Selfmade Pencil without a middle

[Rob Rand]

With LaQ elements I made a very rough version of Magic Wagon Pencil without a middle. It works anyway:

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Of course you will all already know how this works

[VictorS]

Looks great Rob, the illusion is perfect I`m amazed on how you came up with the idea.

[Rob Rand]

Well Victor, first I tried to make Ninja Experiment from Laq elements, but I finally gave up, was intrigued by the looking through illusion of Ninja Experiment, remembered I own Pencil without a middle by Magic Wagon, studied it carefully, found out how it worked, and made a LaQ version of it, still working on it to improve it, being part of my new slogan Everyone can make magic tricks with LaQ elements, I also made Space Towers from Laq, this long sentence is inspired by Samuel Beckett's Molloy, which I'm rereading now, I don't know anymore.

[Roberto B.]

video....video.....video!!!

[VictorS]

I never heard about LaQ Rob. Wow...you can make a lot of protoype or magic props out of it. Very flexible and very unique.

[Rob Rand]

LaQ is Japanese to be pronounced as Lakjoe. Only 7different elements are used.

I must admit that because LaQ is rather expensive I use Chinese rip-offs of LaQ which are a quarter of the price.
I sent the Billscape buyers a zodiac sign you must assemble yourself, these are the LaQ rip-offs.

I actually love most to build magic tricks from construction toys like Lego.

[Rob Rand]

Roberto, no video yet, I am busy improving my Pencil without a middle, but it's real fun to use mirrors (am I allowed to say this?) for a trick.

[JohnM]

John B. demonstrated his Magic Wagon Pencil without a Middle for me and I was quite impressed. I think it is one of his favorites. He loves mechanical things.

Rob, that is amazing that you could make something that works just as well because I know that the construction is very complicated.

Very well done.

[David DeTenyo]

Very interesting and looks good Rob! Keep up the good work

[SimonC]

So cool

[Rob Rand]

Here is a video of my self-made Pencil without a middle.
Thanks JohnM for your compliment, but my version is not as advanced as the Magic Wagon one.
http://youtu.be/K4d6UoNFjsM

[VictorS]

What a nice performance Rob

[BobD]

The illusion is great. I hope you won't mind if I make a suggestion. Why not make a front and back cover. The covers can simply be made of removable cardboard. To perform, insert the pen, remove the front cover, remove the back cover, and add the sponge balls.

You can also have a different design on both sides of the back cover. You don't need the sponge balls for this version. After removing the back cover, turn it around so that they see a different design and replace it.

You may also want to replace the pen with a doll, a rocket ship, or a crystal vial with another object inside.

These are just some ideas that I'm sure you can improve.

[Roberto B.]

Wonderfull!!!.....I like the last part a lot....great idea.....a passage to another dimension!

[Rob Rand]

Thanks for liking the video.

BobD, thanks for the suggestions. My idea was to use a colour changing pencil, which I ordered, part of a Joker Magic trick.

This is still a prototype, a version made from Lego can make covers back and front possible.

Using a doll would be nice too, but then I think immediately of a Zig zag lady version, when it is possible to remove head and legs and restore afterwards that would be great, but maybe too complicated.

Roberto, glad you like the last part! Did you notice the good quality of the video, I use a camcorder now.

[Richard W]

Nice clear video indeed. Very clever Rob. I did notice a few anomalies if you watch when you insert the balls or move the box you can see the yellow balls reflecting through cracks in the roof on the left side. And when looking straight through the box when it is turned side to side it becomes clear that M*****R are being used. No cracks in the roof and doors front and back will take care of that but I would change the handling to not insert the pencil until the doors are shut then when done inserting the pencil open both doors and do not move the box while the doors are open. Notice how when turning the box the balls are not in sync with the turning as they would if they were seen straight through. Just my opinion and we all know what that is worth.

Finished project will be really good.

Richard

[Rob Rand]

Elliot W, you are totally right. When I move the cabinet sideways indeed you see the reflecting of the sponge balls.
I bought some special LaQ elements today which would make it possible for me to make sliding doors.

Tonight I went to a farewell party of another colleague, and I demonstrated this cabinet 'live', but it is very angle-proof and less appropriate to perform for group of people, it is definitely meant to show it to 1 person. Standing there with that cabinet in my hand was not a very good idea, they look from different angles and just see something tricky.

So, I will work on Version2 Watch this space...

[JohnM]

Elliot W, you are totally right. When I move the cabinet sideways indeed you see the reflecting of the sponge balls.

I think you mean Richard W. you are totally right.

Elliot never commented on your creation.

[Rob Rand]

Yes JohnM you're totally right telling me I meant Richard was totally right.
Sorry for that.

[Richard W]

Subliminal posts. It's like most my posts I type them with magic characters. You know somehow you seen the information but really can't remember where it came from. Might have been a dream might have been a nightmare nobody really knows.

R c a d

[Rob Rand]

Aha so I don't need new glasses... It's the Magic words of Elliot....ehmm... I mean Richard... But the W was correct

[Rob Rand]

Here is a new version with doors

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=bwXcpjkcLIE

[VictorS]

Very2 nice Rob....love it