Thread: Smash Lab - Not-so-smashing

I caught the series primer of "Smash Lab" on discovery tonight. I was, unmoved. I don't know if it's just this week's topic, but the entire time I am yelling at the TV saying... "TRY GRAVEL, MORONS!"

For those who haven't seen the show yet, I am really giving nothing away when I tell you that the point of today's episode is to find a way to slow down a vehicle safely before it crosses a median into oncoming traffic.

They look at some interesting material called aerated concrete. (not "air rated" as they kept pronouncing it on the show--slight difference in inflection) They see it in use with test footage with an airplane.

Well... The thing is, this concrete is designed to be strong enough to hold the weight of a car, but crumble if an airplane rolls over it causing the plane to stop quickly, but safely to the plane and the occupants of the plane. This episode tries to modify the material so it can be used to stop a car.

They show all sorts of neat crashes. I have serious problems at the methodology of the crash. The vehicle at the 35° angle would be moving with its own inertial forces in a different direction, but really that set of crashes were unnecessary (but still interesting to watch)

About 45 minutes into the show I am literally falling asleep. To one group I am yelling "Try fluid filled barriers or foam block like they use in NASCAR!"

To group two, I am yelling, "Haven't you ever seen a truck escape ramp on a freeway before? Do you watch F1 racing? Try GRAVEL, morons!"

In all, it was extremely disappointing especially when it was bookended by two very funny and action-packed Mythbusters episodes.

I haven't given up on "Smash Lab", but the series did not start off with a bang for me.

See ya
Tony

I feel the same way. Do they think the general public is dumbed down that much...maybe they are.

I caught the series primer of "Smash Lab" on discovery tonight.

I thought this was the 2nd episode. I was equally bored by the first one about bomb-proofing a building by using truck bed-liner spray on mix.

The topics are ok, but they just pace it very slowly and in the end don't do all they could have to settle the argument they propose.

We didnt watch, but saw the ad whilst watching Mythbusters which was excellent last night James Bond myths !, and it seemed like - why is this show different to Mythbusters but sounds like it was worth a miss anyway.

I actually liked it. Though I agree they drag stuff out too long. I liked how they hurricane-proofed the house; and thought the 737 was an ingenious way to generate Cat 5 winds.

The aerated cement one was ok, but not as good.

I think this week's episode on earthquake-proofing a house, was excellent. They showed how a ball-bearing system on a slight arc could be used to protect a house from lateral earthquake movement; and their demo was really quite impressive.

I've been very disappointed in this show.. I expected much more.. but they come up with a half decent idea, but what's the point.. you just proved something that's used for tall buildings would work for homes.. woopie.. you mentioned it was too expensive to invest in for homes.. so again.. what was the point?

Originally Posted by VinceT3

I've been very disappointed in this show.. I expected much more.. but they come up with a half decent idea, but what's the point.. you just proved something that's used for tall buildings would work for homes.. woopie.. you mentioned it was too expensive to invest in for homes.. so again.. what was the point?

Vince, that's not what they said. They made the point that the technology was feasible to implement in homes.

After four weeks of falling asleep to this show, I removed it from my "new episodes" timers list. It is such a let-down after Mythbusters. The premises they come up with, to me, are all "no duh" scenarios, or, like the aerated concrete episode, rediculous!

I guess that's why we have another 300 channels to choose from.

See ya
Tony