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Logistics
The following illustrates the engineering details of how each part of the Starlingship will be set up, and what I will need.
This will focus mainly on the smallest-scale version of this project: a popup attraction towed on a bike trailer.
I'm including screenshots and URLs for potential online sources of the required materials.
This is just for reference. There is no guarantee that these will be the best places to get these resources, or that these specific items will even be available by the time I have the opportunity to build the Starlingship.
Scroll down to read more, or just continue to the next page!
Next page: Financial feasibility
Trailer
If the exhibit is going to be a portable popup installation, I'll want a bike trailer.
The bike trailer can be about 64" x 27" and can hold the disassembled canopy, shelving, apartment cubes, folded tables and chairs, and merchandise for the gift shop.
Here is one possible option: (<$1500)
https://www.bikesatwork.com/ store/product/ 64awd-bicycle-trailer
There is also a less expensive version that can carry only 300 pounds instead of 600.
https://www.bikesatwork.com/ store/product/ 64aw-bicycle-trailer
And I don't expect that my setup will weigh more than 300 pounds...
or that I would even be comfortable towing more than 300...
But, I think it will be worth investing in the one with the higher capacity, in case I do someday end up finding that I'm able to tow larger weights.
Owning a high-capacity bike trailer could be useful for many applications besides the Starlingship.
However, I will still plan for my display to add up to no more than 300 pounds.
Feasibility of using a bike trailer
The bike trailer may not even be necessary-- if I can partner with someone who has a car large enough to transport all the parts of the Starlingship disassembled.
But any time I need to transport things by myself, to a place within biking distance, it would be very helpful.
I'm a cyclist who can comfortably commute five miles to and from work every day all year. According to BikesAtWork.com, towing 300 pounds on level ground could be realistic for me.
Hill climbing is another story. Until I find out from experience how much I can tow uphill, I'll stick to venues at the same altitude--or enlist the help of a friend with a car whenever I go to festivals taking place up the mountain. (Also, a bike with electric boost could help.)
Info from https://www.bikesatwork.com/ blog/ how-much-weight-can-a-bicycle-carry
But I have to say that a bicycle towing a foldable space station onto the grounds of an art festival would be an eye-catching sight.
Portable Exhibit
If the exhibit is to be a pop-up attraction at temporary venues, there are several options.
At indoor events I could bring the furnishings inside to set up in the space provided.
At outdoor events I could set it up inside a foldable canopy bought or made for the purpose.
This one is compact and under 40 pounds:
https://smile.amazon.com/ ABCCANOPY-Instant-Shelter-Outdoor-Portable/ dp/B07LBNYQB6/
In any case, the setup should be light, and easy to disassemble and transport (either by car or by bicycle trailer).
I am considering a setup involving shelves made from PVC tubing, as I'll describe below.
- 40" furniture-grade PVC pipes, 10-pack (4 packs, total 40) (weight: about 40 pounds)
https://smile.amazon.com/ Schedule-Furniture-Plumbing-Projects-Available/ dp/B0876P42SK
- 5-way Connectors, 8-pack (6 packs, total 48) (weight: about 6 pounds
https://www.amazon.com/ FORMUFIT-F0345WC-WH-8-5-Way-Fitting-Furniture/ dp/B00MNIYZ1W
Building the Shelves
Set aside 10 of the 40" tubes.
Cut each one into two 20" halves.
Set aside 20 more of the 40" tubes.
Cut each one into a 30" piece and a 10" piece.
Cut one of the remaining 40" tubes into twenty small 2" pieces.
Total cut pieces: Twenty each of 30," 20," 10" and 2."
For EACH ONE of the 5 stories of the apartment building, use the following:
Four 30" pieces
Four 20" pieces
Four 10" pieces
Four 2" pieces
8 connectors
Plus:
At least 4, possibly as many as 12 binder clips
A 3" x 100" strip of plastic hardware cloth or chicken wire
Two pieces of sturdy green canvas, about 30 x 45" (to leave room for hemming)
Two pieces of clear vinyl: one 85" x 18" and the other 65" x 28"
Four 28"x1"x1/2" strips of foam, and glue as needed
https://smile.amazon.com/ AmazonBasics-Binder-Clips-Large-4-Pack/ dp/B074Y17Q4C
https://smile.amazon.com/ NATGAI-Neoprene-Adhesive-Multiple-Dimensions/ dp/B07VZBVC95/
https://smile.amazon.com/ Tenax-Hardware-Net-15-Feet-Black/ dp/B000HMA6W8
https://www.fabricwholesaledirect.com/ products/ waterproof-outdoor-canvas-fabric?variant=40748569420
https://www.amazon.com/ Clear-Marine-Vinyl-Double-Polished/ dp/B08N6YHJVG
First, make two 30 x 20" rectangles.
Fold over the green canvas and make two tubular sleeves, each about 22" by 28." Slide the rectangles in, leaving the ends exposed. (Detach and reattach the ends if needed.)
Measure 10 inches in the center. On either side of this, adhere a "curb" of foam, the same length as the canvas sleeve, about 1/2" thick and 1" wide. (This will help hold the apartments in place.)
Place the apartment cubes in a row, between the foam curbs.
Join the two rectangles with 10" pipe pieces, making the floor and ceiling of the shelf.
Add four short feet, made from the 2" pieces.
(These will be able to fit into the connectors of the shelf below.)
Wrap the strip of fencing around the base, to form the guardrail of the walkway. Leave gap in fence on one end (by the elevator).
Wrap the whole section in vinyl: first lengthwise with the 85" x 18" piece, and then widthwise with the 65" x 28" piece. Roll up the excess and clip with binder clips.
Once I've done this for all 5 shelves, I'll have modular stories of apartments (already safe behind transparent protection) which can be easily separated, transported and reassembled.
