An irrigation ditch… in the garden

DIY garden watering: a mini irrigation system for a summer cottage

Whatever is planted on a garden plot—flowers, vegetables, shrubs, or fruit trees—every plant needs regular, and often heavy and prolonged watering. A simple device, successfully tested by me and serving reliably for more than one season, makes this job much easier. It is a kind of mini-irrigation system consisting of a plastic portable water supply Read more…

Tracked… motorcycle

Half-Track Off-Road Motorcycle: DIY Build Guide

The design presented here is a half-track motorcycle with a steering front wheel on a low-pressure tire and a driven track, intended for off-road travel—mainly in summer and in the off-season, in winter on snow (cover up to 25 cm thick), and also on ice and hard crust. The motorcycle’s capability is, in effect, “go Read more…

“Yuzhanka”: a motorboat under… sail

Yuzhanka Motorboat to Sail: DIY Rig, Centerboards, Plans

Every year more and more bodies of water become “closed” to motor vessels. So what are water-motor tourism enthusiasts to do? Moor their boats for good? Not at all! It’s time to remember the sail. Sailing rig can become a real alternative to the rattling, fuming, water-polluting outboard motor. The feeling I had when I Read more…

Riding on an air cushion

Fig. 1. Single-seat amateur amphibian “Kartair Mk 111” (Australia). Equipped with two two-stroke engines (160 cm³ each). Centrifugal fan, controlled by air rudders.

Engineers were led to the use of air cushion by numerous attempts to reduce the hydrodynamic resistance of ships. As early as the beginning of this century, Swedish engineer Gustav Laval began work on accelerating ship movement using air lubrication—a thin layer of air introduced between the ship’s hull and water. However, he failed to Read more…

Garden “fire pit”

DIY Mangal Grill: Firebox, Brick Hearth & Accessories

Shashlik has long been a cross-national (or cross-regional) dish, spreading across the former USSR and beyond. Every enthusiast has their own “signature” secret for making it. Many now prefer poultry, fish, or even mushroom and vegetable versions to meat shashlik, keeping only the final step the same—grilling over the fire—which is what gives the food Read more…

Switch under a cover

Outdoor Switch Weather Protection: Cap From Plastic Can

When organizing outdoor lighting, the nearest power line support (pole) or other suitable wooden structures are often used to mount the light fixture. To save on wiring and for convenient control, the switch is usually installed on the same support in its lower part. To protect the outdoor switch from rain and snow, a suitable Read more…

“Teremok” garden house

Teremok Garden House — Build a Two-Story Cottage Step by Step

SUCH GARDEN HOUSES ARE POPULAR AMONG AMATEUR GARDENERS: THEY ARE SIMPLE AND AFFORDABLE TO BUILD; THE SET OF MATERIALS NEEDED FOR EACH IS QUITE CHEAP; BESIDES, SUCH A TWO-STORY COTTAGE HAS A VERY ORIGINAL AND ATTRACTIVE APPEARANCE. The «Teremok» garden house consists of two rooms and a kitchen; in addition, there is a veranda, a Read more…

Jewelry box

DIY Decorative Safe-Chest: Plans and Assembly from Plywood

Of course, it is not a safe: it does not need to be built into the wall and the spot disguised by hanging a painting, as often shown in films and what becomes fashionable in the homes of prosperous oligarchs. On the contrary: the proposed small chest is meant to be displayed, so it has Read more…

A passenger car on two wheels

Build an Autoroller: DIY Scooter-Car Hybrid 50cc

A motorcycle and a car are different machines. First and foremost, in terms of comfort. But can the advantages of two-wheeled transport be combined with the convenience of a passenger car? It turns out they can. Such two-wheeled machines—autorollers or motocars—are sometimes seen on the streets. We suggest you build one of these designs yourself. Read more…