I think the idea of building it in cardboard is a great idea. I\'ve been working on plans for something I intend to make soon. But initially I only plan to make a poor mans version. I really only want to see if I can make it work first. Once I have that sussed I will look at making it proper.

A funny sideline. Today I was walking by the house of someone I know to be a stage illusionist, he gets gigs around town though I have never seen him perform.

On the street outside were the remains of some sort of cabinet, what exactly I can\'t say. It was in pieces and incomplete, but definitely an old worn out illusion. Oh I so wanted to grab it all though!

Where do you live so I know what trash cans I should be rumaging through

I\'m in Australia.

I only know that the guy is an stage illusionist as a friend of mine knows him and he lives in a quite distinctive building.

But there was nothing of any real use thrown out, and if there is IT\'S MINE!!!! Lol..

Here is an incomplete list of books that will help you to develope a working knowledge of what is needed.

Abbotts: Nite Club Illusions and Illusionettes - Abbotts
Abbotts: Tops Treasury of Illusions - Abbotts
Ayling: The Art Of Illusion - Will Ayling
Caveny: Servais Le Roy - Monarch of Mystery - Mike Caveney and William Rauscher
Charney: Magic (Great illusions) - 1923 David Charney
Christopher: The Illustrated History Of Magic - Milboure Christopher
Clark: The Worlds Greatest Magic - Hyla Clark
Dart: Conjuror\'s Book of Stage Illusions - Edward W. Dart
Dawes: The Encyclopedia Of Magic - Edwin A. Dawes
Devant\'s - Secrets Of My Magic
Devant\'s Delightful Delusions - Sharpe
Fitzkee: Magic By Misdirection - D. Fitzkee
Forzetting: Paragons and Paradoxes - Milian Forzetting
Genii Illusions - Bill Larsen
Griffin: Illusion Show - Know How by Ken Griffin and Roberta
Hades: Illusionseseme - S.K.V. Kumar/Mickey Hades
Harbin: The Magic of Robert Harbin - Robert Harbin
Harbin\'s - Magic Of Robert Harbin
Hilliard: Greater Magic - Hilliard
Hopkins\' - Magic Stage Illlusions and Special Effects
Hull: Stage Illusions for 1-2-3 Performers Show - Burling Hull
Jarrett\'s - Jarrett Magic
Kaye: Handbook Of Magic - Marvin Kaye
Lewis: A choice Of Miracles - Eric Lewis
Lewis: A continuation of Miracles - Eric Lewis
Lewis: P.T. Selbit A Magical Innovator - Eric Lewis & Peter Warlock
Lewis: The Genius of Robert Harbin - Eric Lewis/Mike Caveney
Magic (special f/x & trick photography) - 1898
Maskellyne: Our Magic - Nevil Maskellyne & David Devant
Mayne: Illusion F/X - A. Mayne
Mayne: Illusionbook - A. Mayne
Mayne: Solo-X - A. Mayne
Mcgill: Magic Of Lee Grabel - O. Mcgill
Nelms: Magic and Showmanship - Henning Nelms
Olson: A Tribute to Howard Thurston - Robert Olson
Olson: Illusion Builder To Fu Manchu - Robert Olson
Osborne: Haunted Illusions - Osborne
Osborne: Illusion Systems I - Osborne
Osborne: Illusion Systems II - Osborne
Osborne: Illusion Systems III- Osborne
Osborne: Illusion Systems IV - Osborne
Osborne: Illusions (Evolution) - Osborne
Osborne: The Black Book -Osborne
Owen: Keep the wheels Turning - Owen Magic Supreme
Owen: Owen Magic Supreme Catalog
Reminding and Deceiving
Sharpe: Conjuror\'s Mechanical Secrets- Sharpe
Sharpe: Conjuror\'s Optical Secrets - Sharpe
Sharpe: Conjuror\'s Pneumatic/Hydraulic Secrets- Sharpe
Sharpe: Conjuror\'s Psychological Secrets- Sharpe
Sharpe: Encyclopedia of Suspensions & Levitations - Sharpe
Steinmeyer: TArt & Artifice - Jim Steinmeyer
Steinmeyer: TDevice & Illusion - Jim Steinmeyer
Steinmeyer: The Complete Jarrett - Guy Jarrett, Jim Steinmeyer
Steinmeyer: THoward Thurston\'s Illusion Show Notebook - Steinmeyer
Steinmeyer: TModern Art and Other Mysteries - Jim Steinmeyer
Steinmeyer: TThe Jarrett Book - Guy Jarrett, Jim Steinmeyer
Steinmeyer: TThe Magic of Alan Wakeling - Jim Steinmeyer
Tarbell: The Tarbell Course In Magic - Harlan Tarbell
The Science Behind the Ghost Discovering Invisibility
The World\'s Greatest Magician...
Walker: The Master Illusionists - Mark Walker
Warlock: Buatier de Kolta Genius of Illusion - Peter Warlock
Wells: The Great Illusion of Magic (2 -books) - Byron G. Wells
Wilson: Mark Wilson Course In Magic - Mark Wilson
Woodbury: Diversions - Rand Woodbury
Woodbury: Illusionworks I - Rand Woodbury
Woodbury: Illusionworks II - Rand Woodbury
Woodbury: Illusionworks III - Rand Woodbury
Woodbury: Illusionworks IV - Rand Woodbury

And don\'t forget U.F.Grants Victory Carton Illusions which is no doubt one of the first ones you want to look into.