New Rides to Grandma's House



Hutchinson's resident nuclear scientist (for real) and yuletide inventor, Dale Hankins, has been at it again with not the usual one, but three new robot kids traveling across his lawn to Grandma's House.

Here's a video that shows you the whole thing:

 

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His original intent was to add only one - Hitchhiking to Grandma's House - with a motorized arm and turning head. This is the first of Dale's automations to be placed such that its face is readily visible.

 

 

It sits facing the corner of Countryside Drive and Downing Road, with its back to the lawn full of motorized grandchildren.
 

 

A surprise awaited Dale...well, two surprises, really. Children donated a play car and fire engine and so Dale decided to use them this year. The car was easy enough and his daughter, Cheryl Cox gave the robot driver a Danica Patrick look via the hair. 

 

The fire engine patrols near the roller coaster. 

 

Dale and his daughter, Cheryl Cox, show me Dale's custom lever mechanism by which the fire trucks siren activation button is regularly pressed to keep the lights and sounds going.

This video offers a daytime tour and more of an explanation of the mechanics of the whole thing:

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