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English
Nok Tai Chueak (Thai String-Gliding Bird, Nok Noi, Nok Bin) — a Pierced Clay Bird on the Monofilament of a 2-Foot Bent-Bamboo Bow; Shake it and the Bird Glides Down as if Flying
นกไต่เชือก (nok tai chueak; also nok noi, nok bin) is a toy: clay modelled into a bird or another animal, threaded on the line of a bamboo bow. Shake the bow and the bird slides slowly down as if it were flying.
This blueprint makes a real string-gliding bird by the steps in the source.
Beginner
About 1 hour (plus 2-3 days for the clay to dry)
Instructions
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1
Real sizes
Real sizes
Loading Jupyter Notebook...
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2
Moving toys, before it
Moving toys, before it
The running turtle moves on a wheel and rubber band; the string-gliding bird slides down its line when the bow is shaken.
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Read from the source
Read from the source
"Shake the bow a little and the animal slowly slides down, as if the bird were gliding down through empty air." (Sirindhorn Anthropology Centre, CC BY 4.0)
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4
Model the bird
Model the bird
Model clay into a small bird (or a fish or pig instead), pierce a hole through the middle of its body slightly larger than the line or thread, and let it dry for 2-3 days.
Materials for this step:
Clay1 piece5
5
Bamboo bow
Bamboo bow
Shave bamboo into a tapering stick about 2 feet long, bend it, and fix monofilament or black thread to both ends so it looks like a bow.
Materials for this step:
Bamboo Poles1 piece
Fishing Line (Monofilament)1 pieceTools needed:
Knife6
6
Assemble
Assemble
Before tying the line to both ends of the bamboo, thread it through the animal, then tie it to the ends. Monofilament is hardly visible.
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7
Real photos
Real photos
Drawings of the clay bird and of playing with it (Sirindhorn Anthropology Centre, CC BY 4.0).
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8
How to play
How to play
Hold the bow upright, slide the animal up to the top of the line, and shake the bow a little: the animal slowly slides down as if flying.
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Troubleshooting
Troubleshooting
Troubleshooting the string-gliding bird.
Flow
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10
History and limits
History and limits
The toy has many names, such as nok noi and nok bin; you can model a bird or any animal you like. Take care with the knife when shaving bamboo.
Source: Sirindhorn Anthropology Centre, Traditional Objects of Everyday Use database, "นกไต่เชือก" (CC BY 4.0 licence).
**Limits** The source gives no size for the bird or length for the line.
Materials
3- 1 piecePlaceholder
- 1 piecePlaceholder
- 1 piecePlaceholder
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