Date: Wed, 16 Feb 2000 16:44:40 +0100 From: Jan Lissens W 51737 <lissensj@access.bel.alcatel.be> To: RLBMagic@aol.com, Balloon Twister`s List <balloon@balloonhq.com> Subject: Trek Balloons RLBMagic@aol.com wrote: > Hi Jan! > > Love your posts; hope your busy-ness has been for good stuff! > > I'm going to the Slanted Fedora Star Trek Con in Kansas City next month (my > first Trek Con). I have the directions for a one ballon Enterprise- do you > have directions or know of any other Trek related balloning? I'd love to make > a big one as a centerpiece. I'd also love to be able to do a Bird of Prey, > etc. Any ideas? > > No, I didn't check the Guide yet; that's next... > After you directly, I'll ask the list. > > Richard Hello, Richard and all interested twisters... You will not find many Trek structures in the Guide. However, if you check the twister`s list, you will find instructions for several things I posted. To save the effort on your part, here is a recap with instructions. If your looking for a centerpiece,how anout making a large alien, and equipping him with some of the stuff below. . I would recommend you check out the pictures first. You can see them on my website http://home.pi.be/~btwister/, or in the photo section of BHQ. This will make the instructions more understandable. The measurements also may not be entirely correct, since I`m doing this all on memory THE CLASSIC ENTERPRISE 1. Inflate a white 260 about three quarters. For a 1 inch pinch twist and a 6 inch bubble. Then for a 4 inch bubble and a 1.5 inch pinch twist. This is one nacelle and one pylon. 2. Twist a 4 inch bubble and another one. Lock the end of the second 4inch bubble at the base of the first, i.e. the base of the 1.5 inch pinch twist. 3. Twist a 4 inch bubble, a 1 inch pinch twist and a 6 inch bubble. Finish with a 1 inch pinch twist and discard the rest. This is the second set of pylon and nacelle. 4. The nacelles face backward, the double 4incher faces forward. The engineering or drive section is now finished. To make the saucer section, follow these steps: 1. Inflate another white 260 about three quarters. Make a 2 inch bubble, then a tight loop around this, and another tight loop around that. 2. Make a 1 inch pinch twist and a 4 inch bubble, then another 1 inch pinch twist. 3. Discard the rest of the balloon. Warning: the end pinch twists are best tied off. Roll the final pinch twist of the saucer section between the front 4inch bubbles on the engineering section to lock it and face the `neck` upward, the saucer forward. For added effect, write `USS ENTERPRISE` and `NCC1701` on the saucer, and colour the pinch twists forming the `knees` in the pylon/nacelle assembly orange (these, for the buffs, are off course the Bussard Collectors). Attached with a bit if string beneath a helium-filled round, you have a floating sculpture of the Enterprise in orbit round a small planetoid. ENTERPRISE D This one is similar to the former, but the pylons are shorter (3 inches instead of 4), and the nacelles as well (3 inches as well). In the first part of the previous instructions, substitute 6 inch bubble with three inch bubble, and four inch bubble with three inch bubble. The saucer section is different too. Start with a 1 inch bubble. then a loop round that and a loop round that. This will result in a more oval than round shape. Connecting the two is similar, but the nacelles face forward instead of backwards, and the bussard collectors are now the 1 inch pinch twists in front of them instead of the knees. Colour them red, but not entirely. Look at a photograph of the `real` Enterprise D and you`ll see what I mean. VOYAGER The USS Voyager is similar to the above. However, the pylon-bubbles must be still little shorter, and instead of facing up, they must face sideways. This is best accomplished by positioning the back (1.5inch) pinchtwist in between the bubbles forming the pylons. The saucer section is very different. Out of the second grey 260, twist a 4 inch bubble, and make a tight loop round it. Squeeze the front of this loop to make it a bit pointed. Then make the 1 inch pinch twist without the `neck` bubble. Roll this between the two 4 inch bubbles on the engineering section to lock it. Position the saucer section so that is is not in the same line with those 4 inch bubbles, but in a parallel line above it.This can be done by holding the caucer loop section in one hand, the two four-inchers in the other and pushing them towards each other. The pinch twist in front (the deflector, of course), will help to keep it in this position. ENTERPRISE E This is virtually the same as the USS Voyager model, except that the pylon bubbles a larger (3 inch), and so are the nacelles (5 inch). This time, they must face backward, as they do for the