Hi there. I'm with the Astropups. The camp has been talking about building an art car for several years, and are determined to build something fun for '06.
Have you been through this process? Can you gift us any wisdom?
Thanks !!
art cars
Wisdom? Not sure I'd go that far, but here's a few tips:
Before you start building:
Figure out what it should look like
Figure out how people will get in and out safely
Figure out how you're going to reinforce the vehicle to handle several times the load it was designed for
Figure out how much all the materials will cost. Triple that number.
Figure out if you want to be able to drive it to the event or just trailer it.
Having a car is a great way to meet people and see the sights. Just make sure it's art before car, people don't dig the half-assed cut the top off and glue shit onto it cars anymore. Not to say there aren't good cut the top off and glue shit on cars, but there's some crappy ones too.
Keep it simple. Fabric stretched over a wire frame with lights behind it has been used to good effect, or you can use any number of other materials if you have the time and equipment.
Feel free to PM me if you have any specific questions or want to toss ideas at someone.
Before you start building:
Figure out what it should look like
Figure out how people will get in and out safely
Figure out how you're going to reinforce the vehicle to handle several times the load it was designed for
Figure out how much all the materials will cost. Triple that number.
Figure out if you want to be able to drive it to the event or just trailer it.
Having a car is a great way to meet people and see the sights. Just make sure it's art before car, people don't dig the half-assed cut the top off and glue shit onto it cars anymore. Not to say there aren't good cut the top off and glue shit on cars, but there's some crappy ones too.
Keep it simple. Fabric stretched over a wire frame with lights behind it has been used to good effect, or you can use any number of other materials if you have the time and equipment.
Feel free to PM me if you have any specific questions or want to toss ideas at someone.
Plan, sketch, plan, sketch, plan, sketch. And when you're done, plan and sketch some more. Assemble a handful of your brightest minds to comb over even the finest points, in order to see multiple perspectives and head off any frustrations. Work through every step in your minds' eye, even when you go to bed...envision from start to finish (driving it on the playa).
Expect, even with all this planning and sketching, to make multiple frustrating trips to the hardware or supply stores.
Spend time in those supply stores just wandering around, looking at things; ideas or solutions will jump out at you. Take along an iPod or somesuch, so the staff won't be pestering you every two minutes to see if you need anything; I did this at a large supply house whose name I won't mention but who's initials are Home Depot. Works like a charm.
Buy a little more than you need of most items, especially ones that you'll be modifying in some capacity. You will botch a cut, measurement, or hole, somewhere and you can get right down to re-crafting the part instead of going back to the store only to find out that the stock has been depleted.
Take spare parts...batteries, a tire, etc.
Some here have a vendetta against art cars. Ignore them. They want a place of free exression and creativity but want to cut off one of the channels. Go figure.
Just make sure it's a safe vehicle--not top-heavy, not tippable, easy to get on and off of, safe to get on and off of, not disgustingly loud (stereo), easily seen, and something more than just plastic crap glued to a daily driver. And stay at 5 mph, regardless of what you may see some other genetic drift doing with his/her art car.
Expect, even with all this planning and sketching, to make multiple frustrating trips to the hardware or supply stores.
Spend time in those supply stores just wandering around, looking at things; ideas or solutions will jump out at you. Take along an iPod or somesuch, so the staff won't be pestering you every two minutes to see if you need anything; I did this at a large supply house whose name I won't mention but who's initials are Home Depot. Works like a charm.
Buy a little more than you need of most items, especially ones that you'll be modifying in some capacity. You will botch a cut, measurement, or hole, somewhere and you can get right down to re-crafting the part instead of going back to the store only to find out that the stock has been depleted.
Take spare parts...batteries, a tire, etc.
Some here have a vendetta against art cars. Ignore them. They want a place of free exression and creativity but want to cut off one of the channels. Go figure.
Just make sure it's a safe vehicle--not top-heavy, not tippable, easy to get on and off of, safe to get on and off of, not disgustingly loud (stereo), easily seen, and something more than just plastic crap glued to a daily driver. And stay at 5 mph, regardless of what you may see some other genetic drift doing with his/her art car.
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dragonfly Jafe
- Posts: 1877
- Joined: Tue Sep 02, 2003 11:08 am
- Location: the Oregon Trail
All good advice, I would add that the Playa has a way of making stuff fail, so plan on repairing everything while there (and have a way to haul the vehicle back if it cannot be fixed). Electronics are especially prone (I lost some sections of rope lights this year - I just strapped on new ones). I would also be leary about remote controls on things like throttle, brake, steering...
And most importantly, be sure that there will be a driver (and crew if needed) that are sober while working. This is harder than it sounds; it usually means that either the car sits idle a few nights (while you get your grove on), or you trust the car to another person (you have to really trust that person). The DMV agreement you sign makes you liable for anything the vehicle does, wether you are driving it or not.
And lastly, be sure to disable your vehicle when you are not using it. Every art car in our camp this year was messed with (start switches engaged, etc) most nights. This ran batteries down, etc, at first, but luckily none of the cars could be started....
Good luck in your quest to find that magical hole in the Playa....!
And most importantly, be sure that there will be a driver (and crew if needed) that are sober while working. This is harder than it sounds; it usually means that either the car sits idle a few nights (while you get your grove on), or you trust the car to another person (you have to really trust that person). The DMV agreement you sign makes you liable for anything the vehicle does, wether you are driving it or not.
And lastly, be sure to disable your vehicle when you are not using it. Every art car in our camp this year was messed with (start switches engaged, etc) most nights. This ran batteries down, etc, at first, but luckily none of the cars could be started....
Good luck in your quest to find that magical hole in the Playa....!