(Between each two stories of apartments will be a double width of PVC shelving... this is good because it provides plenty of space for the signs describing the apartments.)
Use remaining pipes and connectors to build the "magic portal" to place at the doorway.
Not counting the cubes themselves, this could add up to a weight of about 50 pounds.
This leaves 250 pounds in the 300-pound capacity of the bike trailer. (300 - 50 = 250)
The canopy adds about 40 pounds.
This leaves 210 pounds. (250 - 40 = 210)
Apartment Cubes
The apartments will be 10" cubes. Artists can be encouraged to use commercially available cube drawers as a base.
https://www.amazon.com/ Whitmor-Collapsible-Cubes-Set-x10/ dp/B01CDOMN6O
If each cube weighs 5 pounds, they total 75 pounds, leaving 135 pounds. (210 - 75 = 135)
The cubes will be placed 3 to a shelf, down the middle, edged by 5" wide walkways.
Miniature elevators will be on the end of each shelf.
Furniture
The chairs and tables for guests can each be something like this, covered with velvet.
https://smile.amazon.com/ TravelChair-Canyon-Multi-Use-Camping-Aluminum/ dp/B000A76XQ8
6 of these (3 used as chairs and 3 used as tables) would be enough.
This would weigh under 15 pounds in total. (135-15 =120)
I can make bags to go over the tables and chairs as decorative furniture covers.
They would be drawstring bags of green velvet, with the cinch several inches from the mouth of the bag.
The bags would be cinched around the smallest point on the legs, leaving a skirt that goes down to the floor.
This would make the furniture look like odd-shaped grassy hills, rising up from the matching carpeted ground of the exhibit.
The floor-covering can be a green rug. They will be close in color, so the tables and chairs appear to blend into the floor.
https://smile.amazon.com/ House-Home-More-Outdoor-Turf/ dp/B004YX0WMK/ (14 lbs)
https://www.fabricwholesaledirect.com/ products/ micro-velvet-fabric?variant=897649683 (5 yards, < 5 lb)
Total weight added by carpet and fabric: about 20 pounds (120 - 20 = 100)
Plants
On the tables, on the top of the Apartment Building, and on the top of the Gift Shop shelf, there can be decorative potted plants.
They'll be potted in lightweight mountain-shaped planters with several small planting spaces, built out of clay or concrete and/or lava rocks adhered together.
https://smile.amazon.com/ Midwest-Hearth-Lava-Rock-10-lb/ dp/B084C2DDYY
For a version of the exhibit that has cable cars and mountain climbing:
Make a hole in the center of each planter and put a length of PVC pipe inside it.
Put soil and small plants in each planting space.
Slide a long dowel (decorated with tiny steps) into the PVC pipe in the center. Connect the top of the dowel to the cable car from the apartment.
Cable cars (and elevators) can just be little decorated boxes, connected to paracord that loops around bobbins or spools affixed to the end points.
However, the cable cars and poles can be reserved for when the exhibit is in a more permanent installation. For the small traveling installation, just a couple of small planters for decoration will suffice.
Make sure they total less than 20 pounds. (100 - 20 = 80)
Gift Shop Shelving
The gift shop can be a table or set of shelving, also built from PVC.
I can keep its weight to about 15 lbs.
This leaves 65 pounds in the 300-lb capacity. (80 - 15 = 65)
Stopwatch and Starlight
The Stopwatch Time Machine clock and the Starlight creature will each weigh under 15 pounds, and will total under $500 to make.
Both will be made of modular parts that can disassemble for easy transportation and then easily be assembled on site.
The clock will be approximately the same size as Starlight.
Compared to Starlight, there is more leeway regarding its design.
The only requirements:
It must be eye-catching and interesting, and tall enough for guests to see it near eye level.
There must be two dials on it, labeled VISITOR TIME and STARBASE TIME, which will look as if they could be turned to different settings.
The settings will include REGULAR, FAST, SLOW, and PAUSE.
There must be room on the front of the clock, to put the sign explaining what it's for.
The decorative part of the clock can have all sorts of fancy decorations.
I'm imagining parts from a wooden clock kit, like this.
(It doesn't have to work. Could buy or scavenge an old broken one.)
https://smile.amazon.com/ ROKR-Mechanical-Building-Supplies-Best-Birthday/ dp/B07HSZ9LYJ
As with Starlight, the bottom of the clock should fit inside a bin during transit, which can then be turned upside down to form a pedestal when setting it up.
This base can be draped with satin or velvet for decoration.
Starlight will consist of: two 11" fabric shelving bins, four 36" dowels,
https://smile.amazon.com/ gp/product/ B0776MFRKZ
https://smile.amazon.com/ Wooden-Dowel-Rods-Unfinished-Craftparts/ dp/B00XQI2UW4
sixteen 2.8" wide square metal tins, a yard of clear vinyl,
https://smile.amazon.com/ Clear-Marine-Vinyl-Double-Polished/ dp/B08N1KLDHF
https://smile.amazon.com/ Silver-Square-Stainless-Labels-Container/ dp/B07BZ3VMLG
a large oval plastic tray, a 13-to-16" wide square plastic bin,
https://smile.amazon.com/ dp/ B009NVCQJU
https://smile.amazon.com/ Plastic-Storage-Modular- Stackable-Latching/dp/B071CWD2T5
a 16-section square tackle box, a folded towel, and assorted used clothing, fabric and paper (for labeling and decorating).
Together, Starlight and the Stopwatch Time Machine may add another 30 lbs. (65- 30 = 35)
This leaves about 35 pounds for merchandise to sell, on a 300-lb capacity trailer.
These are all high estimates, and it is likely the weight will end up much lower than planned.
Next page: Financial feasibility