I had one of these !! I used it to commute to my job as door gunner on the space shuttle.
@houseoftheunusual13 күн бұрын
Haha that is great.
@aaron7125 күн бұрын
Ran later than 84! I used to see that air car ad in Boys Life in the early 90s!
@houseoftheunusual25 күн бұрын
You are right. I made a mistake on time frame.
@LuciferLovemonkey25 күн бұрын
I was gonna say the same, I remember it being around 88. A friend and I talked about how cool it'd be to fly around on it, the reality would've been disappointing.
@ImVexuli24 күн бұрын
Same here! This ad still ran into the late 90s and early 2000s in Boys Life.. the Ad alone inspired me to find a gas powered Leaf Blower, and build one that floated a lot better.. I'm 29 now.
@Superabound224 күн бұрын
Yep!
@TheLionAndTheLamb77710 күн бұрын
I seen it in the 80's as well.
@SlapthePissouttayew28 күн бұрын
When you flipped through the instructions, one picture made me think "..now in order for this to work properly, you WILL need to obtain parts from a B52 bomber..." lol Great series. Thanks
@houseoftheunusual25 күн бұрын
Yup you are right. HAHA!
@OdyBeRidin18 күн бұрын
I recognized the thumbnail instantly! As a 7 or 8 year old, I could only dream about having my own home built air car! I was born in 1967 and I remember my dad saying that most of those items in the back of those magazines were just a scam, so everytime I saw the air car ad I thought to myself, well, is it really possible? Or just a scam? When I saw he video you posted of an actual working air car built from those plans, I kinda teared up a bit, it was like seeing seeing a working prototype of something that was impossible to build, like seeing the unveiling of an actual working time machine or something, HAHA. Anyhow thanks for bringing back a memory I havnt pulled up in a long time.
@houseoftheunusual17 күн бұрын
Hey Thank you and please reach out to me at Houseoftheunusual@gmail.com. I would like to have you our podcast.
@SlicerJen24 күн бұрын
Boyscouts of America magazine...i read those ads all the time. Now....i laugh.
@houseoftheunusual24 күн бұрын
Those were the best things ever published.
@jamescarter319612 күн бұрын
"Now.... i laugh" ok dude great point dude real dramatic lowbrow stuff there
@musicnerd729 күн бұрын
Holy moly! The flood of memories this just gave me!
@houseoftheunusual8 күн бұрын
Thanks for watching! God Bless.
@LL-bl8hdАй бұрын
Man, I remember those ads! Seems like I had more fun imagining flying around in it, than I would have had actually using that hovercraft. 😄
@houseoftheunusualАй бұрын
Those ads were the best.
@erichendren674628 күн бұрын
@@LL-bl8hd those ads had me dreamin' as a wee one. 🥹
@phayzyre105225 күн бұрын
Oh yeah, I remember this thing. Back in the early 1980s I thought it would be cool to build it, float on air down the road and impress my friends and I almost bought the plans but what stopped me from doing so was the Johnson Smith Company! I had ordered some things from them only for it to turn out to be gimmicky junk. I recall my dad saying “remember you got burned once (by Johnson Smith) do you want to get burned again?” I decided not to buy it.
@houseoftheunusual25 күн бұрын
This one was really legit. I knew the man who made the plans.
@OGbobbyKUSH21 күн бұрын
@@houseoftheunusual is there any footage of it in use anywhere?
@djvids692125 күн бұрын
I remember the hot air balloon ad and yes the x ray glasses were one of the most popular. Johnson Smith that's a blast from the past. Back in the day most catalog orders took weeks to get items. I remember the old please allow 2-6 weeks for delivery.
@houseoftheunusual25 күн бұрын
It's amazing how those old ads bring back such vivid memories! The anticipation of waiting weeks for a package was something else.
@poolhalljunkie916 күн бұрын
Those x-ray glasses were cool and how they work was so simple yet effective.
@cardboardboxification8 күн бұрын
2-6 weeks lol, That's how long it took to get ahold of a friend when you call and no one answers the phone , until they get back from vacation back in the day
@Bob-cx4ze17 күн бұрын
I was born in the 80s and i absolutely remember seeing these ads in boy's life magazine
@houseoftheunusual17 күн бұрын
They continued until the 2000s. A very profitable ad. Ross was actually not scamming anybody.
