The classic book for kids who love to build and play (and grown-ups too!). Eighteen how-to building projects for children, completely illustrated with general construction guidelines, featuring forts and other full-size realistic playthings assembled from common scrap material and recycled household items. Projects include: Train Engine, Covered Wagon, Twin Jet, Frontier Fort, Pirate Ship, Submarine, Helicopter, Navy Cruiser, Sailmobile, Western Buildings, Hot Rod Car, Stagecoach, Rocket Ship, Rocket Missile Launcher, Castle, Cable Car, Army Tent, and Native American Tepee.PUBCOMMENT: As young boys, we received "Backyard" Things That Are Fun To Build!" as a Christmas gift from our father, Norman Armstrong. It was an instant hit! We grew up with the book, making "backyard things" that, like Ray's experience, became one of our creative passions. Today, we are the proud owners and operators of Infotainment, blending information and entertainment into unique educational resources for children. We specialize in fun. Along with Ray Wallace, we are honored to bring you this finely crafted, completely unique, and inspired book. Enjoy! Gary & Wayne ArmstrongAUTHORCOMMENT: The contents of this book are intended to stimulate the wealth of imagination in children (and parents, too). Here is an assortment of things that children would love to build, all within their average abilities and ambitions.By presenting a clear picture of each project, without detailed and complicated plans, the child is respondent to his or her own resourcefulness and imagination. It is not the author's intention that each finished project be exactly like the drawing, but only that the pictorial concept will inspire a constructive effort toward these or any other things that are fun to build.Adults should inspect and approve the building efforts of children under their supervision and are encouraged to participate in the construction of these projects as well.By employing common sense and a safety-first attitude, all builders inspired by this book can enjoy many hours of outdoor fun and memorable play. Happy building!
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About the Author
Ray Wallace has loved to build and draw ever since he was a child. Raised in Corona Del Mar, California, Ray spent many happy hours dreaming up and building "backyard things" with his neighborhood buddies. Inexpensive, educational and pure fun, these scrap-lumber creations became one of his passions.Through this early creative play, Ray developed many practical skills which served him well later in life. As a teenager, Ray became the first boy scout in the United States to achieve eagle scout twice (eagle scout & quarter master). As a reward, Ray was selected for a "hunting excursion" across the South Seas in the expedition ship Stranger. It was 1934 and World War II was on the horizon. To Ray's surprise, he discovered the "excursion" was secretly charting the South Seas in preparation for conflict!Eventually, Ray put his drawing skills to work as staff artist for the Copley newspaper chain. After establishing his own advertising agency, Ray needed a "keep-busy" project between jobs. He began to sketch all the wonderful "Backyard Things" he had loved and made as a youngster. The result is the one-of-a-kind book, "Backyard" Things That Are Fun To Build!Over the years, Ray has continued to design and build. One of his many designs for the amusement industry is the Columbia Sailing Ship located in the Rivers of America at Disneyland(. In fact, Ray was designated honorary captain of the Columbia by Walt Disney in 1958.Today, Ray Wallace, renowned designer, artist, architect, licensed master mariner and ocean-racing yachtsman, is founder and C.E.O. of Special Productions, Inc. in San Pedro, California, a world leader in design, architecture and construction for entertainment park and recreation industries. Ray's international roster of clients includes: Six Flags(, Sea World(, Knott's Berry Farm(, The Walt Disney Company( and many more. A reputable award-winning artist, specializing in representational fine art, Ray Wallace is unique in his comprehension of art and architecture and its influential effect on people.
Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
FRONTIER FORT Think of all the fun you'd have with a real frontier fort. Here's where your troops can camp overnight, or plan patrols and wilderness expeditions. Maybe you could build a tepee village right near the fort and trade with the neighborhood tribe.Next time you are near a place where they sell bicycles, ask the salesperson for some bicycle cartons or boxes. These are big and sort of flat and easy to cut to make walls and doors. Be very careful when you are cutting cardboard and always push the knife away from you. Remember, when building, always think safety first. Get some posts and stick them in the ground where your fort is going to be. You may have to dig a hole first. Then nail some long strips of wood across the top and bottom of the posts, but leave an opening where you want the gate. When you have cut the cardboard, nail the big pieces on the outside of the wooden strips, then you will have walls for your fort. If you want, you can cut the top edge of the cardboard to look like sharpened posts, like in the picture. The gates can be two pieces of cardboard nailed to the gate posts. You don't need hinges because the cardboard will bend. You should make the walls about as high as your head or maybe a little higher. If you have room in your backyard or in a vacant lot, you can make it pretty big, but you should get some friends to help you. Maybe you can find some more lumber and boxes and sawhorses, and build a general's headquarters and ramparts to shoot toy guns from. A cot under the ramparts makes a good hospital. A good idea is to make the gate big enough to get the covered wagon or stage coach inside, so you can save the settlers from outside attacks.
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3 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Amazing, just amazing,
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This review is from: Backyard Things That Are Fun to Build (Hardcover)
With nothing much to do last weekend I picked up a copy of this book with great expectations. I must admit that gathering some of the supplies that were defined in the book was a little troublesome (hint: large quantities of wristwatches with luminous hands come in very handy), however with such problems overcome I was able to construct a rough, although fully functional, nuclear reactor, boil up some water and have a spiffing cup of tea! Wonderful! I never would have thought that such things were possible. May I recommend the chapters on whale hunting for fun and profit, 101-ways to wok a dog, and the ever favorite do-it-yourself embalming.
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