BSC2023 Daeothar - Floating temple - Out

[Daeothar]

Ok, so I've had this idea for the longest of times, ever since I saw the concept on the web.

I'm going to make a ruined shrine or magic circle on a large slab of rock that is, wait for it... levitating.

Levitating through the laws of physics by means of a tensegrity construction. There'll be a rocky outcropping, with a larger piece of rock hovering next/over it, as if it was ripped out of the bedrock by mighty magical powers. The top of the rock will be mainly flat, with arcane symbols carved into it, with maybe some remains of a (temple?) building around it.

If my calculations will be right, there should be plenty of strength in the construction to support a bunch of miniatures on top, and it can be used as a sacred place or even as a portal to the underworld. Enough of an odd place to be worshipped, for sure...

Here's a picture of the framework construction underneath of the eyecandy, for those not familiar with the concept of tensegrity...



Best of luck to everyone participating; let's make it another great one!!

[OSHIROmodels]

I like the sound of that 

[YPU]

Very clever!

[McMordain]

Ohhh, this will be very interesting 
I was always curious how stable are these things.
 

[has.been]

I am looking forward to seeing this progress.
Good luck.

[snitcythedog]

This is looking promising.  Cant wait to see the start.

[Vanvlak]

I like the concept, and look forward to this one.

[Bearwoodman]

Looks like magic to me already!

[Burgundavia]

Ooh tensegrity! I've played with that, but not finished anything. Looking forward to seeing this built and report to see how it works.

[AKULA]

A very novel idea mate - look forward to seeing the build 

[Mick_in_Switzerland]

I am looking forward to this one.

[beefcake]

Oh wow! This will be good.

[syrinx0]

I am looking forward to this one.

What he said.

[Golgotha]

Looks like you already have a strong substructure that puts you in the lead. 

[Daeothar]

OK, just a message here to let everybody know I have not bowed out. I have been experimenting with different materials to create the framework of the contraption, but nothing has proven satisfactory so far.

I tried wooden dowels, but they're too bulky and unless I start doing actual woodworking techniques, the construction would remain too fragile, and adding metal bracers would add too much weight to my liking.

So I considered polystyrene rods. Which are light and can be welded. But the amount of foam I am expecting to add to the framework bends the material as it is not stiff enough.

But when I went to bed last night, I came up with the idea of going full metal on this one. \m/

I have a stash of (former) bicycle wheel spokes, which are tough as nails and can easily take the strain and weight (if they can support me, they can support a couple of lumps of foam) and the spokes can be bent into shape without losing their strength.

I will start working with the new material this weekend, and when the framework has been done, I expect progress to be quite fast.

So; regrettably no pictures yet, but it has been quiet on this front for too long, so I figured I'd give at least a small update.

More to follow soon