The giant koosh emerges

[mattbell]

I finished the koosh core yesterday.  Now I just have to fill it up with noodles.

It's so simple, really.  Here's how each of the 12 modules is filled up with noodles: 

---

First, the noodles have to be prepped.  I worked really hard to get per-noodle work down to the absolute minimum. 
The prep for each noodle takes around 30 seconds and ensures the noodles stay in place by securely attaching a string to one end.

 

It's good that it only takes 30 seconds because I have to do it 276 times.  I do not handle repetitive manual labor very well.  I have to fight utter boredom with a good audiobook.  I dug my own grave on this one by thinking up this project. :-)

The noodles are then stuffed into the holes according to my coloring diagram. 

 


Here's a more interesting-looking module.  In order to ensure that the noodles bow out at the appropriate angle, the bundle of noodles is tightened together using a ratcheting tie-down, which provides the temporary compression necessary to attach a giant 48" zip tie.  Once the zip tie is on, the ratcheting tie-down is removed. 

 

Finally, the string attached to each noodle is threaded with wooden dowels to ensure that someone playing with the koosh can't yank a noodle out. 



Here's a few hours' work:

 
 


There's now a giant unfinished mass of project dominating my living room.  It sits there behind my head as I type, ever-present, waiting to taunt me again with its massive unfinished-ness. 

Comments

[sarcazm.livejournal.com]

it looks awesome though.

[derekcfpegritz.livejournal.com]

Now, the question is: what're you going to do with that big ol' thing? Do you have a cat the size of a small house? Or is it a toy for the Jolly Green Giant's son?

[nasu-dengaku.livejournal.com]

It's going to the floating festival that is not Ephemerisle, to be used as a giant pool toy:

http://floatingfestival.org/

After that... it will become a giant chandelier in one of various locations I'm looking at.

[derekcfpegritz.livejournal.com]

Excellent. If I were you, I'd tell people it's a toy for Godzilla, too.

[nikitanopants.livejournal.com]

This is awesome. I love the pictures so far, and can't wait to see photos of the finished project.