@jamesturnbaugh17725 күн бұрын
I built one of those when I was kid. It was interesting but nearly as much fun as was suggested. Can only run solid floor and concrete not over grass and still limited by length of extension cord.
@houseoftheunusual24 күн бұрын
Any photos old movies?
@Rincewind80823 күн бұрын
Yep. There were 2 or 3 versions. I built the round solid base one. IIRC....not particularly impressive.
@jamesturnbaugh17723 күн бұрын
Mine was the also the big round one. I will a cub scout back then. I think around 48 years ago. still trying to find pictures, my parents passed away 10 years ago and albums have been misplaced and not well taken care of.
@KellyB.-wi9nfАй бұрын
Back then 200 lbs was huge. Now, it's the weight 9f a 5th grade girl.
@houseoftheunusual29 күн бұрын
You are right.
@richardthomas75425 күн бұрын
I remember the Johnson Smith Remote control ghost. A balloon. White plastic bag and heavy duty fishing cord. One dollar.
@houseoftheunusual25 күн бұрын
Ah, the classic ghost-in-a-bag combo! Who knew that a balloon and a plastic bag could summon the spirits of laughter for just a dollar?
@jt12blk5 күн бұрын
As a nine year old, I learned the harsh reality of what "Caveat Emptor" meant when I received my Remote Control Ghost. My mother was so kind, trying to help me understand beforehand that 99 cents was not going to buy me what i was envisioning in my mind: a space-age drone technology ghost driven by an electronic guidance system.
@jyesucevitz25 күн бұрын
in '78 I was 12. I hadn't been familiar with Cracked or Mad magazines yet. while playing at a friend's house in the basement the dad collected both of those. he let me look at all of them. I found those ads mesmerizing. there were times I'd walk over to house to see if he wanted to come out and if for some reason he couldn't or wasn't there I could still go through those magazines again. I started bringing pencil and paper to right down things I really wanted. like a dime store christmas list.
@houseoftheunusual25 күн бұрын
Those days are the ultimate. We will never forget them.
@shannonnewman30916 күн бұрын
As a Kid, I so wanted one !!!!
@houseoftheunusual5 күн бұрын
That is something I always thought about myself. I am surprise that it has that much power although Electrolux vacuum have that much power.
@ModusOperandom24 күн бұрын
I feel like the “Casters Are a Must!” notation says it all regarding the Air Car.
@houseoftheunusual24 күн бұрын
Yeah but then it would not be a hovercraft.
@jabbadac6 күн бұрын
I was really captivated by this ad as a kid. My dad (who's opinion I valued above all) scoffed at the vacuum motor being strong enough to lift anybody and so I never ended up pursuing it.
@houseoftheunusual5 күн бұрын
Electrolux Vacuums had that kind of power. They were found in a lot of houses back then.
@ibannymous7 күн бұрын
What I wanted was the VW Bug engine powered personal helicopter kit. I had dreams of flying to school.
@houseoftheunusual6 күн бұрын
That was found in the popular Mechanics Magazine right?
@csj96198 күн бұрын
Heck yeah! I remember seeing this ad in several magazines and comics. I'm shocked people actually succesfully built this thing. You definately have my attention.
@houseoftheunusual7 күн бұрын
My friend you have my attention as well. God Bless.
@Superabound224 күн бұрын
I remember seeing these in magazines when i was a kid. They DEFINITELY ran through the 80s. I always wanted one SO BAD
@houseoftheunusual22 күн бұрын
Ran way into 2000s
@Lumibear.Ай бұрын
Wow that looks way off from anything any kid could build, but none the less it’s fun to see one off the page and made real, thanks!
@houseoftheunusual29 күн бұрын
Thanks for watching!
@yorinov200128 күн бұрын
@@Lumibear. I built one when I was a kid, it actually a very simple design
@Lumibear.28 күн бұрын
@@yorinov2001 really!? Details please!
