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The Lighter Side of Steampunk
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Recent posts
#1
Off Topic / Re: The Brassgoggles Model Mak...
Last post by James Harrison - Yesterday at 05:55:07 PMQuote from: Madasasteamfish on Yesterday at 05:11:15 PMThis is more as an aide memoir to myself, but after torturing Mr Harrison with Rapdio's latest announcement of GCR rolling stock, I've been able to come up with an idea for another cameo (feel free to borrow for inspiration).
As you alluded, let's see what the damage might be...
https://rapidotrains.co.uk/gcr-dia-17b-covered-van/
So we're getting a covered van of a design dating from 1910...
https://rapidotrains.co.uk/gcr-dia-9a-9b-6-plank-opens/
... a 6-plank open wagon of 1911...
https://rapidotrains.co.uk/gcr-dia-6c-3-plank-open/
... and a 3-plank open wagon from 1919.
Happily my chosen period taps out around 1912, so that reduces the items of interest from 3 to 2.
Unhappily for the GCR livery there are two different running numbers for each.
Going to my box-shifter of choice will get me a couple of pounds off, but that's still going to be another £120 or so to Rapido.
Hey, I'm not complaining. Money would be equally available to other manufacturers if they bothered to cater for my taste.
#2
Metaphysical / Re: Well, how do we do it?
Last post by Madasasteamfish - Yesterday at 05:22:37 PMWell, the old girl is certainly a lot creakier than she was back in her heyday, but she still seems solid enough.
I suspect it comes down to the factors mentioned above, in that forums in general have declined due to the behemoth factor of Arsebook, and it (and to an extent other social media monopolies) replacing forums as a way of building communities and finding other like minded people.
I'd also be prepared to suggest that the impact of the Plague has caused a deterioration in the community more generally, both in terms of the toll it's taken on people's lives/health and everyday meatspace more generally, and with no events/opportunities to trade for the better part of 2.5-3 years a lot of the people who had a vested interest in keeping the subculture going (as traders/small business owners) have disappeared.
I suspect it comes down to the factors mentioned above, in that forums in general have declined due to the behemoth factor of Arsebook, and it (and to an extent other social media monopolies) replacing forums as a way of building communities and finding other like minded people.
I'd also be prepared to suggest that the impact of the Plague has caused a deterioration in the community more generally, both in terms of the toll it's taken on people's lives/health and everyday meatspace more generally, and with no events/opportunities to trade for the better part of 2.5-3 years a lot of the people who had a vested interest in keeping the subculture going (as traders/small business owners) have disappeared.
#3
Off Topic / Re: The Brassgoggles Model Mak...
Last post by Madasasteamfish - Yesterday at 05:11:15 PMThis is more as an aide memoir to myself, but after torturing Mr Harrison with Rapdio's latest announcement of GCR rolling stock, I've been able to come up with an idea for another cameo (feel free to borrow for inspiration).
Basically, it's an advertisement/establishment name for a garage, listing the name and their services on a pair of gates/large swing doors with some unfortunate placement:
Lady[ward & Son]
[Spare] Parts [dealers]
[Coach]work [a speciality]
Immature, I know, but as they say, if you can't laugh, what can you do?
Basically, it's an advertisement/establishment name for a garage, listing the name and their services on a pair of gates/large swing doors with some unfortunate placement:
Lady[ward & Son]
[Spare] Parts [dealers]
[Coach]work [a speciality]
Immature, I know, but as they say, if you can't laugh, what can you do?
#4
Tactile / Re: The Wardian Engine
Last post by Sorontar - Yesterday at 11:23:20 AMNice design. Hope you get it finished.
Sorontar
Sorontar
#5
The Engine Room / Re: Account Suspension
Last post by Sorontar - Yesterday at 11:20:27 AMA number of other forums I am on have used or contemplated Cloudflare due to bots slowing or stopping them. Since we are using a single main established package for the forum, I would imagine it shouldn't be too awkward to utilise, but I hope not expensive.
Sorontar
Sorontar
#6
Metaphysical / Re: Well, how do we do it?
Last post by Felscor - Yesterday at 08:00:38 AMWhat I've experienced is that we're on the end of a fad wave, but anyone who took steampunk seriously, ahem, pursued steampunk beyond passing thought, has stuck around.
I'll admit I joined the steampunk band wagen in 09 because it was gaining traction as a fad. I stuck around when other avenues shut down by joining places like Brass goggles, and regret not joining sooner.
