Steve's Photos - Flipside 2026 DaFT

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DaFT is short for "Design and Fabrication Team" - they are the folks that design and build the effigy each year for Burning Flipside. This year, the theme is "One of Us" and somehow that led the designer to choose a design based on the Bow Whale, an artic dwelling baleen whale. I don't have a screenshot of the sketchup model, but here's what I learned when we had our kickoff meeting.

Imagine if you will, a whale's mouth that is open, and you can walk into. The ribs are gently arched and remind you of the arches of gothic cathedrals. At the back is a staircase that goes two stories up into the tail, where views over the Pecan Playa are to be had.

I've always wanted to be on the DaFT team and know many of the people involved already. Katie used to do DaFT many years ago before we really knew each other, and she has joined as well, mainly to come hang out and be around people she likes. This is my photo album of this year's build.

The deck here is part of the main deck where people walk in. And there's my car!

That cut out section is where the accessible ramp will be.

Curved ribs! I was there but forgot to take pictures when we were making these.

End of day, February 8. Vertical stuff that will be around the stairs at the back.

The sketchup model of the effigy

More sketchup model - you'll be able to walk in through the mouth, then up the stairs to the elevated viewing platform.

Sketchup model from the other side

Sketchup model looking straight into the mouth

Not sure what was being pointed at here...

Robbie's "honest attempt at a logo for the team."

Second story structure being built!

Several of the curved ribs joined together at the tops

Big ol' stack of discarded fencing that we are going to repurpose for skinning the beast.

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April 7 - Mouth coming along very nicely!

Lights around the staircase

Stairs going up

The "Gothic Cathedral" feeling is really coming across in this view.

Love the pattern on the decking

Looking down from the top deck

I have no idea who put these here or why

These are definitely out of order. I grabbed some of these off the Facebook page.

Early stair framing

Early - stacks of lumber

An early progress shot from FB showing the outline of the stairs

An early shot from FB showing the outline of the deck and the stairs

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