“Sokol-2” — conqueror of Dombay

Delta glider «Sokol-2»: sail design & flight qualities

The best delta glider of amateur construction that took part in the «Dombai Peaks» competition in 1978 was recognized as the «Sokol-2». Its creator was V. D. Mikhailov, a Master of Sport from Leningrad, a well-known specialist in designing and sewing yacht sails. Therefore, his desire to use the latest achievements in sailing sports when Read more…

House made from containers

House of Brick and Plastic Bottles

I have been a loyal reader of your magazine for more than 25 years. Responding to your call to subscribers to be not only readers but also active authors, I decided to share an interesting technology based on which I built my residential house: while erecting the walls, I widely used plastic bottle containers. I Read more…

Simplicity plus reliability

Arfa snowmobile: design and main components

The simplicity of the “Arfa” design is probably unique. The vehicle has only six main parts: a frame with an engine, a rear axle, wheels, a ski with a steering rod, and a steering wheel. The snowmobile’s reliability and low maintenance match the very highest requirements imposed on a vehicle intended for autonomous runs across Read more…

With water in the… wheels

Ostapenko's three-wheel tractor-tug: all-terrain

Original and practical designs by the Vinnytsia resident Oleg Andreyevich Ostapenko clearly appealed to the readers of our magazine. After a Central TV broadcast “This You Can”, in which the editorial office plays an active role, and a publication in “Fotopanorama” (see “M-K” No. 1 for 1986) of some developments by a self-taught designer, many Read more…

Compact and mobile

Balancing Circular Garden Saw: Design, Assembly and Safety

After pruning trees in the garden, a considerable amount of branches of various thicknesses ends up as waste. They are usually used as stove fuel. Thin branches are easy to chop with an axe, while thicker ones are sawn. Manual sawing is quite labor-intensive. To make my gardening chores easier, I built a portable circular Read more…

Series “P”

PM Aerosled Story: M. Psaryov’s Path to the PM-4 Design

“My childhood fell on the hard postwar years,” begins M. I. Psaryov in his letter to the editorial office. “Back then, we made our own toys. Apparently, that is what planted in my soul a love for designing – all my life I have never parted with tools, metal, wood, and, of course, pencil and Read more…

Life-saving microclimate

Home Microclimate: How to Cool and Purify Air DIY

The scorching and suffocating summer has long remained in the memory of those who found themselves in conditions of smoke and extreme heat caused by large-scale wildfires. During this period, the number of medical consultations increased sharply. After the exhausting heat came a sudden cold snap, which became an additional challenge for the body. It Read more…