Now For Sale
August 14, 2011 5:00 PM Subscribe
I would have bought one...by the time the store is back online I will have come to my senses.
posted by tomswift at 5:16 PM on August 14, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by tomswift at 5:16 PM on August 14, 2011 [2 favorites]
I've ordered both the shark and clownfish: I plan to have my fall intake of students swim them through the atrium of the main building on campus during orientation. I'd still prefer to have the original Festo models, tho: there's something about the quicksilver perfection of them swimming through air that I find awe-inspiring and beautiful.
posted by Bora Horza Gobuchul at 5:17 PM on August 14, 2011
posted by Bora Horza Gobuchul at 5:17 PM on August 14, 2011
Plus, as we see, you can use them to amuse and/or torment cats. This alone will make them a mefite favorite gift!
posted by GenjiandProust at 5:23 PM on August 14, 2011
posted by GenjiandProust at 5:23 PM on August 14, 2011
I wish they made salmon. It would be fun to get a group of friends with fish and work on schooling behavior.
posted by The otter lady at 5:25 PM on August 14, 2011
posted by The otter lady at 5:25 PM on August 14, 2011
Whoop! Thanks, tomswift (er, I think ;). Firing off an email to see if they ship internationally.
posted by likeso at 5:27 PM on August 14, 2011
posted by likeso at 5:27 PM on August 14, 2011
I hope they make a flying Obama so I can torment my grandmother.
posted by orme at 5:28 PM on August 14, 2011 [4 favorites]
posted by orme at 5:28 PM on August 14, 2011 [4 favorites]
I guess this is why you get your own personal helium tank.
posted by ennui.bz at 5:39 PM on August 14, 2011
posted by ennui.bz at 5:39 PM on August 14, 2011
It's a great age to be alive.
(Unless maybe you're a cat with a guilty conscience....)
posted by AsYouKnow Bob at 5:43 PM on August 14, 2011
(Unless maybe you're a cat with a guilty conscience....)
posted by AsYouKnow Bob at 5:43 PM on August 14, 2011
I need a flying penguin. And a manta. And an inflatable blue ant.
posted by MonkeyToes at 5:47 PM on August 14, 2011 [5 favorites]
posted by MonkeyToes at 5:47 PM on August 14, 2011 [5 favorites]
Hydrogen should work just as well as helium, right?
posted by 1970s Antihero at 5:51 PM on August 14, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by 1970s Antihero at 5:51 PM on August 14, 2011 [1 favorite]
Yeah, as far as I know, there have never been any major incidents with hydrogen fueled airships.
posted by empath at 5:52 PM on August 14, 2011 [3 favorites]
posted by empath at 5:52 PM on August 14, 2011 [3 favorites]
Yeah, as far as I know, there have never been any major incidents with hydrogen fueled airships.
It depends what they're coated with . . .
posted by Think_Long at 5:59 PM on August 14, 2011 [2 favorites]
It depends what they're coated with . . .
posted by Think_Long at 5:59 PM on August 14, 2011 [2 favorites]
One Christmas present down. Holy shit that's cool. I can't believe I'll be ordering Christmas presents in August. Damn you metafilter!
posted by cjorgensen at 6:11 PM on August 14, 2011
posted by cjorgensen at 6:11 PM on August 14, 2011
(and now, due to the Hindenburg derail, I have to reread a Fritz Leiber story that's become lodged in my brain. thanks, guys.)
(actually, come to think of it, true thanks. been a while.)
posted by likeso at 6:20 PM on August 14, 2011
(actually, come to think of it, true thanks. been a while.)
posted by likeso at 6:20 PM on August 14, 2011
Was there a reason no one linked to the original site?
posted by cjorgensen at 6:21 PM on August 14, 2011
posted by cjorgensen at 6:21 PM on August 14, 2011
Their online store is offline.
posted by likeso at 6:25 PM on August 14, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by likeso at 6:25 PM on August 14, 2011 [1 favorite]
There needs to be a Huge Manatee version of this, definitely filling it with hydrogen.
