The Splendiferous Build Diary Of A Modern Major General (FW)

You might remember the wooden wonder that was Johnny 2x4 from the UK FW champs last year. And how it got a whopping 3 points, beating only robots that didn't turn up. Well after a year of sitting unloved in a damp garage, fending off rats and other mammals. We've come to the decision to put him out of his misery, put him on the organ donor registry and use his insides for a new robot, Modern Major General.

We shall be once again using wood for main structural parts, as the fact that Johnny 2x4 survived the event last year just shows that wood is infact stronger than diamond. However we shall also be using metal for the sides and the ramp, which should make for an altogether stronger robot that will be held together by something more than sheer luck. The only downside to this is that there is less surface area to draw on using crayons.

The new name came from a 12 hour long namestorming session with my senior name executive and co-robot builder for this year, Paul. 200 names and 17 cups of coffee later, we finally cracked it after finding a video of the song on youtube.

I'm hoping that all the mistakes I made last time around will allow us to make something that won't end up relying on duct tape, and hopefully get that elusive 4 points in the UK FW Champs that eluded our grasp last year.

The photos of the fruits of our labour shall be up soon.

This should be good, very good indeed :)

Good to see you are coming back Connor, with more wonderful wood :)

I look forward to seeing the new creation.

I am a very model of a
modern Major-General ,
I've information plastic,
metallic and mineral.
I know the kings of England ,
and I quote the fights historical
From Marathon to Waterloo, in
order categorical;
I'm very well acquainted, too,
with matters mathematical,
I understand equations, both
the simple and quadratical,
About binomial theorem I'm
teeming with a lot o' news,
With many cheerful facts about
the square of the hypotenuse .
I'm very good at integral and
differential calculus;
I know the scientific names of
beings animalculous:
In short, in matters plastic,
metallic and mineral,
I am a very model of a
modern Major-General.
When I have learnt what
progress has been made in
modern weaponry,
When I know more of tactics
than a novice in a nunnery €”
In short, when I've a smattering
of elemental strategy €”
You'll say a better Major-
General has never sat on wheels
For my military knowledge,
though I'm plucky and
adventury,
Has only been brought down to
the beginning of the century;
But still, in matters plastic,
metallic and mineral,
I am a very model of a
modern Major-General.

You have far too much time on your hands Ceri, but nice work, Gilbert and Sullivan would be proud :).

Connor: copy and save that, that's gotta go on the robot :)

Or just have another robot with a blank lid and give everyone crayons again. See if Ceri can do it from memory :P

Well, that's already ruined our plans before we ever got started. I didn't know the signups would be that quick!

On the bright side, however. With no slightly rushed 3 month deadline, we can get something even better made for 2014 and possibly Aylesbury later this year!

That's a shame! Get yourselves on the reserve list.