talkmagic.co.uk

The Effect
Web site description:-
"Flight 204 is a refreshing new idea that is a great alternative to Ring Flight. The vanish is spectacular and the reappearance seems impossible. All magic should look this good!" -Peter Loughran
"Flight 204 is exceptionally clean and pretty." -Scott Guinn
Previously known to a select few as Romantic Journey, Sean Fields' Flight 204 is unlike any other Ring Flight routine you've ever seen!
The performer borrows a ring and openly places it in the palm of his right hand. Slowly passing his left hand over the ring, it miraculously vanishes. Both hands are shown completely empty and the performer points his fingers at his neck. There, inside his shirt, he pulls out his necklace. Threaded onto the necklace itself is the original, borrowed ring!
Flight 204 uses a brand new idea in the realm of Ring Flight effects. No more reels, pulls or magnets. The necklace is ungimmicked and unprepared. There are absolutely no duplicate rings, nor is anything added or taken away.
Ring may appear on almost any necklace, with or without anything already on it
Set it up once and you're ready for the whole day Instantly resets
Virtually angle-proof (similar to other Ring Flights)
Any normal ring may be used (except for extremely large/heavy rings)
Practical, dependable, safe, and highly effective
Comes complete with the 22-page, photo-illustrated, detailed instructions and gimmick.
Difficulty level 1 (Basic sleights/self working)

Cost
£17.95 Magicshop.co.uk

Difficulty
(1=easy to do, 2=No sleights, but not so easy, 3=Some sleights used,
4=Advanced sleights used, 5=Suitable for experienced magicians only)

3 – but see review

Review
This is one of those things that is easy to do but in my opinion quite difficult to do well. The trick itself requires only one fairly simple sleight but to pull it off convincingly requires it to be done to almost perfection every time in terms of the positioning of your hands and body. The vanish isn’t that difficult to accomplish but the reappearance on a necklace will require a lot of practice.
In addition, the effect works with a hidden gimmick that I don’t believe would be hidden if used close up. I know we can get away with some fairly obvious things because the layman does not know what to look for but this is one step too far in my opinion. For stage work or a situation where you can put a little distance between you and your audience it should work a lot better though.
(Or you could try substituting more invisible replacement items instead... as long as it takes the weight of the ring)
Furthermore to the stage argument I would disagree totally with the product description that it is angle proof. At maximum I'd say you have 180 degrees to play with.

Overall
Nothing new in fact as it uses already known principles but presents them in a different way. The new uses of these old principles has set me thinking of other things I could accomplish instead so it has been of some use to me but to be honest I think it requires to much hard work for too little effect as a trick and isn't going to be much use for where and how I perform. That’s only my opinion and some people may get on very well with it but I’d only say:-
4 / 10

Thanks for this. I've seen discussions about people always giving good reviews of things. I don't know the item, but your review sounds entirely fair.

I bought this a couple of years ago and it has frustrated me and sat in my box for most of that time. I totally agree that there is far too much effort required for such a relatively small effect and TBH I havent bothered for ages. Seeing this review has reinforced my view not to use it due to how and where I perform also. (I generally do close up for friends and others when out DJ'ing).

Some may love it, nay some do love it, but its each to their own and this does not classify for me within my own. I'd be interested to hear though by PM what other uses you have for the apparatus.