Dr. Cranky Posted March 3, 2008 Posted March 3, 2008 Exactly, you heard right. Here's the challenge . . . the other day I found a set of 6 ping pong balls (very cheap) at the supermarket and I got an idea . . . a ping pong ball challenge! This is more a stay-sharp exercise than anything else, but here's the deal. What can you build using a ping pong ball? There are no rules and no deadline other than you have to use a ping pong ball. How's that for a fire-in-the-brain puzzler? Any takers? This is perfect for some of you between projects . . .
Ron L Posted March 3, 2008 Posted March 3, 2008 I've had one on my desk forever, maybe I can "use" it now.
Harry P. Posted March 3, 2008 Posted March 3, 2008 What can you build using a ping pong ball? Hmmm....let's see... ...if I could use two, then a full scale, "anatomically correct" copy of Michelangelo's "David"... ...a Kermit the Frog doll... ...a half-scale model of a pool table... the list goes on...
Dr. Cranky Posted March 3, 2008 Author Posted March 3, 2008 The idea behind this is to keep it SIMPLE and FUN!!!
ismaelg Posted March 3, 2008 Posted March 3, 2008 What can you build using a ping pong ball? Back in college, I used them to model molecular structures. But I ain't going back there
m408 Posted March 3, 2008 Posted March 3, 2008 Driver and/or passenger in a full custom athletic supporter?
Dr. Cranky Posted March 3, 2008 Author Posted March 3, 2008 I think this one is going to do to you guys what it did to me when I first saw this: It's going to worm itself inside your brain and not let you sleep at night . . .
Olle F Posted March 3, 2008 Posted March 3, 2008 I don't know what ping pong balls are made of nowadays so I don't know if this still works, but we used them to make smoke bombs when I was a kid. Cut them up in small pieces, put them in a matchbox and set them on fire. Then close the matchbox and watch it smoke. My creativity might have been a bit misguided back then, but it was a lot of fun to glue the matchbox to a rubber band powered airplane and make smoke trails, or even better: fill the basement with smoke.
j_nigrelli Posted March 4, 2008 Posted March 4, 2008 sounds safer than my anacin bottles filled with match heads. or the green soldiers all set up and then squirted lighter fluid all around and torched the battlefield. now those suckers would make some smoke!
Ron L Posted March 4, 2008 Posted March 4, 2008 (edited) "Ideal for all around play" So are we limited to one? The whole pack? Edited March 4, 2008 by Ron L
James W Posted March 4, 2008 Posted March 4, 2008 Man, I know that yellow plastic is going to bleed through the paint!
m408 Posted March 4, 2008 Posted March 4, 2008 Aha!!!! How about a Mars rover with the balls as wheels? Sheesh, if only I had the skills. Let see, ping pong balls are about 1 & 1/4 dia. Seems to scale out to Super Donk size. O.K. guys, I can't do it but I know that you can.
Dr. Cranky Posted March 4, 2008 Author Posted March 4, 2008 I was thinking of only one ping pong ball, but if you want to use several, that's fine too . . . oh, and they come in different colors too . . . including white, so yeah, don't get a color that will make you worry about bleed through . . . keep it fun.
Billy Kingsley Posted March 4, 2008 Posted March 4, 2008 That's actually a pretty cool idea...Would you be suppling the balls or are we on our own to find our own sets of balls? Heh, that must sound really bad...
Harry P. Posted March 4, 2008 Posted March 4, 2008 That's actually a pretty cool idea...Would you be suppling the balls or are we on our own to find our own sets of balls? I think it's understood that each builder will supply his own set...
Dr. Cranky Posted March 4, 2008 Author Posted March 4, 2008 (edited) Yeap, you go with the ones you got or can buy. By the way, if for some reason you find you don't like your round ping pong balls, you can go for those plastic eggs that they sell for Easter . . . How's that to make the censors worry? This would have never flown(or sagged or hatched) over at the SAM forum! Edited March 4, 2008 by DamnCranky
Dr. Cranky Posted March 4, 2008 Author Posted March 4, 2008 Not at all, buddy. It looks like you drove your jalopy to the store and picked out a good one! Let's see what this round cargo ends up becoming!
Ron L Posted March 5, 2008 Posted March 5, 2008 Actually I think I've got an idea for a single ball. Easter eggs I've got millions of - I put a clear one away to use as a canopy at one point. Their "streamlined" shape has all sorts of possibilities.
Dr. Cranky Posted March 5, 2008 Author Posted March 5, 2008 I haven't seen clear ones . . . hum . . . where did you find yours?
Ron L Posted March 5, 2008 Posted March 5, 2008 I haven't seen clear ones . . . hum . . . where did you find yours?I don't know, it's grandma's job to buy useless stuff for the kids. It wasn't even an egg, but more of a bunny head shape. An egg with ears I suppose. Plus it was split length-wise unlike most plastic eggs. Here's something you can try:
Dr. Cranky Posted March 6, 2008 Author Posted March 6, 2008 Here's a site that will help keep you inspired about using your ping pong balls and scratchbuilding ability. Enjoy: http://www.fichtenfoo.com/02GiantRobots/02b-dunehopper.htm
Ron L Posted March 6, 2008 Posted March 6, 2008 I think I reduced my ball-vehicle down to 1/48 or 1/72 to better fit my plans. A 1/25 scale driver just won't fit in one. Virgil, are you on FF's forum as well? You should post the ball challenge there as it would fit the board's theme rather well.
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