Creative Woodworks & crafts 2004-06, страница 53

"Wood 'N Motion¹'

/?>• Scoff Kochendorfer

Inspired by a vision of fun

Imagine driving along on a beautiful spring day as the warm sun beats down upon the green fields on either side of you. Suddenly, you come upon a field full of life-size animals and characters (like a snowman and snow woman, Santa, a golfer, etc.) whose heads, tails, and arms are bobbing up and down and waving side to side. You slow down, do a double-take, and realize that you have stumbled upon a field full of fantasy beings, rich with color and movement. Each is moving independent of the others, with its own rhythm and feeling. A big smile spreads across your face, followed by laughter.

This is the feeling that Roy King and I had almost one year ago as we were developing our "Wood 'N Motion" series of moving lawn art.

Finally, the "Wood 'N Motion" projects have come to life. It's taken quite a bit of thought and work, but for us it's been worth it. After much trial and error, we have designed a system by which the wooden lawn art figures require nothing more than a gentle puff of wind to move, and move they do! This enjoyable movement will continue as long as there is the slightest wind, and the projects' motions are really entertaining. There are no motors, strings, or flaps of any kind required; just a little help from mother nature. We call this the "Levair" system, which is based upon the fulcrum principle—and there's no rocket scicnce involved. All you need are common tools and materials: an inexpensive, hand-held jigsaw, 1/2" plywood or MDO (medium density overlay) board, a small piece of 3/4" hardwood for the fulcrum, some PVC pipe, a few pieces of hardware, and some paint. Painting the "Wood 'N Motion" projects is easy, by the way. Hardwoods are used for the fulcrum, as they hold up in the outdoors better than plywood.

Together again

It's been six long years since Roy King and 1 sold our company, Scroller. Ltd. We have reunited as a creative design team and, without exaggerating, we feel "Wood 'N Motion" represents our best work to date. Making one of these projects is really easy and fun to do. A bunch of laughs and good times are guaranteed once you and your family start creating your very own "field of dreams."

Editor's Note

In September, 200J. my friends Scott Kochendorfer and Roy King told me about a new group of projects they were working on. Essentially, the projects were life-size moving lawn art. After seeing a few photos, I visited them in order to see the items firsthand. I was not disappointed! The "Wood 'N Motion" project pieces moved simply by virtue of the slightest gust of wind. The prototypes included a giraffe, a cow, a pig, and several others. My only concern was that, at that point, the painting was quite simplistic, and I didn't feel this did justice to the overall concept. Also, I felt that some Christmas-themed projects were in order. .4.? it unfolded. Sheila Bergner helped out with the painting, and she really gave the projects a great look. Roy and Scott also produced a number of Christmas-themed items that looked good. Combined with the fun, relaxing motion that they produce, I really think Roy and Scott have hit upon a winner. Without rambling on any further, I'll let Scott give you some more details in his own words...

Tor more information about the Wood TV Motion projects shown on this page, contact The Win field Collection. 3150 Owen Rd„ Teuton Ml 48430-3428, or call /-800-Winfield.