage is for the moon, and the shed is where you're genetically engineering a new type of monkey?( , Thu 17 Nov 2011, 17:10,

Thats no moon.



Impressive MM.

( , Thu 17 Nov 2011, 14:39, closed) Impressive MM.( , Thu 17 Nov 2011, 14:39,

That's no moon.





[edit] Damn.

( , Thu 17 Nov 2011, 14:40, closed) [edit] Damn.( , Thu 17 Nov 2011, 14:40,

You can say that again!



( , Thu 17 Nov 2011, 14:43, closed) ( , Thu 17 Nov 2011, 14:43,

And again.



( , Thu 17 Nov 2011, 15:08, closed) ( , Thu 17 Nov 2011, 15:08,



Nicely done!

( , Thu 17 Nov 2011, 14:41, closed) Nicely done!( , Thu 17 Nov 2011, 14:41,

Your kids must be so proud.



( , Thu 17 Nov 2011, 14:43, closed) ( , Thu 17 Nov 2011, 14:43,

Jesus Christ.

That's fantastic! I take it the one on the right is the model as there's slightly less detail.



But that's fab, although technically you should have used cheese.

( , Thu 17 Nov 2011, 14:45, closed) That's fantastic! I take it the one on the right is the model as there's slightly less detail.But that's fab, although technically you should have used cheese.( , Thu 17 Nov 2011, 14:45,

Chee(r)s!

Yes, you spotted it.



Eventually I plan to mount it on the wall, then have a series of spotlights hidden around the room which automatically light it in the correct realtime phase...

( , Thu 17 Nov 2011, 14:48, closed) Yes, you spotted it.Eventually I plan to mount it on the wall, then have a series of spotlights hidden around the room which automatically light it in the correct realtime phase...( , Thu 17 Nov 2011, 14:48,

genius

an end to the misery of having to look out the window to see the moon

( , Thu 17 Nov 2011, 14:53, closed) an end to the misery of having to look out the window to see the moon( , Thu 17 Nov 2011, 14:53,

I take it you also have a map of surrounding meteorites that are due to hit it at any point

And have made a diary planning when to update it as they do so?

( , Thu 17 Nov 2011, 15:02, closed) And have made a diary planning when to update it as they do so?( , Thu 17 Nov 2011, 15:02,

There's a really

cool project on Instructables where some guy has ripped the guts out of a fibre optic chritmas tree to make a huge star galaxy sort of thing.



Would make an exceleent background, although I suspect it's almost as big a project as the moon model.



www.instructables.com/id/Star-Map/

( , Thu 17 Nov 2011, 14:54, closed) cool project on Instructables where some guy has ripped the guts out of a fibre optic chritmas tree to make a huge star galaxy sort of thing.Would make an exceleent background, although I suspect it's almost as big a project as the moon model.( , Thu 17 Nov 2011, 14:54,

Muahahaha, that's me!

:-)



I did consider putting a moon on there at one stage, but as I'd have had to mount it on a conveyor or something complicated, it didn't end up being implemented.



Pimptastic with the remote-controlled lava lamps though...

( , Fri 18 Nov 2011, 9:50, closed) :-)I did consider putting a moon on there at one stage, but as I'd have had to mount it on a conveyor or something complicated, it didn't end up being implemented.Pimptastic with the remote-controlled lava lamps though...( , Fri 18 Nov 2011, 9:50,

very damned impressive

that's dedication



(also could you please stick some teenie tiny little astronauts on it?)

( , Thu 17 Nov 2011, 14:49, closed) that's dedication(also could you please stick some teenie tiny little astronauts on it?)( , Thu 17 Nov 2011, 14:49,

Walace & Gromit

:D

( , Thu 17 Nov 2011, 15:17, closed) :D( , Thu 17 Nov 2011, 15:17,

The remains of a spaceship with Transformers in it.

Oh wait. That would be on the back, obviously...

( , Thu 17 Nov 2011, 16:12, closed) ( , Thu 17 Nov 2011, 16:12,

Unfortunately

at this scale, a human being would be about the same size as the wavelength of light, or less that 1000 atoms high. Difficult to carve in milliput.



Or, the other answer is, "I have, but you have to look REALLY closely..."



I know a man who can, though: google Willard Wigan, and be amazed

( , Thu 17 Nov 2011, 17:05, closed) at this scale, a human being would be about the same size as the wavelength of light, or less that 1000 atoms high. Difficult to carve in milliput.Or, the other answer is, "I have, but you have to look REALLY closely..."I know a man who can, though: google Willard Wigan, and be amazed( , Thu 17 Nov 2011, 17:05,

Only guessing.

Yours is the one on the left because of the visible curvature?

