Recreating a Banned Toy from the 1980s

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Published 2024-02-18
The Australian made Popball was my favourite toy when I was a young kid. A simple rubber 'half-ball' style toy that uses its own stored kinetic energy to launch itself into the air. These simple toys have been around for a long time and you can still buy them today. But the Popball that I remember was far more powerful than the newer ones! And that led to it being banned across schools - and I was never really sure why.

Now, 35 years later, I wanted to get to the bottom of the urban myths and recreate the toy using materials and processes like 3D printing, mould making and even using unusual materials like carbon black. It was certainly a challenge, but I managed to achieve my goals and learn a whole lot about my favourite childhood toy!

► Join the electrosync team on Patreon to access design files, extra content and more: www.patreon.com/electrosync

CAD design was done in Fusion. 3D printing was done an a Bambu Lab X-1 Carbon. Shot on Canon EOS M50, Sony RX100 V for slow motion and Insta360 One R for action cam. More project info is available at electrosync.com.au/2024/02/18/recreating-an-iconic…

I use Epidemic Sound for music and sound effects - sign up for your 30-day trial here:
share.epidemicsound.com/jbztrl (affiliate link).

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#Popball #3dprinting #Toymaking

All Comments (21)
  • @BonesyTucson
    +1 for Peter Fish. That dude was very cool about things.
  • @atrumluminarium
    Banned in the 80s? These were given as prizes in cereals when I was a kid (circa 2005-ish)
  • @belojah2
    Kiwi here. I remember these too. Like most childhood possessions, you don't always appreciate how cool things were until it's impossible to get back. Boy did this take me back. And Peter is a G
  • @davidshi451
    Peter Fish is one cool dude. And I'm surprised the original rubber one still worked after 30 years!
  • @Starfireaw11
    I once had the bright idea of using a pop ball to roll some dice. It shot them into the air with sufficient force to smash the glass lightshade at my cousin's house. Good times.
  • @rownadoherty
    Marbles were banned because of gambling?! For us they were banned because some genius threw a king marble at another kid's head and fractured their skull. Parallel universes I guess.
  • @Klaudiuszeg
    Its eye opening how much work and genuine invention went into developing and creation of such "simple thing" a rubber that pops. Not only pops good, but is also durable enough to hold for half a century. And to think that we are unable to recreate 100% what our parents did many decades ago, thats humbling.
  • @toobian2
    Ok never knew you were supposed to throw these... we just set them on the floor and watched haha
  • @TheCreedBratton
    These were my favorite childhood toy that wasn't an rc car or video game. I do remember that once we started getting low quality import ones they didn't hold their shape while inside out for long enough to do anything. The older ones were the best, and you never knew when they would go, but once they did, KABOOM!
  • @lucasduck95
    Yes! The black one with the duck on it jumped the most, that thing was amazing, you brought me back sweet memories I forgot to have. Thank you maestro, ¡Grande! :hands-yellow-heart-red::stayhome:
  • @TimmyM
    Recreus Industries: "we made the most elastic and flexible filament on the market for professionals" Electrosync: "I printed a Popball!"
  • @johnhewitt564
    "marbles were banned because kids were starting up a gambling racket!."had me laughing of my chair.😄
  • @Iowsbub
    What a nice video to watch with all the nice camera shots, the music, the narration - you nailed it! I think mr. Fish going through same processes to create the toy in the first place. I hope he is proud of you!
  • @levlylove
    Oh my gosh this takes me back! I would live in constant fear of someone popping one off my head (hurt like hell!) while also trying to do it to other people.
  • @K3NnY_G
    Man if I was in the original creator's position I'd really enjoy watching this video, seems like a real good dude.
  • @sphinxtheeminx
    A frequent cry from adults when I was a kid a long time ago was 'Don't play with that, it'll have your eye out.' This tended to apply to conkers, anything with elastic bands (a popular home-made skipping device), over-fuzzy plushies (!), the corners of books, five-stones and jacks especially the bouncy jacks ball, anything given away free in comics, those plastic submarines you put baking powder inside to play with in the bath, lucky bag lollies and drinking straws. Barbie's predecessor, Tressy, - 'her hair grows' was her UPS - came with a whole stash of accessories, all of them destined to cause near- fatal injuries.
  • @DaniOtter
    I love the lil guy appearing at 9:31 to appreciate the printer and then leave shortly after lol