SOLVED. Teenage Story with elaborate pranks [s]

[Ksecrist]

Hi, and thank you for any suggestions / help you might be able to provide.

I think this book was in libraries in the mid 80's to the early 90's likely closer to 87, but not sure how old it was.

This is a book for teenagers, I would think - it was a story that contained some elaborate pranks. If I had to guess I would say it was based on MIT / Caltech pranks but that is a wild guess.

Here are the 'pranks' I remember:

-Construction/animation of a fake loch ness monster

-Modification of a maniquin to house a loudspeaker (over radio), and a helium balloon tank. I remember this part of the story a bit better. They placed the mannequin high up on a college campus, and dressed it up like a student - the 'student' then called out that they were going to jump, which caused quite a stir. Right before people got to the room, the pranksters activated the balloon which pushed the mannequin out of the window and also allowed it to float aloft. A scramble to recover the balloon before 'authorities' ensued.

Appreciate any help in discovering what this book was. I enjoyed it in my youth.

All the best.

[Ann aka Iftcan]

The Mad Scientists' Club is the series you are looking for Ksecrist.

[Ksecrist]

Dear Ann - thank you so very much!!