I found a way to build a hovercraft! I used a garbage bag (with one end closed of course), a cardboard platform, and finally a vacuum cleaner. I also used duct tape around the bottom holes; that way it would be harder to break. Later I'll buy some tarp and replace the more fragile garbage bag.
coo that sounds exciting and great fun too :smile:
I finished the second model on Chismas eve (I've been on vacation, so couldn't mention it earlier. The bottom was made of tarp and the top a plastic sled. Unfortunatly it didn't work as well as the last, because despite duct taping the tarp wouldn't stick to the sled when the air was on. Perhaps later I'll a better way to put it on.
hovercraft--what is it? what's is supposed to do?
hovercraft--what is it? what's is supposed to do?
You know what a hovercraft is, just slipped your mind for a minute I'm sure. :razz:
http://www.hovercraft.demon.co.uk/images/Ed_Hurn_2.jpg
I'm sure it's not quite that complex, but you get the idea, your have a flat surface, and a skirt, and you pump the skirt full of air so the board rides up on a cushion of air, which has very low friction, allowing it to be pushed like it was on ice either manually, or by a fan. Main advanatge of a hovercraft is that it works exactly the same on any surface, be that water, sand, ice, snow, marsh, swamp or solid ground.
Nice work 
kewl!
Never seen one of these before.
I want one.
It sounds like something I'd like to build, but I always end up taking things apart to see how they work.
Do you watch Mythbusters? They had an episode where they made hovercrafts...
That how I got the idea (ok, I broke the don't try this at home rule, but the worst that can happen is that I fall over like Adam did).
Can we see a picture of your one LP?
I know it is not a hovercraft, but I put up my tent in the backyard a couple weeks ago and tried to lie in it with 100km + wind gusts. I could not handle too much and got out before it took itself off the ground and round the other side of the house. A bit like Oz. YOu want to get your creation off the ground- I want to keep mine secure. Good luck!
becca
Can we see a picture of your one LP?
I know it is not a hovercraft, but I put up my tent in the backyard a couple weeks ago and tried to lie in it with 100km + wind gusts. I could not handle too much and got out before it took itself off the ground and round the other side of the house. A bit like Oz. YOu want to get your creation off the ground- I want to keep mine secure. Good luck!
becca
Well, I don't have a digital camrea. Anyway my third design will use a lawn mower engine, as eletric motors need to be plug in to an outlet and it will also use a diffrent sled. If it works (or if it doesn't) I'll posted about it.
I often dream of building a large Van der Graaf generator, using a washing machine motor to drive the charging belt.
Are electrostatic machines "cool?" I had no idea. How can one know such a thing?
I'm not going into my weird ideas I picked up somewhere to build actual Tesla coils at home. Those things can cause too much damage in untrained hands.
You can build your hovercraft from electrics completely if you have low-voltage electronics to drive everything. I'm not sure computer case fans would be powerful enough to lift anything (except their own weight), also depending on the scale you're building. If you're doing a hovercraft that will be driven by a person, it'll probably be a different story...
May i recommend a home-built gas turbine or two (from automobile turbochargers) for the powering of your hovercraft?
I'll stick to building flight simulators for the time being... don't have the tools to weld and do other metal machining, or else you'd already have found a movie of my own jet engine running over here