The Draganflyer X6 “is a remotely operated, unmanned, miniature helicopter designed to carry wireless video cameras and still cameras”.
It’s also one of the most bad-add R/C copters ever made.
Features include a six rotor co-axial configuration that makes the Draganflyer X6 compact, stable, and powerful, a full carbon fiber folding frame that also makes it light and easy to carry, and 11 on-board sensors that make the X6 the easiest copter to fly in its class, including three gyros, three accelerometers, three magnetometers, one barometric pressure sensor, and one GPS receiver.
Loose radio connection?
No problem; the Draganflyer X6 simply lands itself and waits for you to return.
Loose an engine?
Again, no problem. The Draganflyer is able to continue flying, even with one engine entirely out of commission.
With camera options that range from anti-vibration mounts and digital still camera holds to HD video, low light, thermal infrared and micro video cameras, there’s even a payload option to match every need.
When I first saw pictures of the Rinspeed sQuba car, I thought it was a clever Photoshop or some sort of concept car art piece.
However, the sQuba is real, and can both drive on land and “fly” underwater.
Dubbed “the world’s first real submersible car”, it features three electric motors, two Seabob jet drives, zero exhaust emissions, LED lighting technology, VDO controls that work underwater, and a fully salt-water resistant interior/exterior.
Drive it into the water and it floats along the surface like a buoy. Then, just crack the door and it sinks into the depths. Hop out though, and the driverless (diverless?) car floats to the surface automatically.
Despite what it looks like, this is not an Aston Martin V12 Vanquish.
Instead, it’s a Ford Mustang with one of the best body replica kits I’ve ever seen.
Made by Exclusive Motor Cars, the replication process includes stretching the wheelbase, widening the track, lowering the ride height, adding 34 extra body panels to the outside, custom upholstering the inside, and then adding the small details like the lights, emblems and grills to get things just right.
What you’re left with after all of that is over is a car that is almost indistinguishable from the real thing. (Except for the price.) They even include a Spy Package that adds on grille-mounted rocket launchers and hood-mounted machine guns for extra fun. (Apparently, “Even the original James Bond car from Die Another Day was equipted with Mustang running gear.”)
Despite looking like you could hop in and take it for a spin, this Aston Martin DB5 is actually a model made entirely out of cardboard.
Chris Gilmour handcrafted this cardboard car, and though it won’t take you very far, it is an amazingly detailed piece of work, complete all the way down to the Bond gadgets sticking out of the sides.
Turbo Girls is “the greatest action/adventure/comedy movie series ever released exclusively online!”
Created by David Lehre “in the spirit of classic 1960’s spy movies like James Bond and The Mod Squad, with a hint of Austin Powers and Charlie’s Angels”, it’s a series that should be good for a at least a few minutes of entertainment.
Matchstick Gardens are ‘cute matchbooks’ with a ‘clever secret inside’, and are great for guerrilla gardening. Just tear off a ‘match’, plant it tip first into soil (there are pre-mixed seeds on each tip), and watch your garden grow. The books are available in either herb (basil, chive, parsley, and thyme) or wildflower (cornflower, Shasta daisy, marigold, and poppy) varieties, and should grow just about anywhere you can plant it. James Bond’s mother would approve.
As a first step on the way to 2,000 posts, I’d like to look back at the best of the best from the first 1,000 posts. Here are a few choice cuts that you may have missed:
Though Apple may not have been able to fool LG or Rebecca Runkle, they did manage to keep everyone else in the dark about the iPhone. So how do you go about keeping secret one of the biggest new releases for over two and a half years of development? For Apple, it involved bogus prototypes, press bullying and pillow talk stifling. Though difficult, it did take their buzz meter to 11, so I’m guessing all of the secrecy paid off. Will Steve Jobs be the next James Bond?
If James Bond fished, it would definitely have to be with this Pen Fishing Rod. Using a normal looking pen that telescopes from 8” to a full 4’ aluminum rod, and a miniaturized reel with fully functional line brake/clutch and switchable ratchet (for left or right-handed use), this rod “won’t catch a marlin, but it’s definitely useable”. Pocket fishing has taken on a whole new meaning.
