Sometimes all you need is a good idea.
I had seen these globe shaped solar lights and used them in may other projects and after watching a great sci-fi movie realized they could be used to make a UFO.
I began by cutting a circle out of a 2 x 6 scrap wood on my band saw, but I think I will use 1" of or thinner wood stock next time and glue pieces together as the thick cuts were somewhat difficult.
Dividing the circle in half with a pencil line.
And then using a belt sander I began beveling the top and bottom edges into a flying saucer shape.
I drilled a hole for the solar light to fit in and carved with the Dremel tool a recess for the solar light set in,
so it would sit flush is in the following photo.
Then using 2 x 2's created the pivot and vein part to mount the UFO on top of.
I used a screw that had no upper threads in the vertical mount, cut off the head, and using a drama rounded the top of the screw.
On the horizontal pivot I placed a brass tube in a hole I drilled slightly off center and then placed a BB in the tube to act as a bearing.
So I had something that looked like the following.
I took a plastic florescent tube covering and cut a short piece to cover the black shaft of the solar light.
I painted the black shaft of the UFO solar light with florescent green paint and the inside of the clear tube with glitter.
Cannibalizing a second regular solar light, I used a Dremel saw blade to cut solar light carefully apart without disconnecting any wires. I cut a channel in the horizontal 2 x 2 and fitted the solar cell there and mounted the rest of the components(LED, battery) under the clear tube. But I found this to be too bright and later painted the inside of the tube with more florescent green paint to dull the brightness of the light.
I will later mount some type of tail fin and cow being abducted as a counterbalance to the UFO.
So far the project has gone well and I will update this post when it is completed.
Not sure which one I like, so posted both. UFO on the back side is just a tail fin cutout to act as rudder in the wind. Cow is also just a cutout 1/8" stock or thicker. A propeller could aslo be added to lighted end.
Also checkout the following links
Nevadacrafter.com
https://nevadacrafter.blogspot.com/
and
https://craft44.blogspot.com/