@cardboardboxification8 күн бұрын
It's not for 5 year olds, A teen with basic skill can build one , basic hand tools , basic electricity ,. It's for a father who actual has tools in his garage, not a book worm dad who is afraid to get his fingernails dirty
@clutch2827Ай бұрын
Totally forgot about that stupid air car.
@houseoftheunusual24 күн бұрын
I could never looked at the ad for years. I could not afford it until much latter in life. Then I ordered three.
@djvids692124 күн бұрын
@@houseoftheunusual I remember the flying bat too. Johnson Smith catalog was always something to look in the mail for.
@coryschwartz157017 күн бұрын
I wanted this so much when I was a kid. This definitely didn't stop in the 80s. I would have seen it in boys life magazines in the early 90s.
@houseoftheunusual14 күн бұрын
@@djvids6921will do a review soon.
@tobyCornish7 күн бұрын
I never saw these plans or the ad, but did build a simple self-designed hovercraft for a high school science fair c. 1990 out of stuff I had laying around. It's a fun thing to build, and can really impress if people don't grasp how simple they are to make.
@houseoftheunusual7 күн бұрын
Please Please send me photos.
@tobyCornish7 күн бұрын
@@houseoftheunusual I don't think photos exist or if they do, I don't know where they are.
@MegaCraptacular4 күн бұрын
I remember this from the back of Indian Corn magazine when Ed Norton was my scoutmaster.
@houseoftheunusual3 күн бұрын
Thanks for watching. God Bless.
@MichaelCisneros-x7z20 күн бұрын
I remember that submarine. I was always fascinated
@houseoftheunusual17 күн бұрын
I will do a soon a Submarine unboxing again. There is an old video of it in this channel.
@Misfit-from-Zanti7 күн бұрын
I got the 7ft monster.., turned out to be a poster. I also got the switchblade comb.., tip broke off after a week. Fun fun fun.
@houseoftheunusual7 күн бұрын
I have so many of those switchblade combs. I used to sell them in my magic shop.
@BVN-TEXAS17 күн бұрын
Boy all that stuff brings back memories.
@houseoftheunusual17 күн бұрын
I love those memories they let me escape the stress in this world. A more simple time.
@ModernDayProspector11 күн бұрын
Way to go brother! Glad to see this working for you! I meant you when you were just getting starting we did a podcast together. This is a second channel I just started. Again glad to see it working Eddie. I googled ya to see your progress glad to see some of your content taking off ❤
@houseoftheunusual9 күн бұрын
Wow Thanks and God Bless. Who is this? contact me at my e-mail.
@ModernDayProspector9 күн бұрын
@@houseoftheunusual for sure we meant at coral castle in Florida in the rain!
@Grunt-pr7od27 күн бұрын
I remember those I was stupid enough to get the Davey Crockett fort nothing but cheap cardboard but what do you expect for 2 or 3 bucks but as a kid I was awfully disappointed 😔😮😮😮
@houseoftheunusual25 күн бұрын
The Davey Crockett was a plastic that went over a card table just like the Frontier cabin. I need to find mine. Do a video on them.
@LockSpaz22 күн бұрын
I had that 7 ft Frankenstein and so did my friend. Loved that the eyes glowed in the dark .. a little.
@houseoftheunusual22 күн бұрын
You are right very little.
@newmonengineering11 күн бұрын
I remember seeing this ad in so many magazines!
@houseoftheunusual10 күн бұрын
Comic books ran it as well.
@Biokemist-o3k17 күн бұрын
Super cool!! And the video of the guy with the air car was incredible!!! Thank you for bringing this to us!!
@houseoftheunusual16 күн бұрын
Thank you for watching and God Bless.
@inspectorratchet761423 күн бұрын
You're such a good man, God bless you brother!
@houseoftheunusual22 күн бұрын
Thanks, you too! God Bless you and family as well.
@JesseCase14 күн бұрын
I use to love looking through the crazy ads in the back of Boys Life when I was a kid! This ad actually ran into the 90's also which was when I was getting the magazine. It was always one of the coolest and craziest things for sale in the back of the magazine!
@houseoftheunusual13 күн бұрын
Very cool! As the internet approached we lost a lot of those magazines. Boys life is no more SAD!
