This is one of the oldest wire monsters. It was created at the same stage as the dragon on a 3-wheel penny farthing monsters were created. This one is not a typical dragon though as there are no spines on her back (although it would be difficult to achieve as the back is left open).
For this monster there are no external cranks or levers. The pedals/cranks are formed from the axle between the wheels. Her feet are placed on the pedals, and drive her legs. Her one thigh is extended to form the lever which drives her wings and neck via suitable push rods. There is not an excessive amount of movement, largely due to trying to keep the mechanism within her body space, and partly due to not planning it as well as I could have. Anyway there should be a place for subtle in kinetic models.
Detail of pedals driving the legs
The back of the monster carries the push-rods for the neck and wings. They are all driven from a single point, so the mechanism is simple. The back of the monster is painted red, to show that it is the inside of the body. In this monster the coloured bits are canvas, which are sewn onto a wire frame, and then painted in bright primary (mostly) colours. To add texture to the body and wings the canvas has been covered with texture paste and slightly modelled. This was the only time that I tried this. I prefer the thin silk covering with a few patterns these days.
Back view of monster showing the moving mechanisms
The overall shape of the model, with ample thighs and tapered top, was not as popular in the 80's as it is now. It suited the model well, as there is ample space for the moving bits, and it also gives the monster a very stable rounded feel.
The frame of the monster was made of thick copper wire. This wire was sourced next to the road on the way to Elands Bay, where new power lines were being installed. This definitely dates the model as these days copper is stolen off the poles, and no one waits for off-cuts. Also power lines now favor aluminium in stead of the heavier more expensive (and desirable) copper wires.
The rear wheel was moulded out of modeling clay with a copper pipe for a bearing. This was a once-off and has not appeared in later models.
If a biplane was an ornithopter, would the wings flap together or out of sync? In this one the out of sync option is followed.
This monster was conceived during a sea-side holiday. During the morning beach comb, interesting sun-bleached bones presented themselves. I assume the body bones were originally the vertebra of a large fish but as they were found in isolation this is just a conjecture. The shape and size of the bones begged to be included in a monster. The rear body shape is similar to that of a coelacanth , a very primitive large fish (Coelacanth - wiki). The body shape was defined by the 2 rear bones. The additional bone at the front of the monster was just for effect and I don't know what it represents. A hood ornament? To enhance the primitive feel I have added a photo recently taken with expired Kodak Plus X (from 1988) in a Mamiya C330 and processed by a novice using old chemicals. I actually like the effect.
Analog black and white image of a bi-wing ornithopter
For this monster a variation on the woven grid covering was implemented. In the cockpit area the covering is done with a finer black wire and a random pattern instead of approximate squares. The end result is a more delicate finish, but I have not used it in subsequent models, yet. The ever-present crab claw face does make it's appearance. This makes it a creature instead of a device.
Example of fine wire random woven covering.
The movement of this monster is relatively simple. The wings are driven from cranks which are 180° apart. To try and get a symmetrical flapping motion there are 3 cranks. A central crank driving 2 push rods. Either side of this there are two cranks which are 180° opposed driving a single push rod each. These are connected to the wings and cause the upper and lower wing pairs to flap out of sync. The upper wing has an additional forward/backward motion. This is as a result of the shaft, around which the upper wing bearings rotate, being too long. I feel that the motion adds an element of interest, and have therefore not constrained it. This is one of those unintentional elements that come when using wire and not precisely machine mechanisms. If the wayward motion were stopped, then the relative movement between the pairs of wings would be more symmetrical, as initially intended by using the 3 cranks, but then again not all progress is as a result of intention. The nodding creatures head is driven from the central crank. Overall this is a fairly well balanced mechanism (compared with most of my other attempts). The whole lot is driven from a pair of lead cast wheels (do not feed this monster to kids), with a nose wheel added for balance. Generally I prefer a conventional undercarriage, but for this tail heavy monster this balances it out quite well.
View of motivating mechanism and monster
The wing and tail surface covering is once again sourced from an old silk parachute. This is stretched, doped, and then a vein like pattern in black, yellow and red paint added.
I have tried to create a relatively delicate monster this time (relative to the others). These monsters only happen by chance (finding bones and dreaming, or a faulty mechanism which stays), and are more a result of seeing what bits from that beach walk present themselves as, rather than forcing your design on the material. Initially chance should guide you, but sometime you have to take over so that you don't seem to lack direction.
