Masters of Reinvention - Season 1

Engineer Dr Shini Somara joins forces with a dream team of makers and gadgeteers, as they aim to modernise two vintage designs from Practical Mechanics magazine, once the bible of DIY enthusiasts.

In today's episode, Dr Shini and her team are tasked with reinventing a camping trailer from 1950 and a two-seater toboggan from 1960.

The team come up with a clever pop-up design for their camper; using a rope and pulley system to raise the roof, creating a spacious living area.

With so much woodwork needed for this project, the pressure is soon on for furniture maker Jacob and mechanics expert Ellis to complete the fixtures and fittings, while Youtube inventor Ruth concentrates on the metalwork base, making use of a reclaimed towable trailer.

Engineer Pete is keen to modernise the toboggan by adding foot brakes. He also adds some steering, using reclaimed bike handlebars. His partner for the small build, Jacob, turns to the ancient craft of steam bending to create the the wooden sleds. So how well will their hi-tech toboggan perform when it's taken for a test run on an indoor ski slope? And what will Shini's final verdict be on the reinvented camping trailer?

Today's first reinvention project sets the bar sky high! Dr Shini and her team are challenged to design and build a scale replica of an iconic vintage aeroplane: the Luton Minor.

The Luton Minor dates back to the 1930s - the golden age of aviation - when, incredibly, Practical Mechanics offered its readers detailed instructions on how to build their own aeroplane, from the comfort of their back garden shed!

After their initial attempts at model building get off to a disastrous start, the team are provided with inspiration, when a real Luton Minor plane makes a surprise visit to the airfield.

Woodworker Jacob and aircraft designer Ivan are given a second project; an armchair drafting table. It's a project that hinges, quite literally, on Jacob's joinery skills and Ivan's flair for mechanical design.

When a major design flaw in the model aircraft build puts a spanner in the works, the team are forced to draw upon all their engineering skills to try and make this tricky reinvention project fly.

In 1939, Practical Mechanics responded to the start of the Second World War by showing its readers how to build their own air raid shelter.

The design had similarities with the Anderson Shelter, a build-at-home structure made from corrugated steel, to protect from flying bomb debris; that saved many lives during the Blitz. To get some inspiration, Ivan and Jenny make a poignant trip to see a real life Anderson Shelter at a nearby War Museum.

The team decide to reinvent the Anderson Shelter as a hi-tech garden shed, with solar panels and grow lights.

Engineers Jenny and Ellis are paired together to work on the second reinvention project – a pedal-powered washing machine.

It's a design that could have a real purpose in the modern world, as more than 60% of the world's population don't have access to an electric washing machine; could pedal-power offer a solution?

The pair decide to make a washing and drying machine, made from scrap parts sourced from a local reclamation yard.

Dr Shini and her team are tasked with updating a 1940s aluminium boat and a bicycle sidecar from the 1950s. With none of our engineers having made a boat before, they are soon at odds with each other over what size and shape it needs to be. Having settled on a design, the basic structure is constructed from wood, beforeaircraft designer Ivan draws on his expertise in composite materials to apply a fibreglass coat. Ivan is also paired with electronic engineer Louiza to reinvent a cycle sidecar. The pair come up with the novel idea of creating automated mechanical stabilizers to assist with starting and stopping. But, after some last minute mechanical malfunctions in the shed, how will their customised bike reinvention cope when Shini tests it out in a busy city centre? And will it be plain sailing for their modernised fibreglass boat when it's taken on the water for its maiden voyage?

Dr Shini and her team are tasked with reinventing a build-at-home car from the 1930s and a burglar alarm blueprint from the 1950s. In 1936, Practical Mechanics provided its readers with plans of how to build their own three-wheeled car for just £20, the equivalent of £1800 in today's money. The team decide to reinvent this design using recycled parts and a reclaimed recumbent trike. Aeroplane designer Ivan comes up with a novel idea for the steering, an aircraft-style yoke. YouTube inventor Ruth is tasked with welding together the chassis; while carpentry wizard Jacob is building a plywood body to give the car a vintage look. Their do-it-yourself car promises to look impressive, but how well will it perform when it's taken for a test drive on the airstrip? Ruth and model maker Carl are also busy working on their burglar alarm reinvention, which involves some very clever micro-electronics and more than a few surprises!

In 1945, Practical Mechanics included instructions of how to build a two-seater canoe that broke into two parts, so it could be transported by train.For their reinvention, father and son mechanical engineers Pete and Ellis come up with a very modern twist on making a lightweight, portable canoe.Taking inspiration from origami, the team create a foldable canoe made from thin plastic sheeting, fixed together by wooden bolts.It's brilliantly simple in design, but will it float Shini's boat when she takes it out on the water?Ellis and YouTube inventor Ruth are also tasked with modernising the Lie Detector that dates back to 1935.Instead of detecting lies, they come up with a device that uses A.I. face recognition software to detect emotions. They're also planning to set off some clever mechanical gadgets designed to change their subject's emotion.It'shighly ambitious, so will it actually work when Dr Shini puts it to the test?