@Bingbing6118 күн бұрын
I built one for a science project It was cool 😎
@houseoftheunusual7 күн бұрын
If you have kid photos of this please send to me. Thanks and God Bless.
@Bingbing6117 күн бұрын
@@houseoftheunusual I kept it in my garage until last year 1974 to 2023 But I moved and decided to let it go PS- Everyone who saw it was stunned They think I’m a genius now 🤣
@JustinTyme336 күн бұрын
I wanted one of these so bad.
@houseoftheunusual6 күн бұрын
Now you can get a copy. See the new video part two of this one.
@alvarocorral157614 күн бұрын
I remember seeing this ad back in the early 80’s as a grade schooler and (wanted that flying machine really bad) and daydreaming about how I was going to use it to fly to school!
@houseoftheunusual13 күн бұрын
I remember seeing the ad then watching the movie The Martian Chronicles and wondering if the ships in the movie would float the same way. As I kid I did not order them. As a married adult I bought the same plans 4 times. I wanted to make up for suffering as a kid. HAHA.
@jchambers11919 күн бұрын
I bought the plans and built one, you guessed it - for a science project. It worked, but was problematic for sure. 🙂
@houseoftheunusual8 күн бұрын
I agree with you on that 100%. Just the steering of it is a problem.
@RayEvans-j1q25 күн бұрын
My dad loved reading Popular Mechanics! It featured plans to build pretty much anything! He later purchased the How To Popular Mechanics encyclopedia set! It featured a plan to change you lawnmower into an airplane! McGyver would have loved it!
@houseoftheunusual25 күн бұрын
I actually have hat set. Great stuff if you like building things.
@johnnunez81315 күн бұрын
You guys are awesome.. where have you guys been my whole life!?!? It's like I just ran into my long lost best friends. Anyways, thanks for the time travel.
@houseoftheunusual5 күн бұрын
You're the best! God Bless you my friend and your family!
@40intrepidАй бұрын
Any one else remember the live monkey you could order from a comic book ad?
@houseoftheunusualАй бұрын
I will have the story of a person who ordered one. Soon in my podcast.
@phayzyre105225 күн бұрын
@@houseoftheunusual I can’t wait to see it! I heard stories of people ordering that monkey only for it to end up being disastrous.
@coryingman25 күн бұрын
I'm in my 30s, but I saw that print ad in old comic books. It was $20 for one spider monkey, with a cage included. An ex of mine's mom had one when she was younger, she said it would ride the dog like a horse.
@crowe66822 күн бұрын
@@40intrepid you mean sea Monkees I think
@whoknows751321 күн бұрын
@@crowe668 Nope. It was an actual spider monkey 🐒
@erikj.206625 күн бұрын
It ran longer than 1984. I remember seeing that ad in the back of my friends Boys Life magazine from the 90’s.
@houseoftheunusual25 күн бұрын
You are right it ran all the way into early 2000s. Until Ross died.
@MalibuBrian8 күн бұрын
I remember seeing the small ads for the vacuum cleaner powered hover craft in the back of either Popular Science or Popular mechanics back in the mid to late 80s. My 14-year-old self-wanted to order the plans for this so bad, but my dad dismissed it as most likely a scam back then. I've not seen or heard anything about it since then. Interesting to know it was a real thing!
@houseoftheunusual7 күн бұрын
I have seen at least 4 actual built ones. I am trying to find the videos in my old hard drive. I would love to post them.
@jeffreyyoung410425 күн бұрын
Our shop teacher made square boxes that took the vacuum cleaner hose hooked to the output of the vacuum, and we would use it to move heavy objects and people around the shop. When I made my own for home use, it was a hit with the neighbors seeing me push heavy objects around the garage and driveway! I always wanted to make one big enough for a car....
@houseoftheunusual24 күн бұрын
That is an interesting Idea.
@jeffreyyoung410423 күн бұрын
@@houseoftheunusual Thanks, it is an idea as old as the air hockey tables, if not older, but it is cool to use for today!