posted by sciurus at 6:29 PM on August 14, 2011 [10 favorites]
posted by sciurus at 6:29 PM on August 14, 2011 [10 favorites]
Something along these lines was described in William Gibson's book Zero History from last year. I thought these would be cool to own. The only difference seems to be that Gibson described an iPhone app that controlled them (and they were used for surveillance, but I'm sure some mefite can figure how to attach a camera).
posted by herda05 at 7:08 PM on August 14, 2011
posted by herda05 at 7:08 PM on August 14, 2011
Ah, whatever. Get back to me when the shark comes with realistic chomping action. That I need.
posted by vrakatar at 7:19 PM on August 14, 2011
posted by vrakatar at 7:19 PM on August 14, 2011
Knock, knock.... Who's there?
Land shark.
2nd the chomping action.
posted by drhydro at 8:15 PM on August 14, 2011
Land shark.
2nd the chomping action.
posted by drhydro at 8:15 PM on August 14, 2011
I second the motion for them in silver, like the originals.
Besides, I'm holding out for the jellyfish.
posted by sonascope at 8:18 PM on August 14, 2011
Besides, I'm holding out for the jellyfish.
posted by sonascope at 8:18 PM on August 14, 2011
I really want to see a video of one of these outdoors.
posted by pompomtom at 8:39 PM on August 14, 2011
posted by pompomtom at 8:39 PM on August 14, 2011
penguin. And a manta.
But I want to be able to control them with my iPhone.
posted by Mike Mongo at 9:57 PM on August 14, 2011
But I want to be able to control them with my iPhone.
posted by Mike Mongo at 9:57 PM on August 14, 2011
I really want to see a video of one of these outdoors.--pompomtom
Given the low mass of these aerial fish, your video would show it quickly disappearing into the distance with even with the slightest breeze,
posted by eye of newt at 10:39 PM on August 14, 2011
Given the low mass of these aerial fish, your video would show it quickly disappearing into the distance with even with the slightest breeze,
posted by eye of newt at 10:39 PM on August 14, 2011
How do you keep the fish balanced so it'll swim like that without rising to the ceiling or falling to the ground? Helium is going to leak so you'd need to keep it constantly topped up with your own supply, but it'd be quite a fine calculation. Anyway, they look great. I have one of those little helicopters you can fly around the office, so all I need now are some teeny tiny Hellfire missiles and I can make my own Japanese monster movie.
posted by joannemullen at 10:46 PM on August 14, 2011
posted by joannemullen at 10:46 PM on August 14, 2011
I say Dr.Who shippers use the shark one to torment Stephen Moffat until he gives them what they want.
posted by charred husk at 8:13 AM on August 15, 2011
posted by charred husk at 8:13 AM on August 15, 2011
This, plus a keychain little camera from that other FPP, makes me think that MeFi is turning into some offshoot of the Maker trend.
posted by wenestvedt at 9:20 AM on August 15, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by wenestvedt at 9:20 AM on August 15, 2011 [1 favorite]
How do these ascend and descend, btw?
The receiver is mounted on a 15" geared track.....moving along the length of the track shifts the weight, moving towards the front to dive and back to climb. Simply and elegant.
posted by HappyHippo at 9:47 AM on August 15, 2011
How do you keep the fish balanced so it'll swim like that without rising to the ceiling or falling to the ground? Helium is going to leak so …
Probably an adjustable ballast, e.g. a small lump of clay you can add to or remove from. Only when the balloon can no longer lift even without any clay would you need to refill it.
posted by JiBB at 9:50 AM on August 15, 2011
Probably an adjustable ballast, e.g. a small lump of clay you can add to or remove from. Only when the balloon can no longer lift even without any clay would you need to refill it.
posted by JiBB at 9:50 AM on August 15, 2011
Holy shit if this is up to $20 I am buying one.
posted by egypturnash at 10:54 AM on August 15, 2011
posted by egypturnash at 10:54 AM on August 15, 2011
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posted by likeso at 5:15 PM on August 14, 2011