Scrapheap Challenge: Difference between revisions

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'''''Scrapheap Challenge''''' (knownis asan '''''Junkyard Wars''''' in the [[United States]]) is aengineering [[game show]] madeproduced by [[RDF Media]] and broadcast on [[Channel 4]] andin the [[TheUnited Learning ChannelKingdom|UK]]. TheIn the show, featuresteams of contestants usinghave materials10 (often old vehicles) availablehours, in a [[junkyard]]which to build a working machinesmachine that can do a specific task, using materials available in a [[junkyard]]. AtThe theformat endhas ofbeen eachexported episode,to the machines[[United areStates]], pittedwhere againstit eachis otherknown inas a'''''Junkyard contestWars'''''. to(The determineUS theshow winneris also produced by RDF Media, and is shown on [[The Learning Channel]].)

A typical episode will feature a competition between two 4-persson teams, each consisting of three regular members, plus an expert in that field. The judge for each episode will typically be a specialist in (non-junk) versions of the machine being constructed.

Episodes generally consist of two four-person teams in competition, plus one or two hosts who usually consult with an "expert" judge who knows something about non-[[junk]] versions of the machines being constructed. Each team consists of three regular members, plus a fourth expert who usually has a better understanding of the class of machine being constructed for that episode.

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The challenges are many and varied, but usually involve teams constructing a machine to achieve a particular objective. Challenges usually involve understanding of a particular scientific principle, e.g. [[ballistics]], [[navigation]] etc. The final showdown usually consists of either head to head races or individually run timed events.

The challenges are many and varied, but usually involve teams constructing a machine to achieve a particular objective. Challenges usually involve understanding of a particular scientific principle, e.g.such as [[ballistics]], or [[navigation]] etc. The final showdown usually consists of either head to head races or individually run timed events.

The idea for the show came from a scene in the movie ''[[Apollo 13 (movie)|Apollo 13]]'', where [[NASA]] engineers had only a short period of time to construct an air filter out of parts available on the space capsule.

The idea for the show came from a scene in the movie ''[[Apollo 13 (movie)|Apollo 13]]'', where [[NASA]] engineers had only a short period of time to construct an air filter out of parts available on the space capsule. The show also draws its inspiration on the 1980s TV series '[[The Great Egg Race]]'.

''Scrapheap Challenge'' originated on the British [[Channel 4]], but was imported to United States television under the name ''Junkyard Wars.'' Later, an American version of the show was created with the same name.