@T00LF00L24 күн бұрын
OMG I remember this! I wanted to build this thing SO bad, but at 7 years old I could never afford my own vacuum..😢
@houseoftheunusual24 күн бұрын
I know it was hard to afford the 7 feet ghost.
@michaelnash21389 күн бұрын
I ordered the Bartlett Flying Saucer hovercraft plans. Never built it, obviously, since I couldn't get an airplane propeller or a 5-7 HP Briggs and Stratton engine. Plus, I thought that balancing on a 2ft piece of lightweight plywood immediately over a spinning propeller blade with doped canvas and chicken wire the only thing separating you from it if you fell, all the while straddling a running lawn mower engine was a bit dangerous. Plus, even then I realized that you'd have a tendency to spin from the induced torque and you'd need to move forward at a fair clip to prevent you spinning at several dozen RPM. Nope, not for me.
@houseoftheunusual8 күн бұрын
I will be doing a review on the Bartlett Flying saucer soon. Bartlett actually appeared in the movie The Force Beyond with his saucer in the 1980's. Look it up.
@royrice802127 күн бұрын
I got the “rocket ship”. It was cardboard fold together about 5’ long and 2 and a half feet around. At 5 tears old you could sit in it with your chest up protruding. NOT what I expected. 🤣😳
@houseoftheunusual25 күн бұрын
actually it was 7 feet long. I have an original in it's box just like the Submarine. I have an older vid where I have unboxed the sub a few years back. I will soon do a new one.
@danny-li6io6 күн бұрын
I probably spent hours looking at that add, daydreaming. Some friends of mine’s parents bought and attempted to build it and it spared us all the disappointment.
@houseoftheunusual6 күн бұрын
They they complete it? I am sure that back then this would have been supercool.
@theianmce7 күн бұрын
I had fhose plans and built one! We ended up building the simpler one that was just a single larger plywood disc. The ads also ran in popular science and popular mechanics
@houseoftheunusual7 күн бұрын
In my opinion I like that model the best. Reminds me of a flying saucer. Do you have any home movies of it?
@ashtonhartley266225 күн бұрын
Can you do a video about the ad for the $500 helicopter?
@houseoftheunusual25 күн бұрын
Send me a copy of the ad. I don't seem to remember it. Houseoftheunusual@gmail.com. I will do the video.
@ashtonhartley266225 күн бұрын
@@houseoftheunusual ok😀
@varmint243davev725 күн бұрын
I built a hovercraft with a 2-stroke leaf blower. It was a lot of fun. Even the neighbor kids rode on it. Lots of examples on KZbin.
@houseoftheunusual25 күн бұрын
Send me photos if you have any.
@Woody_Florida24 күн бұрын
The air car ad ran for much longer than 1984. Probably well into the 1990s? I definitely remember the ad well and i was born in 83, so it had to run longer. Cool video!
@houseoftheunusual20 күн бұрын
It actually ran till about 2010. My typo in video.
@samholdsworth42014 күн бұрын
I was A boy scout in the late 80s and early 90s and I remember seeing this in Boy's Life magazine.
@houseoftheunusual13 күн бұрын
This in my opinion is the best mail order ad ever written second only to Charles Atlas.
@BlackArroToonsАй бұрын
Nice review of this Air Car instruction book, thanks! Could be cool to see one floating slightly above the ground while holding the heavier pilot. That would be an impressive creation. Great reveal at the end, showing him on the Hovercraft. Cool, thanks!
@houseoftheunusualАй бұрын
I think when he covered the bottom of the skirt he stopped the air from lifting off the ground.
@houseoftheunusualАй бұрын
The holes were too small and needed the bottom to be uncovered.
@donaldgrant906714 күн бұрын
I don't think a leaf blower would work, but 3 Lamb vacuum cleaner motors would work. The leaf Blower would be a good way to give it propulsion. In vacuums there are motors with power and you need that for lift, then you have systems that are made for airflow. But there isn't one with both.
@houseoftheunusual13 күн бұрын
You are right.
@Ducatista749s17 күн бұрын
I remember the ads for these!!!!
@houseoftheunusual17 күн бұрын
Yes it ran for several years and was probably the longest running ad next to Charles Atlas.
