User:JaisonR/Igloo/Igloo Attempt 1

Laying the first layer and sloping the tops are the most important since it is the base of the whole igloo. If you look at the two photos on the left hand side of the page you will see the base layed along the edges of the base I outlined on paper. The second photo shows an how the slope in the blocks was created. While I made this slope only where I felt it was needed I think that It is needed for every layer. The angle on the top of the blocks seems extreme but it did not work without it. My next attempts will have to include this correction.

In addition to the angle created on the surface of the blocks my source text said to build the igloo by cutting a slant in the first layer of blocks. This slant starts about halfway around the first layer and tapers block height down to less that half of the blocks original height. This is most easily seen in the first picture on the left. Don't confuse the taper with the slant in the top blocks as you build upward.

I took several photos of my construction from base to height just before collapse. Notice that the blocks are not slanted on the top and also notice the gaps between each. These two problems were addressed more successfully in the second attempt.

Summary of problems
 * 1) Block to block fitting was sloppy
 * 2) Block top angle not cut.
 * 3) Playdough may not be able to handle this size scale.

As a result the structure was unstable and tended to be more tube like rather than a dome.


 * As a final note I would like to point out collapse on the bottom right. For a full scale model we can expect collapse to be similar and as a safety note we should not allow people insde the structure.