( , Thu 17 Nov 2011, 14:55, closed) Yours is the one on the left because of the visible curvature?( , Thu 17 Nov 2011, 14:55,

I like your reasoning

...and you're correct in that it was hard to get the photos to match up, when the real moon is effectively at infinity, while the 0.5m diameter model was only a metre or two away.



Unfortunately you blew it because it's the right-hand one which is the model.

( , Thu 17 Nov 2011, 15:20, closed) ...and you're correct in that it was hard to get the photos to match up, when the real moon is effectively at infinity, while the 0.5m diameter model was only a metre or two away.Unfortunately you blew it because it's the right-hand one which is the model.( , Thu 17 Nov 2011, 15:20,

I bet I know what your favourite song by The Police is

"So Lonely" :P

( , Thu 17 Nov 2011, 14:56, closed) ( , Thu 17 Nov 2011, 14:56,

Hahahahaha



( , Thu 17 Nov 2011, 14:58, closed) ( , Thu 17 Nov 2011, 14:58,

*chortle*

a) Very funny

b) How did you know I like The Police? Was that you in the shrubbery the other night? If so, the wife wants her knickers back.

( , Thu 17 Nov 2011, 15:22, closed) a) Very funnyb) How did you know I like The Police? Was that you in the shrubbery the other night? If so, the wife wants her knickers back.( , Thu 17 Nov 2011, 15:22,

but they're keeping my head warm



( , Thu 17 Nov 2011, 15:24, closed) ( , Thu 17 Nov 2011, 15:24,

Friz?



( , Thu 17 Nov 2011, 15:07, closed) ( , Thu 17 Nov 2011, 15:07,

You go up again in my esteem MM

Your Mrs must be a saint though ;)

( , Thu 17 Nov 2011, 15:16, closed) Your Mrs must be a saint though ;)( , Thu 17 Nov 2011, 15:16,

I have to say...

Top mooning there old bean. Most impressive.

( , Thu 17 Nov 2011, 15:20, closed) Top mooning there old bean. Most impressive.( , Thu 17 Nov 2011, 15:20,

Oh, lovely

I'm going to have to get into it again soon, just so that I can say to the Mrs "I'm just off to the shed for a spot of mooning..."

( , Thu 17 Nov 2011, 15:23, closed) I'm going to have to get into it again soon, just so that I can say to the Mrs "I'm just off to the shed for a spot of mooning..."( , Thu 17 Nov 2011, 15:23,

fantastico



( , Thu 17 Nov 2011, 16:07, closed) ( , Thu 17 Nov 2011, 16:07,

I am impressed

at this spectacularly dedicated pointlessness. And Although that doesn't sound like it, I mean that as a compliment.



I did guess left, because as impressive as it is, there is ever so slightly less detail and it's a little smoother and I figured it was more likely that you hadn't quite put in all the bumps and rocks than it was that you'd added extra ones.



But as I say, bloody impressive waste of time there.

( , Thu 17 Nov 2011, 18:01, closed) at this spectacularly dedicated pointlessness. And Although that doesn't sound like it, I mean that as a compliment.I did guess left, because as impressive as it is, there is ever so slightly less detail and it's a little smoother and I figured it was more likely that you hadn't quite put in all the bumps and rocks than it was that you'd added extra ones.But as I say, bloody impressive waste of time there.( , Thu 17 Nov 2011, 18:01,

It's so good

there are probably conspiracy theorists who claim that you've never really been to your shed.

( , Thu 17 Nov 2011, 19:23, closed) there are probably conspiracy theorists who claim that you've never really been to your shed.( , Thu 17 Nov 2011, 19:23,

Oh good shot, sir

I've been trying to think of a Moon Hoax gag - you've nailed it.

Excellent work. And thanks.

( , Fri 18 Nov 2011, 9:18, closed) I've been trying to think of a Moon Hoax gag - you've nailed it.Excellent work. And thanks.( , Fri 18 Nov 2011, 9:18,

I'm calling bullshit

There's no way an opposite sex member would copulate with a moonerd let alone bear their progeny. ;P

Nice model tho.

( , Thu 17 Nov 2011, 21:26, closed) There's no way an opposite sex member would copulate with a moonerd let alone bear their progeny. ;PNice model tho.( , Thu 17 Nov 2011, 21:26,

Yes, she is. A nice supermodel, in fact.

Sorry, couldn't resist.

( , Fri 18 Nov 2011, 9:16, closed) ( , Fri 18 Nov 2011, 9:16,

Oooh

Nice :)

Thats some dedication

( , Thu 17 Nov 2011, 23:17, closed) Nice :)Thats some dedication( , Thu 17 Nov 2011, 23:17,

<Vader>Impressive... most impressive.</Vader>



( , Fri 18 Nov 2011, 1:52, closed) ( , Fri 18 Nov 2011, 1:52,