Product Description

Rodney Frosts collection of playful mechanical contraptions will captivate anyone who operates themand theyll entice the creative woodworker too, because these whirligigs are as much fun to make as to maneuver. 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 woodwokers smoothly through building, carving, and assembling such enchanting projects as Grandads Night Out, a wild and wonderful gadget with a handsomely dressed figure that dances on a box; the Politically Incorrect Weather House (it contains a hygrometer to measure humidity); and Mr. Muscles & Little Ms. Threemore, two exercise buffs who work out!

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #40006 in Books
• Published on: 2007-10-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 160 pages

Customer Reviews

Making mad toys & mechanical marvels in wood
This is an excellent book for anyone interested in making their own automata, well illustrated and very practical.

However, if you already own Rodney Frost's previous publication 'Whacky toys, whirligigs & whatchamacallits' don't make the mistake I did and think this was an all new book, as ' Making mad toys...' is exactly the same book republished with a new title and front cover only.

Automata magic!
If there's one thing I hate..... it's spending money on a book that is nothing like what you expected! Thankfully I'm delighted to say that this book is excellent and probably one of the best books out there for anyone wanting to learn about mechanical toys and how to build them. The book works it's way through paper and cardboard at first explaining about wind vains and propellers and cranks then gets into some really good mechanical toys and whirligigs. Principles of gears, cams, levers, crankshafts and a host of other mechanisms are clearly explained and wonderfully illustrated in colour. Definately one for the shelf and a must to get you on the road to understanding, building and painting these wooden marvels! Excellent!!

Excelent quality automata book
Highly recomended. Other books from same author are of the same high quality as this one. 5 stars