@robert83215 күн бұрын
In 1974, I used mine to go to school. I landed in the parking lot and was the coolest! ....then I woke up.
@houseoftheunusual3 күн бұрын
That my friend would make you the coolest in the block. HAHA.
@vincentwelch728623 күн бұрын
Blast from the past. Thanks brother.
@houseoftheunusual22 күн бұрын
Any time!
@adventureswithedna19 күн бұрын
I was a boyscout once upon a time. Used to love getting boys life. Couldnt get my parents to buy the plans but actually tried to build it in my bedroom
@houseoftheunusual17 күн бұрын
There you go. Thanks for sharing.
@obsoletebutneatАй бұрын
Always wanted to order these. I think I did once, but wound up getting something completely different. I always knew it would be a scam, I just wanted to know how it was one.
@houseoftheunusualАй бұрын
Ross the originator of these plans never ripped off anybody I have ever heard of. Maybe it just got lost in the mail.
@bswihart118 күн бұрын
Marui Big Bear ad was my favorite but I was really into RC cars and trucks
@houseoftheunusual17 күн бұрын
I remember that ad. There was an ad in Marvel that sold RC cars. I will find it for future stuff.
@thegreendank16 күн бұрын
I remember that ad. I always wanted all that crap in the comic books/magazines. Who didn't want x-ray specs as an 8yr old boy in the 80s
@houseoftheunusual6 күн бұрын
Well I go back to the 70s but the same standard applied. Haha.
@jamieegan-rr3ji20 күн бұрын
When I was a kid I really wanted this. I even took a vacuum motor from an old vacuum. But never placed the order.
@houseoftheunusual17 күн бұрын
Funny I did the same and still have that old Vacuum motor somewhere.
@Clownboy158 күн бұрын
Out of all the ads I ever saw in Boys Life magazine, this was the one I always wanted to try! Never did though. Figured it would be a waste.
@houseoftheunusual8 күн бұрын
That was because if you look at the ad it is one of the greatest ad ever. Even this video has gotten almost 50,000 views in less that a month. That tell you how great an ad it is.
@jackgilchrist19 күн бұрын
Yep, I always wanted the air car, and the x-ray specs because I thought they would let me see through girls' clothes. I was a bit of naughty boy. 😂 I think I had a Boy's Life subscription for a while when I was a cub scout, but I think the ads were also in Mad and Cracked, and I was an avid reader of both as a kid in the '70s.
@houseoftheunusual17 күн бұрын
Same reason I wanted the X-Ray Specs. That was a different time.
@Jaggerbush3 күн бұрын
OMG thank you! I always wondered what this was about! Awesome. (Also nothing like what my 8 year old brain imagined. No wonder my dad said Hell No!)
@houseoftheunusual2 күн бұрын
Glad you enjoyed it God Bless.
@Hyapatia775 күн бұрын
I still have belching powder and stink loads from the 90s. I bought cigarette loads in the 80s. They blew up a bit, plus I had joy buzzers, whoopee cushions, a squirt nickel, etc. I bought the classic Wacky Package, Crazy Labels, Crazy Cars and Garbage Pail Kids stickers as well. Topps put out two books of classic WP stickers with an essay on their history. Will you ever do an ep on them? It'd be crazy!!
@houseoftheunusual3 күн бұрын
Write me an email and list the ones you like to see. Connect with me at my email. I will review them.
@EURIPODES8 күн бұрын
This just reminded me how lousy my childhood was. I only remember having two comic books. One was a Green Arrow, which got taken away because my mom thought one of the women were drawn too sexy. And the other was Captain America vs Animus. You guys know Animus right? Yeah, well at least I survived childhood. 😅
@houseoftheunusual8 күн бұрын
Trust me a lot of people have the same story.
@RA-uj3nm18 күн бұрын
Always wanted one of those as a kid....pictured myself floating around with my fishbowl full of sea monkeys.....😂😂😂
@houseoftheunusual17 күн бұрын
I will be doing a sea monkeys video soon.
@williamhenderson83717 күн бұрын
I want to see one operational!
@houseoftheunusual7 күн бұрын
Watch the video till the end it shows one.
