Plan B----> Steam powered, computerized pirate bouy!

[Daryl J.]

Some weathering:










There's flaws here and there, but likely won't get a touch up at this point.   Perhaps after the GB is done it'll get a bit more.



Daryl J.

[BlackOps]

OK, I forgive you for being tardy with the pics, This is just as cool as I new it would be   

[John Howling Mouse]

Way to go: fantastic and original idea with impeccable execution, IMHO.      
If you had some "DAS" pronto air-hardening clay, you could easily build up and paint a portion of ocean waves around it to depict it bobbing about in the choppy sea.  Would be easy to sculpt waves lapping up at its edges.

[Daryl J.]

The base is still soaking wet with polyurethane varnish from last night.....so much for fast dry, eh?   

JHM, where the plunger to attach the fishing line used to be located is puttied in with Magic Sculpt which had also been slated to be used as sculpted water.    Previously, this polyurethane had dried in less than 12 hours, but for some reason it is still tacky 24 h. later.    Granted, there was a heavy coat because the basswood soaked up the first coat to the point it was as though it had never had a seal coat.


Daryl J., who just located a light.....an old craft miniture plastic baby bottle.

[Daryl J.]

So I futz up the light terribly.   Ne'er fear,....wife to the rescue! She dug into her craft supplies and found some cake decorations for an 1 year old:


Cut it up a bit, add an engraved clear acetate/clear epoxy/kitchen foil lens, some rod and some embossed sheet and it turns into this:

[Daryl J.]

And it winds up here:


With the other half of the original 2" fishing bobber and another milk bottle:



And for all practical purposes, she's done!


different lighting because photography is a foreign concept to me:




And on to the next project!!!!


No, not really.    The Albatros from Eduard is next on deck but that likely will have to wait some time and now we get ready to move.......


Daryl J. who really looks like this:

and this is who rescued the project seen here with our Leonberger:

[Daryl J.]

The technicals of the backstory:


This is a steam powered, knacked together bouy owned by a rogue group of wealthy thieves who use a series of these to misdirect vessels towards their ultimate demise.   The steam provides not only generated electricity, but propulsion from one main screw and two other stabilizing screws located port and starboard at approximately 120 degree intervals from each other.    The hull is heavily ballasted and is somewhat egg shaped when viewed up on the ways.    The thieves command the bouys via satellite which then transmits the plotted course to the GPS in the bouy.  When relocating,  the air intakes extend significantly, the Light of Deception goes dark and the computer guided vessel sets off to its next nefarious location.

This represents SP.B-177, the most common version in their inventory.

Upon shipwreck, the pirate team approach via both sea and sky using a stolen and suitably modified USCG rescue boat and a few WW-I era leftover aircraft that have seen the changes of time:   The Parasol Fokker D.VII(w), the supercharged and intercooled Junkers D.I, and for general scouting an Albatros W.4, all of which are float equipped.   The machines are fully  computerized and blend antique and exceedingly high-tech materials in order to maintain their wandered ways.

As far as is known, only one bouy has been lost so it apparantly is a rather rugged design.


Daryl J.


PS:  Special thanks to my chairside assistant, Linda D., who came  up with the idea of using a fishing bobber as a basis for this model.   She'd seen a drawing of what was planned and knew I was stumped when it came to the exact materials to use.  Credit goes to where credit is due.     And here you thought your dentist was thinking only of fillings while drilling.........

[jcf]

Daryl J., thinking a Junkers D.1 on floats and a boosted engine would be a great tender for this thing......

Guess I'll have to finish my float mounted D.1. 

The buoy looks great.

Jon

[BlackOps]

I feel sorry for the guy who has to crawl up there and change that lightbulb in rough seas! Looks great Daryl, I'm glad you got to squeeze in some play time!   

[Ed S]

Very clever and nicely done.  Definitely out of the ordinary.

I like it.  Good job Daryl.

Ed

[nev]

10/10 for originality

10/10 for execution

[Brian da Basher]

That's some fantastic work, Daryl! You've completely nailed the Steampunk look and your backstory explains everything nicely!
Definitely A+ work!

Brian da Basher