The PAJAMAHADEEN COOKBOOK: Chapter One - Making a MOAB in your own backyard!

DC Chapter ^ | October 4, 2004 | anonymous PAJAMAHADEEN members

[tgslTakoma]

I have received many requests for directions on how to build a MOAB (aka: "Mother Of All Banners"), so I decided to write this article.

Before I get into the construction instructions, a brief history:

As the name suggests, a MOAB is big, bold and packs a mighty powerful punch. Best of all, they are easy and affordable to make.

The first MOABs were used in Washington, DC, on October 25, 2003 at a Support the Troops rally at the US Capitol, and again that same day on a hill in Pershing Park at a counterprotest of a communist-sponsored "anti-war" march.

When I made my first MOAB, I really didn't know what I was doing. I had an idea of what I wanted to make, but not much time to problem solve some important construction issues, namely - how in the world will these 22' long by 5' high banners be mounted on a support structure?

The first MOABs were attached to 12' tall bamboo poles (supplied by BillF), but they were very heavy (requiring 4 manly men to hold them at all times), and they were a real bear to transport. So I needed a better idea.

When members of the DC Chapter decided to make a road trip to Fayetteville, NC, to stand with NC Freepers on March 20, 2004 against terrorist-supporting leftists outside of Fort Bragg, I got some excellent construction advice from Fred Mertz and a good friend of his. They told me to leave the bamboo at home and they would construct support poles out of 3/4" PVC pipe.

When we arrived in Fayetteville we were told that the Fayetteville Police Department was not going to allow us to use any signs larger than 2' x 2' (IIRC). I later found out that the PD had been reading our threads here at FR and they were very concerned that our "MOAB" was something more than a banner.

So, after all the latenight work by Fred Mertz and his buddies, we weren't able to use the PVC poles they made for us. Not in North Carolina anyway.

But I took the poles home with me and stored them for a future battle.

On June 5, 2004 the DC Chapter had a date with Brian Becker's A.N.S.W.E.R. commies when they held a protest march to Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld's private residence.

For that Freep, we mounted the MOABs, back-to-back, on the PVC poles. But the night before I made a run to Home Depot and picked up three lengths of PVC, two elbow couplings and a couple of "T" couplings, to make a top crosspiece - to better support the MOAB and make it more readable to the unwashed leftists.

DC Chapter MOABs first used October 25, 2003, are used again on June 5, 2004 - evidence of the "Green consciousness" of the VRWC.

That modification worked pretty well, but still it required 4 manly men to hold the poles; and in smaller Freeps, we can't often afford to have all our manpower stuck in one place holding up a MOAB. The guys are generally very accomodating, but I didn't want to take unfair advantage of their good nature. So I decided to design a smaller version of the MOAB.

When the Vietnam Veteran for the Truth announced their rally at the Capitol, to be held on September 12, 2004, I made my first MOAB Jr.

It worked well, after BufordP cut a few flaps in it because of the stiff breeze we had that day. Hint: Don't give BufordP a knife and ask him to "make a few cuts" in something. (I think Buford's cousin is "Home Improvement" star Tim "The Toolman" Taylor.)

And our latest MOAB was used with great success this past Saturday, October 2, 2004, when the leftists again came to town; this time they showed their total lack of soul and conscience by doing a terrorist-supporting blood march from Arlington National Cemetery to the Ellipse.

Note how happy the manly men are to be holding this MOAB.

Read on below, and you can learn how you, too, can make a MOAB in your own backyard...

[nascarnation]

Awesome
God Bless America!

[Jaded]

Thanks for the info.

[Tucson_AZ]

OK - HELP! Teresa Heinz Kerry will be in Tucson in two days. I need some help freeping this with a MOAB (probably I'll make a "Kerry lied..." one). What do you do besides just hold it up if the media starts to ask questions? Obviously, the http://www.kerrylied.com/ URL will be on the MOAB to refer them to, what else? How to I contact freepers in my area (I can't hold the MOAB by myself)?

