Newsboys In NY II: Brooklyn Bridge

[ldhenson]

This is a companion piece to my first shadow box game. This time around it's still Newsies, with a focus on a different part of turn of the century New York.





If you're a fan of the movie, you'll know what I mean by the "shouting off the Brooklyn Bridge" bit! At any rate, the object of the game is to tilt the box and line up all three marbles along the stylized bridge.





It's not as simple as it looks. The bridge's "cables" are quite deceptive; they actually do very little to hold the marbles in. Tilt a marble lightly against them and it might stay, but anything more than a very faint pressure will cause the "cables" to flex and the marble will roll right under them.

If I want to make it even harder, I can specify a particular order for the marbles. But it's pretty challenging as it is.





The "ground" is an 1897 map of New York. The bridge is constructed of balsa, clay, and fine chain. At the center of the bridge, I've caught the chain in small loops of wire so it doesn't swing when the game is tilted. Stills from the movie line the side walls, scenes featuring Manhattan characters on two sides, Brooklyn on the others.





As with the first game, it's all set into a glass-topped shadow box; the base is held in by pressure and can be carefully removed if I need to get at the interior for any reason; and the underside of the base is lined with felt.

I don't know what's more fun, playing these or making 'em.

(x-posted to craftgrrl here), pocketshrines here)

Comments

[frankcheez.livejournal.com]

That's really neat! Nice work.

[queenitsy.livejournal.com]

Again, I say: holy shit! These are really some of the most amazing things I've ever seen; they're just *beautiful*.

[pinkdormouse.livejournal.com]

I like that a lot.

[swankyfunk.livejournal.com]

That. Is. Adorable. And incredibly creative.

[exousia.livejournal.com]

Very pretty. What a great and professional looking job you've done.

[mxtape.livejournal.com]

Oh my gosh! I have such a fetish for old maps--this is amazing.

[dyven17.livejournal.com]

gabriel damon (spot) is so freakin' cute in that movie, and he's really good in Social Misfits. Also, seeing the current Batman dancing along with Lonestar (Bill Pullman, Spaceballs) is perhaps the most entertaining thing that I have ever seen. I freakin' love Newsies. *drool* sexy boys in newscaps and suspenders.

the boxes are really wonderful as well. i don't mean to just tow the newsies line...but...suspenders!!!

[grace-poppy.livejournal.com]

How very cool! And so creative! You're just a marvel! (A marble marvel.)

Is there any groove or anything that holds the marbles in place on the bridge? Or is it only the little chains? Where are the loops of wire that you mention? Are they only at the lowest trough of the chain? Oh wait, I think I see them. So it's the sides of the chain that are tricky and still swing? I was thinking at first that it sounded impossible to ever get the marbles to line up, but the little loops of wire are very merciful of you. :D

[fallonmay.livejournal.com]

You're killing me here. Do you have any idea how much I'm loving this? ;)

[esteven]

I love your ideas and your attention to detail. You are such a wonderfully talented person.:D I think I'd love to make those more than playing with them...though I'd surely love to play with this;D

[lauren-urban.livejournal.com]

This Brooklyn girl thinks that is suuuuper cute!

[cymbalism219.livejournal.com]

That is some breathtaking attention to detail, LD. Lovely job.

[dancingardangel.livejournal.com]

You're very creative! Must have been hard work but it's really nice!! LOVE IT!!

I love it!

[ashlynalexis.livejournal.com]

I love playing with these sort of games! Great Idea and they are gorgeous and well done!
Love Always Brooklyn's "Fallen" Angel
Angelstar

[outlaw-jesus.livejournal.com]

you're so clever! i love this and especially the last one you posted. great job! and beautiful, too :)

[horrorvacuii.livejournal.com]

Fantastic! My grandpa used to make this sort of game for me when I was little, all kinds of puzzles where you had to tilt and move different planes to align objects and whatever. I love this.

[iheartastros11.livejournal.com]

WOW!! that's amazing!! Newsies is an AWesome movie! I love it.. especially since Christian Bale is in it. :)
did you come up with the idea of the game?

[delorita.livejournal.com]

Hey there! Very well done with the box! Cool idea.

Looks like Christian brought a lot of us into yet another new fandom. Of course I only watched the movie because of him as well and fell in love with it immediately!

LD, you're using a lot of hot Jack icons! Love them all as well.