Motor Morphers

Concrete Mixer (1x1)

Air date: May 06, 2013

This week, two teams of four highly skilled engineers are given the implausible task of transforming two concrete mixer lorries into boats. The vessels they create need to be capable of carrying a half-tonne cargo on a figure-of-eight course around a lake. They must also build a winch system to hoist their cargo off the boat and carry it across a finish line. All in just four days! Motor Morphers’ HQ is manned by Mark and Hadrian, who have some heavy machines for cutting, drilling and hammering. Hadrian’s response to Jason’s suggestion about how the teams should proceed is, “If they turned that into a human-powered paddle steamer, they would most definitely be bonkers!” But the teams have other ideas – the Reds plan to attach some outriggers behind a hollowed-out cement drum, while the Blues, led by Ed ‘The Professor’, want to create an impeller-driven craft, a bit like a jet ski. The teams remove the giant mixer drums from the trucks before beginning the back-breaking task of extricating the thick concrete crust inside. Then they have to tackle the issues of propulsion and stability. How do they float massive concrete mixer bowls? Where do they put the half-tonne cargo so that they will not sink their new ‘boats’? And how on earth do they build a perfect propeller from scratch? When they get to the lake to test out their machines, the teams have absolutely no idea whether they will sink or swim, let alone get round the course! Which team’s engine goes with a bang? Which team needs bailing out and who makes it back to dry land first?