Dirk Swart at New York Maker Faire.
At the Maker Faire his booth was in the neighborhood. He needed to borrow some LEDs. By the time he got to me he had them so I gave him a Squirrel instead. 🙂
All posts by Darcy
Laser Cut Squirrels in QA
I’ve been doing some experiments with new cutting techniques.
The Squirrel is designed so it can be made easily without a laser. But laser cutting balsa is definitely an interesting technology.
Here I’m making two machine cut Squirrels and a laser cut Squirrel at the World Maker Faire in New York City.
The laser cut version has a mark in the middle of the wing so you don’t have to estimate where the Wing center is. Also I noticed when your opening the package, it’s easier to get the parts out.
Once built you can’t really tell the difference between the machine cut and the laser cut ones. They fly the same and look the same. In fact, I can’t remember if the Squirrel in the test below was a laser or machine. One way or the other it was consumed by the Maker Faire sign. 🙂
Australian Squirrels with 4″ Propeller
We ship lots of Squirrel kits to Australia but there are a lot of DIYers there.
Keith Harbottle is setting up a High School Camp and he was not able to source the 5″ propeller.
The Squirrel should work fine on a 4″ propeller. The workshop is being deployed this week so we may get some more pictures.
Below are a couple of his experiments. He made a smaller Squirrel to see if it worked better with the 4″ propeller but I think he will find it’s much easier to just make a standard Squirrel then substitute propeller.
I’m curious if those 4″ propellers turn in the opposite direction. 🙂
Squirrel helps support Troops
Caley Hand of Twentynine Palms, California, USA has been doing some very amazing things that deserve some mention!
Model airplane enthusiasts of the world take note!
She has been making Squirrel model planes with dependents of soldiers who are deployed in Afghanistan and Iraq. She has been working with many children aged 6-8 (a few as old as 11).
This is not only is important for advancement of model aviation but it’s an amazing gift for these children who miss their parents.
Caley single handedly perfected building techniques, procured materials and cut all the parts (nearly 1000) manually. She then deployed her workshop to lots of eager children!
She then made up an extra 15 models by hand to give out to workshop helpers’ children to show appreciation!
Caley, our hats are off to you!
Any donations received will be used to send parts and materials to Caley to support her efforts.
