Miss Emily Ladybird's Absinthe Fairy Wings

Here you can see the lovely Miss Emily Ladybird sporting her truly wonderful Absinthe Fairy Ball Gown, with the equally wonderful working fairy wings!

Miss Ladybird commissioned the construction of said wings some months before the Asylum Steampunk Convivial in Lincoln, for delivery at said event, the lady was overjoyed with them, and has graciously allowed me to share some images of the device and herself with you:


As you can see, the fluorescent green acrylic wings are illuminated with Ultra-Violet Light-Emitting-Diodes- the plastic itself converts the invisible rays into visible light, giving a most pleasing effect.

The other outstanding feature of these wings is thus revealed- they FLAP! A switch on the small cylindrical device on the end on the coiled wire actuates a geared motor, which in turn operates the flapping of the wings, at a frequency of approximately 50 beats per minute.

Miss Ladybird keeps the switch in her garter.

For more information on the lovely work of the lovely Miss Emily Ladybird, please allow me to direct the inquisitive reader here:

www.bridal-originals.co.uk

And Miss Ladybirds blog may be viewed here:

sparklyjem.blogspot.com

Many thanks to Captain Ulysses Hack for the use of the photograph of Miss Ladybird, his truly wonderful pictures of the Inmates of the Asylum may be found here, and his blog here.

Lady Raygun's 'Lady Raygun'

A special commission from the fabled father of Far Fetched Fiction, Commodore Robert Rankin, FVSS, for his good lady wife, Lady Raygun:





Here she is with the flash arrestor (or the metal bit on the front) screwed into place, and powered up- the purple ball glows blue, and the insets on the body flicker yellow, the trigger is spring loaded, but doesn't do anything- if there's one thing I've learnt about making rayguns, it's that if there is a trigger, people will pull it...

A close up of the label, with bad jokes.

It's made from odds and ends culled from charity shops, and placed within a slightly foxed (or more likely badgered) burr walnut veneer box- which required new hinges, which I had to modify into the sort that hold the lid open at 90° to the base, which was an interesting experience.

The Lady Raygun was presented to Lady Raygun during a very fine Indian meal at the Asylum Steampunk Convivial in Lincoln, and I'm very pleased to say the lady in question was overjoyed with her gift.

Quiet, Isn't It?

By 'It' I mean 'me', and by 'Quiet' I mean 'I don't seem to have been very busy, do I?'- Rest assured, Gentle Reader, I have been very busy, but as much of that which I have been busy with is Top Secret until after the 'Asylum', you will have to be patient

Stay tuned.

Meanwhile, here's a picture of the one and only Rolls-Royce Phantom I Joncheere Coupe:

The Great Exhibition Reporting

The BBC has called on my talents again, this time at White Mischief's 'The Great Exhibition':

Steampunks gather for Great Exhibition

I heartily recommend any future White Mischief parties, as a confirmed non-clubgoer, I found this event to be a very open, friendly and not-at-all run of the mill event!

Click here for more information.

Cruentus Ervum Stella Martis Vulgaris

Or, the Common Martian Red Weed:


Found nestling in the rotting hulk of an ancient oak over on the local common, not far from where one of the Martian Cylinders landed just over a century ago.

It's very rare to find a specimen, as our microbes tend to attack them as much as their spores attack our flora, so I've had to build a filtration system and bellows to keep it going:


Dials:


Filters:



And the mechanism in action:

(it's a bit noisy, but I've got a replacement motor and gearbox on the way)

"Auntie" takes an interest...

At the end of last month, the BBC News Website's Technology section produced a very nice article and video about Steampunk, although modesty forbids me to mention what made it so superlative:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/8376028.stm

And then, THE WORLD!

the STEAM PISTOL

Finally completed in time for the ASYLUM Steam Convivial:

in it's black velvet lined case

maker's label in lid

assembled on display stand

ammunition boxes

ready for use

don't forget to adjust the h20/h2so4 mix!

More information on the construction of this device may be found here.