In terms of my own current investment into the hobby, its been wanning as my work-family life balance leaves little to no spare time. I just hop on, shoot from the hip a tongue and cheek comment and hope I don't accidentally offend someone.
Fan bases swell and contract, as I saw with Star Trek slump to almost dissipating, then a burst resurgence when the new shows started rolling out. That could just be the nature of my home town though.
A challenge to steampunk I would argue is that unlike Star Trek and Game of Thrones is that there is no singular media to release content to dissect. We make our own content and do just that. It's attraction also means a high bar to entry, it requires creativity and ingenuity, not a streaming subscription. That is not meant to be a jab, just a note about accessibility and the willingness of target audiences. A solution might just be talking more about steampunk media here, maybe. Maybe I don't know the solution, if even needed.
I'll admit I joined the steampunk band wagen in 09 because it was gaining traction as a fad. I stuck around when other avenues shut down by joining places like Brass goggles, and regret not joining sooner.
In terms of my own current investment into the hobby, its been wanning as my work-family life balance leaves little to no spare time. I just hop on, shoot from the hip a tongue and cheek comment and hope I don't accidentally offend someone.
Fan bases swell and contract, as I saw with Star Trek slump to almost dissipating, then a burst resurgence when the new shows started rolling out. That could just be the nature of my home town though.
A challenge to steampunk I would argue is that unlike Star Trek and Game of Thrones is that there is no singular media to release content to dissect. We make our own content and do just that. It's attraction also means a high bar to entry, it requires creativity and ingenuity, not a streaming subscription. That is not meant to be a jab, just a note about accessibility and the willingness of target audiences. A solution might just be talking more about steampunk media here, maybe. Maybe I don't know the solution, if even needed.
#7
Tactile / Re: The Wardian Engine
Last post by Robotguy - Yesterday at 03:28:51 AMAlright, here goes.
I acquired this at an antique fair a few months ago:
I decided to make it into an automated terrarium. First I started prototyping from foam:
Then I drew it up in CAD:
A few annotations added, and spruced up with ChatGPT:
And an AI visualization of what it should look like when it's completed:
I acquired this at an antique fair a few months ago:
I decided to make it into an automated terrarium. First I started prototyping from foam:
Then I drew it up in CAD:
A few annotations added, and spruced up with ChatGPT:
And an AI visualization of what it should look like when it's completed:
#8
Tactile / Re: The Wardian Engine
Last post by von Corax - Yesterday at 12:25:34 AM- I find build logs fascinating, but it's really up to you.
- Our long-standing policy on AI-generated images (which I am making up on the spot) is full disclosure, that is, they are acceptable as long as you make it clear that they are AI-generated. My avatar and the wiki logo are both by Midjourney, and we have an entire Fine Arts sub-board for Artworks by Artificial Entities.
#9
Tactile / The Wardian Engine
Last post by Robotguy - January 29, 2026, 09:06:00 PMHey all, I haven't posted in a while but I'm working on a major project and wanted to ask your preferences.
1. Build log or wait to post until it's finished?
2. I am using ChatGPT for in-process visualization images ("Hal, take this CAD model and make it look like a notebook drawing" or "Make this sketch photorealistic so I can see what a dark stain would look like for the panel.") I'm not trying to pawn any of it off as art, or original, but I'm aphantasic, so it helps me to visualize stuff. I couldn't find any site rules regarding AI generated images so I thought I'd ask if they're allowed, or if I should skip those and just show actual build or finished images (depending on the answer to #1).
1. Build log or wait to post until it's finished?
2. I am using ChatGPT for in-process visualization images ("Hal, take this CAD model and make it look like a notebook drawing" or "Make this sketch photorealistic so I can see what a dark stain would look like for the panel.") I'm not trying to pawn any of it off as art, or original, but I'm aphantasic, so it helps me to visualize stuff. I couldn't find any site rules regarding AI generated images so I thought I'd ask if they're allowed, or if I should skip those and just show actual build or finished images (depending on the answer to #1).
#10
Metaphysical / Re: Aerial Kraken Defense Thre...
Last post by Felscor - January 27, 2026, 07:56:42 AMHaha, amuse away, our ridiculous derigables will be the only thing left in the sky after the Aerial Kraken has ploughed through!
But a coyote vest might just work...
But a coyote vest might just work...