Whacky Toys, Whirligigs & Whatchamacallits

By Rodney Frost

Book Overview

They're playful and delightful, and they'll redefine your idea of what a toy can be! These charming mechanical contraptions will surprise and engage anyone who operates them-and they'll entice the creative woodworker too, because these whirligigs are as much fun to make as to maneuver. Take Grandad's Night Out, for example. Over 6000 kids have already wound up this wild and wonderful gadget with its handsomely dressed dancing figure on a box. Musically inclined woodworkers might make the pianist at his instrument. Turn the handle and his hands move up and down the keys. The secret to these movable marvels: propellers and other action-filled parts made from wood or metal. Full size schematics and drawings, plus detailed written instructions, will guide you smoothly through building, carving, and assembling such enchanting projects as Politically Incorrect Weather House (it contains a hygrometer to measure humidity) and Mr. Muscles & Little Ms Threemore, two exercise buffs who will work out for you!

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0806992867
• ISBN13: 9780806992860
• Release Date: September 2002
• Publisher: Sterling
• Length: 160 Pages
• Weight: 1.59 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 7.7" x 9.8"

Customer Reviews

Great Whiligig Plans

I'm a part time woodworker and always wanted to make some Whirligigs. This book is packed with great plans and ideas.

The only book on making automata with actual plans

This book features fourteen projects. Each project has a bit of text, a photo, and many nice vector illustrations detailing the project's construction. The artist's work is colorful, assorted, and playful. People determined to build an automaton are sure to find a project in this book that speaks to them. For a visually oriented person who doesn't need every step spelled out, this book is a gem. The drawings are very clear and complete and there is some text to help you through the tricky parts. In sum, if you have even a little experience working with wood and would like to build automata, this book will be invaluable.

A Beautiful Book

This is the best of the mechanical/whirligig books I've run across. Beautiful color photographs and detailed illustrations of Frost's very strange toys including dancing lumberjacks, boxing angels and demons, machine-gunning whirligigs, and the wonderfully painted 'houses' that hold the hand-cranks that give life to these creatures. An excellent resource for toy and wood-working ideas.