Flapping family transporter with 4 ocupants

This monster was created to celebrate the coming of an additional family member. A mere 12 months earlier we didn't even have a family. I've never claimed to be a quick developer, and marriage definitely proved that. What has not been shown yet is the monster to celebrate the 3 person family which happened a year earlier. This is mainly as a result of the wheels being non-standard and I haven't figured out how to turn them for a video.

4 Occupants in a flapping monster

The monster is modelled slightly on the Challenger aircraft which featured earlier. In this case the wings have a cranked motion instead of a simple flapping motion. This adds to the general movement in many directions, and is more interesting. I cannot prove it, but it just feels that for a heavier air craft the cranked motion would work better. Seems more efficient for big loads (maybe it is because the wing tips don't travel as far). Guess that's why birds tend to flap with a cranked motion and small ornithopters generally don't.

The construction is in between the woven wire grid used in earlier models, and the geodesic inspired but not quite copied open frame structure of later monsters. In this case the tail of the aircraft shows the triangular structures (for strength) which have been filled with copper wire (to look fuller).

The wings also made use of a new construction technique, with the edges of the wing no longer supported by a frame. Not the most successful experiment. I quickly went back to the more boring, but satisfying, covered frame type wing. Don't like the flappy material bits on the edges of the wing.

The wheels were made of family not friendly lead (old wine bottle tops). This was done to reduce the overall lead in circulation in the world to make it a safer place. All family members have been warned not to suck the wheels or lick their fingers after giving the monster a spin.

Old looking picture of some of the family which I would not have had if I hadn't moved out of my comfort zone.

The photo above was added as it has a classical feel about it. It was taken with expired photo sensitive film in a big Mamiya TLR (no digits were involved). It feels really old, but illustrates the joy of family and in-laws and dogs and wine etc. Below is the immediate family in the lengthened cockpit of the monster. The necks and shoulders have been constructed of recycled tin cans and allowed to corrode for ambience. The heads are once again made possible by the sacrifice of the local crabs in the Rhebok region. I don't know if any crabs were harmed before the making of this monster or whether they declawed themselves. I having only collected already empty claws from the beach.

Close up of the father, mother, big daughter and little one.

Well this is the last blog of the first year of blogging. I have decided to break it into years which coincide with my birthday. Maybe I'll find the inspiration to start year 2 soon?

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