What:
An Evening with Teresa Heinz Kerry in Tucson
When:
Thursday, October 7
Gates open at 4:00 p.m.
Where:
Tucson Convention Center
North Exhibition Hall
260 South Church Ave
Tucson, AZ
http://www.johnkerry.com//events/100704_tucson_az_form.php

[Tucson_AZ]

Sorry to bother you again - how do you make your lettering so consistent?

[Angelwood]

The Mother Of All Burgers is definitely one of BufordP's specialties -- and we in the DC Chapter recently enjoyed his handiwork.

This is a great thread idea, tgslTakoma. It's about time you got a well-deserved pat on the back for all the work that you put into the MOABs for DC Chapter events. Thank you so much!

I love the title of the thread too!!!!

[alfa6]

One thought for if you are short of manpower and want to display your MOAB would be to add 3/4 5gal buckets filled with sand or concrete and a piece of 1"pvc pipe down the center for the 3/4" to fit into. I think that the 3/4" will fit inside the 1", be sure to check!

I know. I know the darn buckets will weigh about 50 to 60 pounds a piece so you better have either a two wheel hand truck or a hernia belt to move 'em. :-)

Good luck in Tuscon from Kansas City

Regards

alfa6 ;>}

[LeGrande]

Instead of putting a hole into the sheets and reinforcing it with duct tape, take a small rock and bend the fabric over it and then use the zip ties or cords to tie onto the fabric. Visualize a collar around a neck.

This is a stronger method of securing the fabric.

[Taxman]

One of the all time great FReeper innovations!

[texrep]

Great idea and a great thread. One suggestion that might save wear and tear on the "trigger" finger while painting. Most/all of the home improvement/discount stores sell a little device you can attach to the top of the paint can that essentially turns it into a paint "gun". Also improves control of the spray itself since you're not having to pay attention to your finger.

tex

[Trteamer]

They sell "grommet" kits at most hardware stores, the lat time I bought some they were about $3.00. Might help. Also, they now have clear duct tape.

Thanks for the great MOAB's. They always bring me a big grin.

[AFPhys]

This is a really good tip. I will keep this whole process in mind and use it sometime in the future.

Thanks for passing on your experience to us.
.

[OldSgt.]

Thank You!!!! Freepers for TRUTH !!!

Loved the read, Strategic MOAB and Tactical MOAB

[AGreatPer]

I am always amazed at your dedication to Freeping. You AND your daughter are two of the best.

I remember you putting together the first one. Curtis Slewa and I were talking before he went on stage for the Support the Troops Ralley and he asked me "what is that lady doing with the bamboo polls?". Of course, I had no clue. But I did say, "looks like its going to be something BIG".

Excuse me for being a people watcher, but your one of the ones I like to watch. So unpredictable....AND GREAT.

[Slyfox]

A MOAB is a bumpersticker on steroids.

[Flora McDonald]

Too funny! LOL!

[Rakkasan1]

next they'll tell you what sized font you can use.

[HiTech RedNeck]

Could white colored trash bags be taped together to form a similar banner? That would go together a lot quicker than sewing sheets.

[RaceBannon]

You might want to add stapling the edges of the duct tape to reinforce the tape to sheet adhesion.

Also, use a hole punch, a single hole punch like what you can get at staples to make the hole for the tie wrap.

A clean hole will rip much less easy than something that is vertical or horizontal because of the way the sheet is woven. So, the hole cutter, a hole punch sounds best.

That sign-method was a great idea, you should patent it!

[battlegearboat]

Thanks.

The "sandwich board" nightmare is now over.

Down to the Depot either before or after the Red River Shootout tomorrow morning.

You have distinguished yourself today.

Letter of Appreciation to your service jacket and medal recommendation forwarded to Admin.

[tgslTakoma]

Thank you, WCF. My favorite magazine when I was a kid was Popular Science. I always wanted my dad to build the little railroad in our backyard. He kept that particular issue for years.

:-)