David and Alan Build Robots

Programme Outline

We see a bedroom with a range of mechanical toys, inspired by the wacky machines in the Wallace and Gromit films. These machines include Hades, a homemade robot that can change direction. It has a lever arm for moving things.

In a junkyard, David and Alan scavenge for bits and pieces to use in their next robot. They lift the bonnet of an old car to get at some of its engine parts. Back home, they build the robot's shell. First, plywood parts are cut out using a power saw. Holes are drilled and the different pieces of the shell are glued together. The robot's motors, power system and control device are fitted. Wheels are added and the shell is given a coat of paint. Finally, this robot gets a name: Maximus.

Meanwhile, in the back garden, the combat zone has been built. A square black stage of plywood surrounds a smoking pit. The lads will test the new robot against one they made earlier.

Across the smoking pit, the two robots face each other. Alan and David grab their radio control units. Maximus and Flybot wheel into action, pushing and shoving, trying to edge each other into the pit. The battle is fierce but in the end Flybot takes a nosedive into the smoke. As the boys cheer, Maximus turns circles, in a robot dance of victory.