Making Mad Toys & Mechanical Marvels in Wood

Making Mad Toys & Mechanical Marvels in Wood
by Rodney Frost

Softcover
215 x 280mm
160pp

Published by Sterling Publishing Co. Inc., New York USA

R.R.P.$19.90

ISBN 978-1-4027-4812-7

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Sunny Days in Lumberjack Heaven

Monsieur Raquette et Two Friends

The Pianist, Definitely Knot the Blues

Mr. Muscles

Little Ms Threemore

A Politically Correct Weather House

As reviewed in The Australasian Toymaker Issue 1
(this book was initially titled Whacky Toys, Whirligigs & Whatchamacallits. All content is the same under the new title)

You'll have just as much fun making the projects in Whacky Toys, Whirligigs & Whatchamacallits as you will playing with and giving them to your friends and loved ones as gifts.

There are 15 animated contraptions to make, each with clear, easy-to-understand instructions supported by colour drawings and photos. Among these, you might like to try your hand at the Limberjacks, Grandad's Helper or The Best Government.

Beginners will find the projects challenging but achievable if they have basic skills in carving and cutting. The more advanced woodworker will appreciate and thrive on the fine, intricate work and attention to detail.

Author, Rodney Frost, begins with an exposition of the different types of propellers used in whirligigs, their construction, and how to make a pantanenome (a propeller that rotates without having to turn into the wind). A range of propellers are used for whirligigs in this book and a reference source such as this will prove invaluable for a variety of future projects.

The lumberjacks are one of the easier projects to make. There are templates for copying and marking out, and the steps in the cutting and construction of the body, arms and legs are clearly explained using diagrams and text, as is the carving of the facial features.

Grandad's Helper is a whirligig consisting of three main parts - grandad, his shaving horse and the propeller driven mechanism used for powering the toy. Drawings for both the shaving horse and the power source are provided using end and side elevations. The human form is detailed using templates and includes details of decoration and a suggested colour scheme.

For the more advanced woodworkers, The Best Government is a detailed and intricate whatchamacallit that will test woodworking skills. Consisting of an animated band of musicians on stage, the construction and assembly of this toy requires 'a great deal of trial and error'. This is due mainly to personal preference in the size and shape of parts, which can vary from the half-size drawings provided. According to Rodney Frost, the key to success with this project lies in a considered and methodical approach.

Whacky Toys, Whirligigs & Whatchamacallits offers a range of irresistible toy projects for children and adults, as well as some that can be used as garden and roof ornaments.

Photos: Colour

Units of Measurement: Imperial & Metric

Contents

Everything Moves, Propellers & Whirligigs

Sunny Days in Lumberjack Heaven

Monsieur Raquette et Two Friends

The Pianist, Definitely Knot the Blues

Mr. Muscles & Little Ms Threemore

A Politically Correct Weather House

Granddad's Helper, a Whirligig

Granddad's Night Out, a Dancing Phenomenon

Midwinter Mnemonic