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Tue, 30 Jan 2007 08:24:40 -0700 |
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The Exhibit Guys Inc. |
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ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers
Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related institutions.
*****************************************************************************
Hello Chris,
I built this exhibit when I worked at the New York Hall of Science over
20 years ago now - hard for me to believe I'm getting to be (though not
quite) - an old timer.
So, you are forcing me to disturb a few cobwebs, but this is what I
remember....
I built up my blocks from polyethylene foam. At the time I could get it
in 3 lb, 6 lb and 9 lb densities. I believe I went with 6 lb, because it
was firm enough, but not too firm or too heavy for little people to more
around. It came in 2" thick slabs. I had a plastics shop laminate 7
slabs (14" thick) then we cut them into the needed shapes. At the time
only white foam was available so I had these blocks covered in 'Cordura'
(pack cloth) which was removable using Velcro. Now, it is available in
black and maybe some other colors.
It made a strong arch. I have a picture of about 6 kids standing on it.
It could easily handle 300lbs. Because of that I had trouble making the
abutments strong enough! They were plywood but covered in the same foam
in case of falls. I also surrounded the thing in spongy carpet tiles at
least 6' in all directions.
This was a great exhibit for several reasons in my mind. It was
difficult to build by yourself so it encouraged cooperation. It started
as a pile of stuff and ended in a nice construction, which you could
walk across and then break apart. Really nice.
Joe Ruggiero
www.TheExhibitGuys.com
Chris Sancomb wrote:
> ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers
> Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related
> institutions.
> *****************************************************************************
>
>
> We are redesigning a keystone arch activity that many of you are
> probably familiar with. Children build a keystone arch out of five
> blocks that they then can walk over. We had it made once, and the
> blocks, although nice and met most of our criteria were to soft and
> compress when a child of around 50 pounds sits on them. I am looking
> for other materials that will be lightweight enough for small children
> to handle, soft enough to not knock someone out when they sail across
> a room, yet sturdy enough to work under compression. Any suggestions
> would be helpful. Thanks
>
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