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Austin, JohnAustin, John | Alt 1
Austin, JohnAustin, John | Alt 1

John Austin

John Austin is a professional toy designer and author of the Mini Weapons of Mass Destruction books, So Now You're a Zombie, and Labcraft Wizards.
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Titles by John Austin

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Titles Found: 8
Labcraft Wizards
Labcraft Wizards (4 Formats) ›
By John Austin
Trade Paper Price 16.99

Trade Paper, PDF, EPUB, Mobipocket

Published Oct 2016

Being a wizard takes training, practice, and a few tips from an expert. Author and professional toy designer John Austin, creator of the popular MiniWeapons of Mass Destruction series, provides dozens of projects for up-and-coming sorcerers. Each of the 35 projects in Labcraft Wizards is explained through illustrated step-by-step instructions and uses simple, everyday materials. Build an Enchanted Hourglass out of empty soda bottles, plastic hangers, and sand. Transform a chicken egg into a colorful, bouncy Dragon Egg using vinegar and food coloring or mix up a batch of Ogre Snot with corn syrup and gelatin. Through its creative activities, Labcraft Wizards helps eager minds explore basic concepts in chemistry and physics through experimentation, encourages scientific observation, and fuels imaginations.
Mini Weapons of Mass Destruction 3
Mini Weapons of Mass Destruction 3 (4 Formats) ›
By John Austin
Trade Paper Price 17.99

Trade Paper, PDF, EPUB, Mobipocket

Published May 2013

Utilizing easy-to-find and inexpensive materials, this handy resource teaches desktop warriors how to build a multitude of medieval siege weapons for the modern era. Novice combatants will learn to build 35 defense weapons, including a marshmallow catapult, a chopstick bow, a bottle cap crossbow, and a clothespin ballista. In addition to beefing up their Dark Age arsenal, would-be warriors are provided with a number of targets on which to practice their shooting skills. Clear diagrams, instructions, and safety tips for each project are included, making construction of each of these weapons simple, safe, and fun.

Mini Weapons of Mass Destruction Targets
Mini Weapons of Mass Destruction Targets ›
By John Austin
Price 9.95

Trade Paper

Published Apr 2012

Any marksman knows that the key to becoming an accomplished shooter is to practice, practice, practice, and Mini Weapons of Mass Destruction Targets contains more than 100 perforated targets that minimarksmen can use to develop their skills. The targets are divided into three themes—Basic, Secret Agent, and Dark Ages—with a variety of game-play scenarios, including blasting the lock off a chained door, knocking down a castle gate, or taking out a security camera. On the back of each target are rules for basic and advanced play. Ideas for setting up an in-house firing range that will protect walls and furniture are also included. In addition to the targets, instructions for five new Mini Weapons are provided, including a Paper Pick Blow Gun, a Toothpick Tape Dart, and a Semi-Automatic Pen Pistol.
Mini Weapons of Mass Destruction: Build a Secret Agent Arsenal
Mini Weapons of Mass Destruction: Build a Secret Agent Arsenal (4 Formats) ›
By John Austin
Trade Paper Price 17.99

Trade Paper, PDF, EPUB, Mobipocket

Published Oct 2011

Culling common household items to create an uncommon arsenal of miniature gadgets and sidearms, this guidebook provides do-it-yourself spy enthusiasts with 35 different surveillance tools and weapons. From a mini-catapult in a breath-mint tin to milk-jug cap blow-dart wristwatches, this handbook details how to achieve clandestine ends practically and inexpensively. In addition to creating weapons such as periscopes, bionic ears, and grappling hooks, spies-to-be will find ideas on how to hide their stash—a deck of cards, a false-bottom soda bottle, or a cereal box-brief case—and tips for target practice. Clear diagrams and instructions make construction simple, while easy-to-follow safety tips help ensure DIY builders avoid injuries. Projects include a paper throwing star, a bowler hat launcher, and a Q-pick blow gun.

Mini Weapons of Mass Destruction: Build and Master Ninja Weapons
Mini Weapons of Mass Destruction: Build and Master Ninja Weapons (4 Formats) ›
By John Austin
Trade Paper Price 17.99

Trade Paper, PDF, EPUB, Mobipocket

Published Sep 2014

Author and toy designer John Austin provides detailed, step-by-step instructions with diagrams to show stealth warriors how to build 37 different ninja weapons for the modern era. Each of the projects in MiniWeapons of Mass Destruction 4 are built from common household and office items—plastic utensils, markers, clothespins, paper clips, wire hangers, and discarded packaging—all clearly detailed on materials lists. Builders are offered a variety of samurai stars, blowguns, throwing darts, siege weapons, and ninja tools to choose from. Once they’ve assembled their armory, the author provides novices several targets to construct to practice their shooting skills. Armed, trained, and shrouded in black, readers are now prepared for missions of reconnaissance, sabotage, and other grim errands.

Mini Weapons of Mass Destruction: Build Implements of Spitball Warfare
Mini Weapons of Mass Destruction: Build Implements of Spitball Warfare (4 Formats) ›
By John Austin
Trade Paper Price 17.99

Trade Paper, PDF, EPUB, Mobipocket

Published Oct 2009

With the advent of modern household products and office supplies—binder clips, clothespins, rubber bands, ballpoint pens, toothpicks, paper clips, plastic utensils, and matches and barbeque lighters—troublemakers of all stripes have the components needed to build an impressive, if somewhat miniaturized, arsenal. Detailed, step-by-step instructions for each project are provided, including materials and ammo lists, clear diagrams, and construction tips. The 35 devices include catapults, slingshots, minibombs, darts, and combustion shooters—build a tiny trebuchet from paper clips and a D-cell battery, wrap a penny in a string of paper caps to create a surprisingly impressive “bomb,” and convert champagne party poppers and pen casings into a three-barreled bazooka. Finally, plans are provided for a top secret concealing book to hide your stash, as well as targets—cardboard critters, big-headed aliens, and zombies—for shooting practice. Never let your cubicle, home office, or personal space go undefended again!

Mini Weapons Set of 4
Mini Weapons Set of 4 ›
By John Austin

Trade Paper

Published May 2012

So Now You're a Zombie
So Now You're a Zombie (4 Formats) ›
By John Austin
Trade Paper Price 14.95

Trade Paper, PDF, EPUB, Mobipocket

Published Oct 2010

All aspects of the zombie lifestyle are surveyed in this satirical take on an orientation manual for the newly undead. From how one became a zombie in the first place and the stages of zombification to survival mechanisms, this handbook offers specific advice on everything a fresh zombie needs to know about "life" expectancy, hunting techniques, hitching a ride, hand-to-mouth combat, and feeding etiquette. Instructions for extracting the living from boarded up farmhouses and broken down vehicles are included along with dozens of helpful diagrams outlining attack strategies such as the Ghoul Reach, the Flanking Zak, the Bite Hold, and the Aerial Fall for securing human prey and their all-important flesh and brains.