@patmagic330118 күн бұрын
I remember it vividly. I think it was in the back of Boys Life, oh you just said that. I bought a bunch of junk from there. I ordered the floating ghost. It was a balloon, a white piece of plastic and some fishing string lol 😂
@houseoftheunusual17 күн бұрын
Do you still have the ghost?
@HereBeDragonsYT22 күн бұрын
I wanted one of those so bad when I was a kid. I've seen that ad so many times. Boy's Life magazine, I believe.
@houseoftheunusual22 күн бұрын
I wanted it so bad it was crazy. The YOU CAN FLOAT IN AIR part got me.
@sle247019 күн бұрын
I remember this! I remember seeing it in Marvel comic books.
@houseoftheunusual17 күн бұрын
It was there also.
@DragonJohn10 күн бұрын
The ad was still in Boy's Life in the mid 90s. Never ordered the plans but ended up building one on my own when I was like 14 or 15.
@houseoftheunusual10 күн бұрын
That is the way to go. I would try to do the same when I did not have the money when I was young.
@DragonJohn10 күн бұрын
@@houseoftheunusual Mine was made out of wood, particle board sheets and 2x4s my dad had around. The skirt I made with old tarps and duct tape and an old vacuum.
@Pistolpete1478 күн бұрын
I remember that air car ad back in the 70’s and 80’s inside the comics and other kid magazines like World and ranger Rick. My question is how do you control it? The end of your video shows the man who built one and that don’t look easy to do. But how does he control it? Seems you just sit on it and then what?
@houseoftheunusual7 күн бұрын
Well that is the only thing that is bad about it. The idea is that you actually float in a cushion of air. Will win a science fair prize, but you would have to do a lot of research into how to guide it. A friend added an airplane fin to the big one piece version of this. The third plan in the kit. This helped it to glide in one direction. The idea is that any science projects can use improvements. With the 7 foot ghost I spent over 4 years improving it since the original sucked a little. God Bless.
@htmagicАй бұрын
Eddie, pretty cool. The reviews will be interesting. My brother sent off for the Johnson Smith spy camera. It was tiny, used real film, and we took pictures and had them developed. It really worked. I can already see improvement to the hovercraft video you showed. Bigger ducts with sweeping corners. Open bottom skirts, one big hole. Too much pressure drop in those tiny outlet holes, limiting airflows.
@houseoftheunusual29 күн бұрын
Agreed 100% with what you say.
@darrellwiley428812 күн бұрын
I remember those ads from back in the day, I always wondered if it really worked
@houseoftheunusual9 күн бұрын
It really works but the problem is the steering and the size.
@djenkins55513 күн бұрын
I always wanted that air car.
@houseoftheunusual9 күн бұрын
Look at the second video I just put out. It shows how to get it free.
@bftruly10 күн бұрын
I bought those plans.
@houseoftheunusual10 күн бұрын
Thanks for watching. Did you buy them from us?
@bftruly10 сағат бұрын
@@houseoftheunusual I bought them in the 80s from a magapine.
@jayoshay370923 күн бұрын
I miss Johnson smith.loved all their novelties. ❤
@houseoftheunusual22 күн бұрын
I know what you mean. My company is the last one left. Craig Tarbeck my buddy was the CEO of Johnson Smith for over 40 years.
@richardyounkin155712 күн бұрын
I'm surprised none of the comments mention there is no way to steer it, or propel if forward. All it does is lift you but I guess if you had a steep enough driveway you could coast down to the bottom.As a kid in the 60's I really wanted the sub but I was smart enough to know they can't give you all that for 7 dollars. I spent so many hours dreaming about it.
@houseoftheunusual9 күн бұрын
Actually one of the comments and response mentions there is no way to steer it. I also responded to it. The problem with Hovercrafts is the steering. One can achieve this by using fins like on a plane.
@cliftonmassey314320 күн бұрын
I remember seeing that same ad in the back of poplar since and poplar mechanics magazines in the mid 90's
@houseoftheunusual17 күн бұрын
Yes popular science and mechanics carried a lot of ads from Honor House and Johnson Smith company.
