Steampunky goodness (and GIP)

[castalia]

After this year's Dragon*Con and seeing how much Steampunk has caught on, I've been very tempted to join the fun and put something together for next year. As shanola22, delle, and mir280 do lots of Victorian stuff, I wouldn't be alone which is helpful. Will require help on many things, but I have some ideas and have begun to tinker with gears and other bits with which to make accessories and things. I have lofty ambitions with clockworks but for now will have to remain very much a beginner with no mechanical skills.

Today's Googling resulted in some very nifty Steampunk finds indeed. A blog known as the Honky-Tonk Dragon posted an awesome collection of some of the first motorcycles, mopeds, and scooters - true Steampunk history and wonderful examples of how beautiful this sort of technology can be. I especially like the wooden and brass "Reitwagen", the first cycle propelled by an internal combustion engine.

All of those remind me of the episode of The Adventures of Brisco County Jr that featured "steel horses". Motorcycles and the Old West seem anachronistic but it's nice to know that real motorcycles actually pre-date Brisco by a few years (it was set in the early 1890s, I believe). Very cool.

The second site that made me drool a little bit today is the website of Eric Freitas, a clockmaker who definitely is as much of an artist as he is a machinist and mechanical expert. His clocks are just fascinating.

Steampunk seems to be made up of two sorts of people - costumers and mechanics. Or those who are both. Some of the costumers produce absolutely exquisite authentically Victorian outfits that could pass for the best movie wardrobes. While the mechanics come up with the best gadgets ever, whether they're altered modern items or clockworks made from the ground up. It's the coolest DIY group ever. Here's hoping I get that new job so I can play too.

ETA: Made the icon from a political button offered by DemocraticStuff.com. Seriously, they have a button for everything.

Comments

[keleos.livejournal.com]

http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20021104

[castalianspring.livejournal.com]

*nod* I've been slowly making my way through that comic. It's one of the first modern recommendations people make to me. I'd like to read more recent stuff, as most of my own steampunk love comes from the older lit like Verne and Wells.

[keleos.livejournal.com]

I love it. I read the whole thing and I now get a feed to my LJ, and have the creators on my flist. I want to go as a Jägermonster to D*C next year, but I don’t know if I can pull the costume together.

[castalianspring.livejournal.com]

Ooh, that would be neat! If you do, you'll have to costume walk with me and delle. She did a Mina Harker costume this year that she said she can steam up a little.

I'll have to discuss the comic with you once I get a little further along. Don't spoil me! ;)

[lauraspeak.livejournal.com]

Re: DemocraticStuff.com: My favorites so far have been Unicorns for Obama, Mullets for Obama, and Faux Hawks for Obama.

[castalianspring.livejournal.com]

Hee, yes. The Moustaches for Obama is hilarious, and I quite like the Scientists for Obama and Redheads for Obama ones. I may just have to get some buttons.

[deborak]

Some steampunk "how to-s" can be found here:
http://www.threadbanger.com/search?cx=008205495395035886862%3Aewgf4axwu7w&cof=FORID%3A11&q=steampunk#1006

[castalianspring.livejournal.com]

Thanks! steamfashion has proven very useful as well. I got a few plastic toy guns from the Dollar Tree and am playing around with them now. Paint is fun!