Plasticine Monster

Athletics officials in high level long jump and triple jump competitions use plasticine to help determine if the competitors are making legal jumps. A 10 centimeter strip of plasticine is placed beyond the take-off line. If an athlete leaves a mark in the plasticine, it is considered proof that the jump was a foul and the attempt is not measured.
When tuning an engine for higher performance, different pistons and higher lift camshafts are often installed. This creates a risk that the valves might strike the piston, causing serious damage. To measure the valve-to-piston clearance, a piece of Plasticine can be put on top of a piston, the cylinder head replaced, and the engine rotated manually through a full cycle. After removing the cylinder head, the valves will have made an impression in the Plasticine. The thickness of this impression is measured to give the valve to piston clearance.