original Enterprise. KLINGON BIRD OF PREY With a green balloon, make an engineering section as you did for Voyager, but the `pylons` are now the Bird of Prey`s wings and face downward. The nacelles, now the gun ports, are short. The front pinch twist is twisted in half, but asymmetrical (like you would do to form a hand and a thumb). These are the guns. With the other green 260, form a 1.5 bubble, then two small pinch twists, or form one 1.5 inch tulip twist , without the pinch twists(this looks slightly better, but is less sturdy). Now make a 4 inch bubble, two more small pinch twists, and another 4 inch bubble. Roll the double pinch twist through the front 4 inch bubbles of the `engineering section` and postion the `neck` facing forward by putting the two pinchtwists in opposite position to each other. Lock the 4 inch bubble on top of the two others and at the base of the back pinchtwist (the body looks like a birdbody now). Discard the rest of the balloon. NOTE: You can do all these figures as a one balloonfigure as well, but with adapted lenghts (or by using a 160). The order in wich the bubbles are formed is different. Begin with the saucer section and the body. The nacelles are formed last with a pinch and pop series. The 160 oneballoon classic enterprise is incredibly cute. GEORDI`s VISOR Inflate a transparent 260. Make a 1 inch pinchtwist, a 5 inch bubble and a 1 inch pinchtwist. Discard the rest. With one or two uninflated 260s, mae a strap and attach it to each side of the five inch bubble. Draw the vertical gridpattern of the visor onto the 5 inch bubble. Position in front of the eyes. Voila, quick and easy... TNG TRICORDER Inflate a grey balloon. Make a 4 inch double locktwisted double bubble followed by a 1.5 inch pinchtwist and a 2.5 inch locktwisted double bubble. Either draw on the buttons and screen, or even better, use stickers (rectangular self adhesive labels are ideal. Make some beforehand with the appropriate designs on them. CLASSIC COMMUNICATOR One of those little creations I`m most proud ouf. Use part of a black 260 and part of a yellow or golden 160. 1. With the black, make a 4 inch locktwisted double bubble and a 1,5 inch pinchtwist. Tie off and discard any leftover balloon. 2. With the 160, make a 3 inch bubble and a tight loop round that. Tie off and discard the rest.. Remove the center bubble, roll the pinchtwist of the black into the loop to lock it. Re-tuck the bubble in the loop. For the `flip` effect, Hold the yellow lid onto the black, and hold it down with the side of your hands. Slightly release the pressure. The lid will pop open (Scotty, beam me up...) For added effect, use stickers do decorate the comm. One large round label and three smaller round labels are necessary. The former is the subspace channel imager (the central round thing in the middle which Kirk frequently taps with an irritated look, stating that the interference is blocking the communicators, at which point he is attacked by an angry Klingon, and defeats it in spite of its superior strength, leaving a neat and sexy tear across his uniform, or at last what passed for sexy in the late sixties), the latter are the buttons ( the things Kirk is turning before tapping the aformentioned round thingy and being attacked by aformentionened Klingon. Off course, it could be an Andorian, or even a Vulcan in the midst of Pon Farr and I`m rambling again, ain`t I...) TNG PHASER This is the dustbuster version used in the first and second season of TNG. In later seasons, the phasers got a more high-tech look 1. inflate a grey 260. 2. Form a 3 inch tulip twist 3. Make a .75 inch bubble and a 1.5 inch bubble and pinch twist them. Now make a 4 inch bubble. Tie off and discard the rest Some markings will add effect to it. As a variation, attach a Woooofffff...finished !!!! For those who don`t get the instructions, I have a better idea. Come to TMJ 2000 in June, and I`ll show you !!! Those who do, feel free to use them, but I`d love it if you mention my name here and there (everybody wants to be famous). I have taken up the plan of making a book with this and other Sci-Fi creations. Unfortunately, due to a lack of time, that project was put on ice. I will put some of these illustrated instructions on my website, but so far, all I have ready is a set of illustrated instructions for the classic enterprise. I converted it from word to HTML and got a nightmare. As soon as it is cleared up, it`ll be online. (some time this weekend, I hope). As far as the book is concerned, I hope to have a draft ready for TMJ, but I can`t promise anything...Time is not on my side. SPACE STATION DEEP SPACE NINE I`ll look these up and re-post. I posted that one from my computer at home, so I`ll check there. Hope you like these... The Trekkie Twister