So when I saw that Weta was selling a range of “steampunk” rayguns, I was pretty interested because I like the idea of solving tech problems (like building a gun) using unconventional methods. Sadly, it turns out that the Weta models are just that — models, and non-functional. And in any case, they're fantasy rayguns, not guns that fire bullets.
But looking at that got me thinking about DIY airguns, and tossing the idea around in my head as to what would be needed to build a steam-powered gun. I mean, it's not that different from a potato gun or airsoft weapon — the main difference would be that you're generating your high PSI source from either steam directly or a steam pump (so your gun would operate on cold air, not hot wet air).
That dumb sketch is the idea of a paintball type gun with four (or more or less) chambers that would be the firing buffers (separate so you can fire this weapon in select-fire mode) that charge up from the main tank between shots. The reason for this is so that the main tank can be located separate from the rest of the weapon (and to make it easier to use different sources of power — you could power this gun with anything from electricity to gasoline to wood).
It's too bad; I have all of these ideas about stuff I'd like to build but I just don't have time to put it all together. What I'd really, really love one day is to have enough money to assemble a thinktank of people who just build all these funny ideas. I really need to buy a big farm soon… Any unemployed machinists reading this looking to drop out for a while?
I feel like I'm not dedicating enough time to this blog. Honestly though, my days aren't that exciting. Here's pretty much how they go:
- Get up at around 6AM and try and remember my dreams
- Juggle and play bass for about half an hour to relax
- Answer pending messages and reply to longer conversations
- Prep work for Phil as needed
- Run errands as needed
- Work on various projects
- Eat, drink, and be merry
- Go to bed around 10PM
That's about it.
Oh, and if it's October 8th (I think), you can add “go to IRON MAIDEN concert” to the list, ha. Today I have to go open a new bank account (at a new bank) because stupid 9/11 has made it such a monstrous pain in the ass to move money internationally.
I love this clip of a three year old in a toy dunebuggy that his father souped up by re-gearing and upgrading to an 18V setup with an extra battery… Part of me thinks that this is really irresponsible parenting, but at the same time, the kid totally “gets” how the vehicle works even through skids, which is pretty cool. They'll be a very natural driver when they grow up.
The wedding was very nice, but I forgot my camera battery at my house! So I'm afraid I can't share any pictures. Anyway, I'm not sure what to write, but congratulations (and that's not the right word, but it'll have to do because I feel literarily very challenged right now) to Marc and Nicole.
I'm still 100% sold on the concept of marriage even though I didn't manage to get it to work right the first time around, so it was just really nice all around (jeez, it's like I've totally lost the ability to think of synonyms). I think everyone who gets married should have a wedding with all their friends and/or family there (I say that with some sadness in hindsight; one of many regrets learning experiences). It's something important that we lose more and more as we “progress” as a culture.
Anyway… I feel like I'm already rambling aimlessly, so let me share a quick picture of my suit (thank you again to Saira for helping me out with that) and crash out. Sorry the picture is kind of blurry… the flash broke in my camera and my hands shake so badly that this was the best shot I could get. The BME update is uploading right now, so I'll likely uncompress it in the morning.
So I was thinking about how Louis Vuitton got almost half a million dollars from Google, and Google is experiencing costly lawsuits in France left and right. Anyway, I was thinking maybe that's why a search of Google maps for St. Pierre and Miquelon returns empty ocean in map mode? Google is afraid that the French have copyrighted the shape of their country?
PS. They softened up on their
hatred of Malta, so who knows… maybe the French will get their little islands back in the future.
EDIT: A typo was fixed in this entry in the first link.
Let's see… ModBlog got linked by bb and a myriad of other sites today. It's always interesting how violent and angry outside traffic is (check out the comments). It's strange to me too, because people respond like this even if the traffic comes from sites that are politically left leaning, support gay marriage, marijuana rights, privacy and expression rights and so on. It makes you realize that the reason that the West really is “the great oppressor” is because most people need to be oppressed and watch others be oppressed in turn. It's kind of vile.
Anyway… After many drawings and doodles, here's the toy I think I want to build this winter (although I won't be surprised if that notion changes by tomorrow). It would be a prototype for a more aggressive version. This would be more to test the technology. It's pretty simple — a large snomobile-style belt tensioned over an bracket that mounts to the rear wheel, and that would be able to rotate, buffered by a long travel shock to articulate it (and the rear wheel would have its normal setup). The front wheel would be a narrow sand tire with a ski riding around it (so you can use either; a lot like snow gear for light planes). There are similar kits for motorcycles so I know the idea is fundamentally solid.
I think it would be tons of fun in sand and snow, especially for hillclimbing and general messing around… And if you integrated right/left brakes (so you could swing the front end around in the right weather conditions almost like a tank can spin in spot), you'd far outhandle a snowmobile I think.
Yes, I probably spend too much time getting excited by the Howe Twins (if the vehicle in this entry was interesting to you, check out the insane videos of their “Ripsaw” creation).
