SpudFiles

rmich732 wrote:Now, whose ready to start the next one ?

I have a couple of ideas which i've shelved thinking "these are best saved for any future contest" hehe

Lets have a way different kind of contest next time. Like for a specific kind of gun e.g. Pneumatic, Combustion, Hybrid, or Mini. And no prizes for this next contest, just respect.

I say we should make it even more specific... like whoever's got the first automatic combustion cannon wins... and further advances the hobby. 8)

markfh11q wrote:I say we should make it even more specific... like whoever's got the first automatic combustion cannon wins... and further advances the hobby. 8)

A novel idea. I fully support the idea of a specific task. This way, we will get better tech on the subject, as well as the voting being a tad easier. Personally, I found it a bit difficult to choose between certain inventive designs. Also, if they all do the same thing (essentially) it will also appease all the people who just voted on looks.

I also agree that the next contest should not involve money. Perhaps some sort of title or designation could be added to the contest winner's title or something like that, and it would be removed when the winner of the next contest is declared. Its not really fair if PCGUY has to shell out $100 every contest, when in reality, most of us are just competing for respect anyways. Besides, because PCGUY runs the website, he should not have to pay money on top of the money to maintain the website. Besides, didn't the two contest winners donate their prize money to Spudfiles anyways? I noticed that the two winners both suddenly became "donating members". By the way, that was a really nice thing to do.

The only problem that I would have with a "specific" competition would be that it would get so many less submissions. I thought that this contest was great; there were many new ideas and many amazing cannons submitted. If we limited it to only one type of cannon, like an auto combustion, we run the risk (a HIGH risk) that only one or two (hopefully not zero) members would submit their creations. These two creations would be really cool nonetheless, but I think it would be better to have broad categories where there are many interesting submissions. Besides, if only one or two members submitted cannons, it wouldn't really be a "Spudfiles Competition"... more of a duel.

An interesting point. I did in fact consider it, so here is my answer. How about specific tasks for each category (pneumatic, combustion, etc.). Also, with these tasks, what if they were broad such as improving the rate of fire on a combustion (like full auto). This way, there will be more entries, different fields, and many solutions to one problem. At the very least, if we have a inventive competition, there should be inventive entries, not pretty, yet normal cannons (no offence to anyone).

Maybe an entry fee and/or a donation pool could be used to gather the prizes in future competitions so it doesn't come out of PCGUY's pocket.

I think this contest was setup pretty well. Innovation is broad enough that it allows many entries, and it is something that can help advance the hobby on many fronts.

I donated $25 of my winnings, couldn't bring myself to turn down all of $100

Clide your Avatar should say 1st contest winner to mark your win. If a donation pool is used, it should be totaly annomus, even between members. If no money is awarded, a spiecal trophy as a Avatar saying the members name and cannon name, untill the next contest, like above mentioned, i think it's a good idea. As for the contestents and new cannons, open class! Best cannon wins!!!

You mean anonymous? Anyway, I don't think it has to be anonymous. I'd pitch in a few bucks for the next prize, or a few parts. It'd be cool to win a neat valve or something.

Maybe we could have a contest to see who can make the best replica of a firearm, in spudgun form, and it has to be made all out of mainly ghetto materials.

markfh11q wrote:I say we should make it even more specific... like whoever's got the first automatic combustion cannon wins... and further advances the hobby. 8)

Hmm, me and Ragnarok found (ok, I'll be honest, it was mostly him) this great way of making a full-auto combustion - and it's completely mechanical (no solenoid valves or anything like that), other than the spark control circuit.

You might be seeing the results soon, if a few design issues can be sorted and money can be sorted - including how to deal with the heat buildup.

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joannaardway wrote: You might be seeing the results soon, if a few design issues can be sorted and money can be sorted - including how to deal with the heat buildup.

I find a lot of these dilemmas can be sorted out by taking a look at the modern combustion engine. Have you considered water cooling? A thin reservoir around the chamber, connected to a pump and then a coiling of 1/4" copper tubing in front of a fan, should be able to do the job. Keep in mind that it'd still get pretty hot, though. 8)

An incentive for taking the plunge and building such a device would be the prize. Maybe, if somebody builds a working system, they can then be compensated for their efforts as the prize. We might have to do like that competition earlier this year on the UKSGC forums, and the person with the best design gets the funds to build it...

For something like an auto combustion competition, it would need to extend at least six months, if not a year, to allow some ideas to generate and be created.

Well, I'm not talking necessarily JUST an auto combustion. Pretty much any other specific flaming hoop that nobody's done yet that would require some ingenuity and design.