This multi-colored jumble of 'helium' balloons looked to both Janet and me as something that should be in a circus, hence the name Calliope. Left-over styrofoam balls from other projects, burned-out blow-dryer motors, a toilet tank float, two turkey breastbones, zipties, string, friendly pilot.
This little flyer was dubbed Scapular Ornithopter by a commenter on social media. "Scapular" because the assorted winglets look like shoulder blades; and "ornithopter" because the wings look like they might flap like a bird's. BTW, 'ornithopter' comes from the Greek words for 'bird' and 'wing.'
The hemispherical main body comes from a broken blow dryer. The rest is made from typical materials: turkey bones, bamboo skewers, mylar sheets. The motor is from an old 1/35 scale tank model, with some additions. Some curvy wooden bits are leftovers from an old wooden ship kit, The shape of the control surfaces is taken from the wing of a Spitfire, with the wing-root rounded off.
Another cranberry-juice plastic jug project. For a couple of years now I've been accumulating short and stout humerus bones from turkeys, but haven't had much use for them. Nice to see how much they contribute to this strong and sturdy theme.
Kitchen cleaner bottle, Port wine stoppers, ping-pong ball, leaky faucet cartridge, electrical tape, gypsum-board anchors, alligator clips, blowdryer grille, wire cap, turkey bones; and unused bits from a 1/35 Panther kit. I anticipate that this vessel orbits Earth in the space junk field, culling out the more dangerous and/or valuable bits. Royal Thai Air Force elephant insignia seem appropriate.
Cranberry juice jug, blowdryer handle, orange juice pulltab, gypsum board anchors, clothespin, a few turkey bones. I found the teddybear eyes in my mother's sewing stash years ago, finally put 'em to use.
