If you’re like Thor in Love and Thunder, a summonable hammer is something missing from your life. The team at Hacksmith is on it. They have built multiple versions of Mjolnir in their workshop in the past, like one with a capacitor so it sparks and even a gigantic one. But none of them come when called. Until now.
Thanks to a series of pullies and some motion tracking software, the worthy among Team Hacksmith can summon Thor’s hammer. Or at least the first one of them to raise their arm can summon it. There’s also a release button to remove Mjolnir from the wires. They execute the commands with a PlayStation controller.
The hammer they start with is the one with a capacitor but they break it along the way and have to rig up a different one. A version used to catch lightning is the replacement, still carrying the scorch mark. The hammers weigh about 15 pounds and travel at over 12 miles per hour. That may not seem like a lot until it’s flying straight at your face. It’s programmed for safe mode at 30% power. Full speed is called danger mode.
It’s up to team member Charles to execute the plan. He has to make some Matrix-like moves to dodge the hammer in the early tests, but he works out all the kinks in a montage. Of course, team leader James Hobson had to dress as Thor for his testing runs. He puts on the full wig and everything. Even knowing the science behind the magic, it’s clear in the video that everyone feels powerful when Mjolnir flies into their hand.
Check out the other cool builds on the Hacksmith YouTube channel, like Wolverine claws and a real-life lightsaber.
Melissa is Nerdist’s science & technology staff writer. She also moderates “science of” panels at conventions and co-hosts Star Warsologies, a podcast about science and Star Wars. Follow her on Twitter @melissatruth.
