Two immiscible liquids of suitable densities and viscosities, the lower one an oceanic blue, fill these generously- proportioned globes.
The interface laps gently on the miniature coastline of your choosing, behind which sits an array of buildings, cars and people. A proportion of the lighter structures are mounted on hinges and pivots.
A gentle twist will send a majestic, scale-accurate tidal wave across the interface, dislodging and toppling cars, small buildings and people. Once the tsunami subsides, a powerful magnet (supplied) can be used to restore toppled structures to their original configuration.
The Fukushima model includes an LED which casts an eerie green glow from the nuclear power complex.-- MaxwellBuchanan, Dec 30 2013 Tsunami_20Rug_20Apparatus rug version [xenzag, Dec 30 2013] A visual aid. http://www.officepl...ductId=1676&index=0 [2 fries shy of a happy meal, Dec 30 2013] The tidal wave is created from the oceanic blue liquid, I gather, but why does not the non-oceanic blue liquid also dislodge and topple? I sense a design issue.-- tatterdemalion, Dec 30 2013 Because of cunning design, [tm].
The blue liquid is denser and more viscous than the clear overlaying liquid. The buildings are about as dense as the blue liquid, but much less dense than the clear. Thusfore, when the blue liquid sweeps in, it gives the buildings neutral bouyancy and, being viscouser, has more dislodging power.
And, if a few buildings topple when you first nudge the globe to activate the tsunami, well, all tsunami are caused by earthquakes, no?-- MaxwellBuchanan, Dec 30 2013 Well there it is. Well done.-- tatterdemalion, Dec 30 2013 [MaxwellBuchanan], while most tsunamis are caused by earthquakes, some are caused by landslides (quake not always the trigger). The highest tsunami ever recorded (over 500 meters!) was caused by a landslide.-- Vernon, Dec 30 2013 Was that the one in Alaska?-- Alterother, Dec 30 2013 The plural of tsunami is tsunami. Just saying.-- UnaBubba, Jan 01 2014 Surely the singular of tsunami is tsunamus?-- MaxwellBuchanan, Jan 01 2014 Latin =/= Japanese.
Sorry, the bubble is rather fragile.-- UnaBubba, Jan 01 2014 That can hardly be blamed on the Romans.
Frankly, the Japanese (and indeed the Chinese) need to get with the programme. They are using Betamax languages in a post-VHS world.-- MaxwellBuchanan, Jan 01 2014 I see you practise the ancient Japanese art of reality- folding... Ignorami, [MB].-- UnaBubba, Jan 01 2014 Biggubotomu wa hanasu!-- MaxwellBuchanan, Jan 01 2014 random, halfbakery