Bond. James Bond. With the upcoming release of Casino Royale, there is sure to be plenty of 00 Envy going around. DYH is here to help, with a how-to guide on being the man, the myth, the Bond.
First things first, you can’t play the part if you don’t look the part, so you’re going to need to dress for the occasion. When it comes to style, nothing says suave, sophisticated, debonair and Bond like a tuxedo. James does his in a very classic style, with a black tux, white shirt, and black bow tie. Presentation is key with a black tie tux, so make sure you’re looking clean cut before you even think of stepping out the door.
Of course, no Bond is complete without Bond Girls. In this case, it’s the lovely Eva Green (Vesper Lynd) and the stunning Caterina Murino (Solange). A Bond Girl needs to be smart, sophisticated, quick on her feet, and handy with a gun. She also needs to be disposable, because no Bond Girl ever makes a repeat performance.
Since you’re going to be looking good, people are going to notice. If the wrong people start to notice, make sure you’re packing some heat. Bond’s firearm of choice is the Walther P99. Designed to be light and compact, it’s perfect for concealment, and packs a punch with 16 rounds of 9mm ammunition on tap. Also favored by Bond is the Walther PPK, an older, but still formidable choice when facing off against the likes of Jaws and Goldfinger, so it ought to be more than enough for your secret agent duties.
Of course there’s the drink, a martini, shaken, not stirred. To make your own, just mix 1 ¼ oz. Smirnoff Vodka with a splash of dry vermouth, add ice, shake well, and strain into a chilled martini glass garnished with a lemon twist. Though I’m sure you can make it with other (any) vodkas, Smirnoff paid a pretty penny to be the official alcohol of Casino Royale, so I guess they’re due at least a mention.
If you want to keep things a little more lowbrow, you can always pick up a Heine, as Heineken has made itself the official beer of Casino Royale. A beer might not have the pizzazz of a martini, but it’s sure to bring out your spy like swagger just as quickly.
You’re not exactly going to bike around with a license to kill, so you’ve got to get your hands on a killer set of wheels. Bond loves Aston Martins, and for good reason. They’re fast, sexy, and covert, just like our favorite agent. His latest whip is the DBS, a V12 monster pushing 500hp in the DBRS9 spec-racer version that Bond gets his hands on. Complete the Bond theme and get yours in the exclusive exterior color, “Casino Ice”, a graphite grey with a blue tint. You might want to take some driving lessons before getting behind the wheel of this beast though. Bond set a world record in his, completing seven cannon rolls during one of the stunts.
When you’re not chasing down the bad guys and you just want some wheels with a classic appeal, find yourself a DB5, the original Bondmobile that makes a reappearance in the current installment.
When dry land is no longer required, hit the seas on a Spirit 54 by Spirit Yachts. This 54’ wooden sailboat has both the luxury and the speed of every agent’s dreams, and is sure to Bondify your sailing experience.
If all else fails, you can always dial a taxi, just make sure you do it with your James Bond limited edition silver Sony Ericsson K800 or K790 camera phone. Just like the M600 Bond uses in the casino, these phones feature a camera, 3G connectivity, and enough style to make your other ear jealous.
When you’re ready to check mission briefings, snap some photos, or download those secret files you’ve finally infiltrated, check with Sony for their latest 007 gear. In celebration of the 21st Bond flick, Sony is releasing limited edition Bond-branded versions of their VAIO TX, VAIO UX, DSC-T50, and 1GB USB Micro Vault Flash Drive.
Featuring logos, serial numbers, and stylish aluminum attaché cases, spy gear never looked so good.
Lastly, practice makes perfect, so be sure to polish your spy skills with the Casino Royale Strategy Game. Your job is to assume the responsibility of an MI6 team leader, find the briefcase of terrorist funds before Le Chiffre’s henchmen do, and escape from the airport unscathed. It’s a tough one, but no one said this spy stuff was going to be easy.
With the style, gadgets, and skills of Bond on your side, even the most mundane tasks can take on a level of spy-like secrecy never before imagined. Just be sure to watch out for the double cross, because no one wants to go out like that.