@JoeSyxpack6 күн бұрын
I remember these ads in Boy's Life. Of course, in my mind it was a flying car that you could zip around at treetop level and drop water balloons on the neighborhood bullies.
@houseoftheunusual6 күн бұрын
Now there you have a point. We all dreamed bigger than the actual reality of the thing.
@TheRealNormanBatesАй бұрын
8:14 or, if you're cheap like Rich Evans, the Dollar General Store Fart Bag.
@houseoftheunusual24 күн бұрын
HAHA!
@Winkleo.x13 күн бұрын
Boys' Life magazine back pages! Back then my early teen self was trying to figure out how long of an extension cord I needed. Then Mr. Wizard built something similar and I became generally underwhelmed by the idea.
@houseoftheunusual13 күн бұрын
I think I remember what you are talking about wow.
@johnsimpson486821 күн бұрын
Yes. I remember
@houseoftheunusual20 күн бұрын
Thanks for watching.
@jamescarter319612 күн бұрын
I remember these mostly from late-70s comic books and it was always a fascinating idea, but I could tell that if you were only 'buying plans' it would be a giant pain to make one of these unless you already had the handy skills for it.
@houseoftheunusual9 күн бұрын
You are right about that. I think when a person buys plans it kind of tells you deep inside that you will always somehow have it even though its not tangible. I mean that is how I feel.
@peteytwofinger25 күн бұрын
who remembers the "warshowski" catalog ? "thumb your nose at the world" hood ornament .
@houseoftheunusual25 күн бұрын
Wow I have not heard that since the 90's. Yeah I remember. Wonder if I have an old one.
@clydeusa659619 күн бұрын
In the 70s I wanted it but could not afford it.
@houseoftheunusual16 күн бұрын
Neither could I. I finally got it as an adult.
@JohnClarke80825 күн бұрын
I remember that ad. I used to look at it and wished I had more
@houseoftheunusual25 күн бұрын
I got the plans if you like them on eBay! Just to remember the past.
@teptime8 күн бұрын
A boy I attended middle school with built one of these(actually, he had his dad make it). I saw it once, and it wasn't especially impressive, but it did function in a rudimentary, nonpractical sort of way.
@houseoftheunusual7 күн бұрын
I wish you had photos or your friend.
@chrisbirch200222 күн бұрын
I was a scout in the mid-90s and I had a subscription to boys Life magazine I remember this ad in the back. I always wondered if it really worked.
@houseoftheunusual22 күн бұрын
Actually a few people have built it and showcased it in youtube.
@chrisbirch200222 күн бұрын
@@houseoftheunusual until I saw the thumbnail I forgot all about that ad but I remembered it as soon as I saw it Wait a minute I remember that!
@jacov127Ай бұрын
Love your Content.. greetz from Europe
@houseoftheunusualАй бұрын
Thanks from here. I have a few great friends from Europe. Tim from illusions is my twin in the UK.
@barryon87063 күн бұрын
I had one of those, but I was driving it with X-ray glasses on and tried to go through a tree.
@houseoftheunusual2 күн бұрын
Haha God Bless.
@fredWaxBeans1111125 күн бұрын
I don't remember the Air Car Plans advertisement, but I did get that Air Car in the top left spot 0:09.
@houseoftheunusual25 күн бұрын
That one was sold by the johnson smith company. I will do a review on that soon. Need to get one out of storage.
@jayoshay370923 күн бұрын
I remember this ad in back of boys life when I was in cub scouts.ofcourse me an my friends believed it.but were to poor to buy it.😂
@houseoftheunusual22 күн бұрын
Same with me hard to get $5.00 back then.
@Rompastompa71Ай бұрын
If your dad was the owner of a Home Depot or a Lowe`s, I`m sure this would be a remote possibility for a kid. Great video....Thanks for the memories.
@houseoftheunusualАй бұрын
Thanks for watching.
@seka198629 күн бұрын
I had the secret spy scope.
@houseoftheunusual29 күн бұрын
Very famous just like the switchblade comb. I sold a lot of them through the years.
@MasterJediDude21 күн бұрын
I totally remember that ad and as a kid, I begged my dad to get it for me. Never happened.