For all the fabricators, modifiers and lovers of good things

[Sancho]

I've just spent a couple of days in Nantes with the soul purpose of going to see this wonderful creation. A half hour ride, film and visit to the workshop where it was made (and other stuff is being made) cost a grand total of 7 euros. An absolute bargain IMHO and probably the most amazing piece of engineering I've ever seen.

If anyone wants a go, it apparently took 30 months and 150 different people working on it.

[imotep]

Mate, thats coooooool , my lil girl would luv this!

[leighh]

That's very cool.

[Sclerotic Hen]

That looks fantastic. Is part of the Sultan's Elephant giant street puppet/theatre thing that was shown in London a few years ago? If so the same team are doing a display in Liverpool soon 20-22 April
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england...yside-17541096

[Sancho]

Yes, it's the same elephant. I don't know the link between the people that made it and the street theatre people that used it, but I doubt there are two of these....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wqsJUv2rz48

[Predictable Bob]

The elephant no longer exists: Helen Marriage of Artichoke, the company that produced the London performance, said "Royal de Luxe were so fed up with being invited all over the world to perform The Sultan's Elephant, they just destroyed it."

A replica of the elephant was built in Nantes (France) in 2007, as part of the Machines of the Isle of Nantes permanent exhibition. It is 20 feet tall.

[TonyN]

Bob you're font of useful infomation.

Its amazing, I want a go!

[Predictable Bob]

Bob you're font of useful infomation.

Its amazing, I want a go!

Hardly - I just learnt how to spell 'Wiki'

[Sancho]

OK. It's not the same elephant then. It says on that Wiki page that there were 22 operators on the original one. This one had one driver and one 'engineer' who stood inside and looked at a monitor.

[TonyN]

Its the improved Mk2!

:looks all all the bits of metal and truck parts lying around garage and wonders:

[J i m s t e r]

Needs a Lexus V8.