An Unexpected Journey

Due to the rapidly deteriorating state of my 96 year old grandmothers mind, I will be taking a quick trip to the UK, leaving Saturday and returning in two weeks.


Only found out yesterday so things have been a bit hectic getting organised to travel - but - here's hoping that I find a day or two to get some UK steampunk exposure in.

2012 - here we come

Well that was quick.

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I had a meeting with a fellow tinkerer today to plan modifications to a superb old dentists chair that will be part of a steampunk exhibition in March here in Melbourne. We are looking at using the chair as part of an installation that asks 'what does steampunk sound like?'

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And I had a bit of a tinker when I got home, decided to see how I could install a spare glass dome on some old lamp parts to make something out of them.

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It will either be a lamp with an old Edison style globe inside, or some sort of 'xeno-biology specimen display' - I am leaning towards the latter as then I get to make a little alien insect type creature to go inside.

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Last post for 2011

I hade better get a quick post in for December or it will be over before I know it.

Okay - plans for 2012 include:

- collaborate with a few other artists on some work for an exhibition in Melbourne in March (I will be building a space exploration helmet and working on a modified dentists chair mounted computer).

- complete the CB450 Black Bomber, sell the CB750, buy a VFR750 and start a Honda hard tail steampunk motorbike (that is not a lot to get done is it?).

- continue to source old unusual items for our shop 'the manufactory' which has had a great start in 2011 and will continue to grow.

- and finally, make sure I get one post per month up here on what is going on in the Antipodes, with photos of any works in progress.

Have a safe and fun New Year folks - see you all in 2012.

Change of tack

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A month has flown by since my last (sad) post, and I don't know where it went.

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Well, I do - but I won't bore you with lifes mundane trivialities.

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Tell you what though, I am thinking of changing the mane of this blog to Antipodean Motorcycle Adventures, as most of my creative time is pouried into one of the two bikes I am doing up. The 'High Tea Racer' Honda CB750 does have a touch of steampunk about it, but the new project has a steampunk name only 'Runcible Racer' as it will be a close to faithfull replica of a 70's era Honda CB450 race bike (or as close as I can afford). The third motorcycle project I have in mind will be a lot more steampunk in overall design and finish, all copper and brass and rust and dents ... and dirty.

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Sad Sunday

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I have not posted for a while, blogging is one of those 'nice to do's' for me and when I have so many 'have to do's' the blogging gets left behind. Hey - at least I put life before blog I suppose.

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But I owe it to our cat Sebastian to write a blog in his honour. Sebastian was 13 years old in October, and last Sunday he did not wake up too well. All wobbly on his feet, unable to sit, unable to eat and looking very sad (and whilst not being able to say 'ouch' it was still pretty clear he was in a lot of pain). I had a bad feeling about all this and unfortunately when we took Sebastian to the vet that morning my worst fears were confirmed. Sebastian had started to shut down and there was nothing we could do except see that he was treated with kindness and respect allowed to pass on with a little dignity and a lot less pain.

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Standing in the vets with Sebastian lying on the table and Tanya sitting at the table end stroking his head whilst the vet administered the needle, I lay my palm over his heart and felt him go. That was one of the toughest things I have had to do in a long time, and it was even tougher for Tanya, as Sebastian had been with her for 13 years since he was a kitten.

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R.I.P. Sebastian.

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(from Cliff).

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If it were only up to me...

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This would be my pick for competition winner from the many entries in the Replica Prop Forum and Weta Workshop modify the Righteous Bison competition. It is by a forum poster titled 'Mr. Nagata', who has in my humble opinion, made a custom ray gun that I would buy from Weta before considering any of their other weapons. If only I could do work this good.

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Once were Bison's

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The Replica Prop Forum, in partnership with Weta Workshop have been running a 'modify a Righteous Bison ray gun' competition on thier forum. Here is the linky thing...
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http://www.therpf.com/f9/weta-dr-grordborts-custom-raygun-contest-show-off-your-concepts-designs-111355/

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Now the Righteous Bison is a very fine prop ray gun from the workshops of Weta, but wait until you scroll through the insane modifications committed on the poor defenceless nude black plastic Bison's (I would scroll backwards from the last post in the thread if I were you...) we received in the mail from Weta.

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Such unfettered weapons based creativity has not been seen since I let Madge loose on the rabbits in the back paddock with pop's old Enfield...

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