"Build Your Own Card Fountain For Under $20" and "Runaway Hanky" DVDs
by David Allen and Scott Francis
Suggested Retail USD$25.00 each
Available from your favorite dealer
In a Blink: 9 Out of 10

"Build Your Own Card Fountain For Under $20" and "Runaway Hanky", two DVDs by David Allen and Scott Francis, are excellent discs, teaching expertly and entertainingly how to build the two effects from scratch for a fraction of the cost of similar store-bought gadgets.

Before we get going here, these two effects are different and sold separately. However, because the core of them both are the same, I figured it would save those interested a bit of time to review them together. Besides, they are both great discs by the same folks with the same idea... it just makes sense to tackle 'em both at the same time.

Essentially, what you are getting here are the step-by-step instructions on how to construct a super-powerful reel ("Runaway Hanky") and a likewise powerful card fountain ("Build Your Own Card Fountain For Under $20"). And when I say "step-by-step", I mean it. Allen (who teaches the construction and use of the devices) does an incredibly thorough job of teaching the assembly of a powerful electric motor to accomplish the effects. From which stores to go to in order to round up the parts (including part numbers in some cases) to how to handle the tools and glue to making the simple circuit that puts it all together, Allen covers all the bases.

I also got a huge kick out of Allen when he's teaching this stuff. He made it fun. Watching him go from store to store looking for a specific part (which isn't that hard to locate once you know exactly what it is) had me laughing myself near to death, if for no other reason than I made those kinds of run more times than I want to remember. When it comes to the assembly, he attentive to what he's teaching, but still has time to have some fun with things. He made learning this stuff fun and that's half the battle.

Okay, so what are you assembly? At the heart of both of these devices is an electric motor, complete with switch. Now don't panic. Allen and Francis have made this electrical contraption as easy to put together as possible. Don't have visions of soldering irons and voltmeters and all of that dancing in your head: in reality, the assembly is so simple that even if you've never put together a circuit before you'll have no problems with this one. A battery here, a motor there, some glue all over the place, and that's about the height of difficulty.

You will have to round up the parts, though, but I had no problem locating most of the parts on the net. It's easier if you live in the states and have access to a few dozen hardware stores and a range of Radio Shack outlets, but with net access and some local stores, I imagine it's not too difficult to round up the pieces with little regard to geographic location.

Okay, so these things are easy to build and reasonably easy to find parts for. What are you getting when you're done?

"Runaway Hank" is a super-powerful reel that is huge, barely fitting the palm of the hand, but for stage or platform work can be handled to make it undetectable. Think of your typical reel, then multiply the horsepower by a few hundred. Turning at around 15,000 rpm, when this thing is triggered, the hank doesn't just leap to you hand, it flies to it: the ad states it moves at 60 feet/.04 seconds and I think that's being conservative. In one of the clips on the disc, Allen takes the reel, runs it around a pole, and triggers the reel. The movement is so powerful, so quick, the hanky moves through the air, around the pole, and straight into his waiting hand so quickly and without any hesitation that it genuinely appears to be flying.

"Build Your Own Card Fountain..." is, well, a card fountain. Based on the circuit for "Runaway Hank", this is one powerful card fountain. Allen himself seems surprised when it shows itself to be that strong; when triggered, the cards jump out of the box about six feet or more into the air. With the right cards and fresh batteries, it'll probably shoot the things higher. This is a box-based fountain, meaning the cards go into a decorative box before the launching occurs as opposed to some models that use a houlette. Other than that, there's little more to be said for this one. It works, it works well, and putting it together, though more involved than "Runaway Hank", is not that much more difficult.

These are great discs for the stage or platform performer who's looking to add these effects to their act and are working on a budget (and who isn't nowadays?). For a modest cost in materials (and these discs) and an equally modest investment in time and effort, these devices work great and for a fraction of the cost of the dealer-supplied items.

"Build Your Own Card Fountain For Under $20" and "Runaway Hanky" DVDs
by David Allen and Scott Francis
In a Blink: 9 Out of 10

Material: 10
These DVDs simply contain all the instructions necessary to build a card fountain and a super-powerful reel, from scratch, from items found at electronic and hardware stores. The instructions are great, as are the end products. Stage and platform workers looking to add these effects to their act, and do so on a budget, will get their money's worth from these.

Practicality: 10
As mentioned, these devices are for stage and platform work: they're too big for any other venue. They are reasonably carefree -- check your batteries and some moving parts before you go on and that's about it -- and work effortlessly.

Quality of Production: 8
The production values are very good here, with just some slight audio and lighting issues here and there. They are almost inconsequential, requiring nothing more than a quick rewind here and there. Slightly annoying, but not painful.

Quality of Instruction: 10
Big thumbs up here. Not only do you get all the instructions you need -- and probably more if you've ever assembled an electric motor in a circuit before -- but they are delivered in a fun, entertaining way. You'll learn what you need to and enjoy it at the same time.

Presentation: n/a
It's all in what you do with it with these things.

Shane

Available direct from your favorite dealer. Dealers, please contact Murphy's Magic Supplies, Inc. toll-free at 1-800-853-7403 or visit Murphy's Magic Supplies website.