After the contestants strutted their stuff on stage, we offered a viewing of five-minute silent film version of The Audition to give the judges time to calculate the points.  It took more than five minutes though, so we played Baby Got Brass to rave reviews! After that, we still needed a bit of time, so I opened the mic up to a few aspiring comediennes (at least I don’t remember any Gents stepping up to the mic) from the audience, but only after telling my favorite punchline.  Finally, the winners were in!

• Best Concept: Suzy Q the Scarlet Seamstress
• Best Showmanship: Henry Stubbs from the Airship Ace of Spades
• Best Introduction: Bret “Sas-o-Frass” O’Dalaigh from the Airship Ace of Spades
• Most Alluring: Odette Von Kasek from the Airship Passepartout
• Most Elaborate: Lady Beatrix McCormick
• Best in Show: The Human Locomotive who was immediately recruited into the Airship Passepartout

Judges were Dr. Mortimer J. Torque of the Abolishers, John Strangeway the Steampunk Boba Fett, and Alex Johns of The Ford Theatre Reunion.

I’m hoping soon that the the kind gentleman who captured the entire hour’s worth of Fashion on tape will be so kind as to share the footage.  I know I had a rip roaring good time as Hostess and can’t wait to do it again!

The whole assembly is about 14 inches across. The final wingspan will be about 7 feet. Stay tuned for updates as the build progresses.

Wendigo Head Preservation Device on display at Barrington Hall

Steampunk Rolls into Roswell this Weekend – Roswell, GA Patch.

The Steampunk fantasy world will come alive on the grounds of Barrington Hall this weekend, Saturday, April 28 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. With one foot in the past and one in the future, experience the lush and highly imaginative world of Steampunk with multimedia exhibits, demonstrations, music, live theatre and intriguing visuals.

Exhibitors include Penny Dreadful Productions, Apparition Abolishers, Daniel Valdez’s Steampunk Professor X and Company, Paige G. Smith, Dim Horizon Studios, Meghan Maude, and many more. Enjoy live music from Vauxhall Garden Variety Players, Ghosts Project, and Valentine Wolfe. Even Shakespeare goes Steampunk as the North Fulton Drama Club ensemble ”puts a gear on it” in their steam-powered version of The Tempest.

Chloe Seachord and Molotov Clocktease are up front in the picture sporting the Abolishers’ flag.

Check out the article here: Where past meets present meets future: My weekend with the steampunks – GeekOut – CNN.com Blogs.

http://ruffledblog.com/victorian-steampunk-wedding/

It does my geeky little heart proud that the Groom’s Processional was the Throne Room Theme from Star Wars: A New Hope.

See this contraptionand more at Dr. Torque’s Traveling Exposition of Curious Contraptions and Fantastical Oddities at GMX October 21-23. Your donations will make it happen!

Our exposition at GMX 3.0 was a tremendous success. We thank everyone involved, and especially those who attended and made for a wonderful time to be had by all.

If you are interested in inviting us to bring Dr.Torque’s Traveling Exposition of Curious Contraptions and Fantastical Oddities with the Clocktease Burlesque show to your convention or venue, please contact us to discuss!

Something fantastic this way comes when the Apparition Abolishers present their steampunk exposition at a convention or venue near you! Never before has such a stupefying collection of steam powered devices, odd creatures and beguiling ladies been brought together under a single roof. Come experience our gigantic tent full of steampunk delights.

We transport you to a complete Victorian exposition where the lines of science and fantasy are wonderfully blurred. Visitors will walk through and gaze upon all manner of ingenious contraptions and never before seen creatures. Also, for one night only, the Apparition Abolishers will present the alluring and quizzical romp of “Clocktease Burlesque,” a taste of the more titillating side of steampunk.

Is your curiosity piqued? Perhaps you’d also be intrigued to know that on display will be many of the ingenious contraptions designed by renowned industrialist Mortimer J. Torque of Torque Laboratories. You will be able to get up close and inspect for yourself such legendary devices as the Emeraldic Energy Extrapolator Power Packs, the mysterious Device, and powerful weapons such as the Plasma Pistols, Sonic Blunderbuss and the awe-inspiring Rusty Koontz.

If this was not a compelling collection on its own, direct from the webcomic for the first time ever will be H.A.R.O.L.D.E. the steam powered exosuit and the eerily human A.T.T. communication device. But wait, there’s more including Chloe Secord’s Aerial Maneuvering Equipment and Winnie Chester, the long-range werewolf sniper rifle. Scrappington Hauley, the group’s mechanical mule will also be on hand and will be more than happy to pose for photos with everyone.

Take a moment to catch your breath before proceeding to read on about the fantastical oddities that will be debuting at the exposition. Fainting couches can be provided for those of a weak and sensitive constitution. Do not be ashamed if you find yourself unable to go on for not many have been able to face the horrors that the Abolsihers have collected here. From the dangerously dusty Southwest United States is the perfectly preserved specimen of a chupacabra, the fabled goat-sucker that has tormented many a vaquero. Do not expect some mangy coyote – the reality of the chupacabra is much more terrifying. Once you have recovered from the shock of that beast, prepare yourself for the terror of the great white north, the Wendigo! A drawn,gaunt creature that stalks the wilds of Quebec, its head has been secured for your edification here in this collection. Rounding out the creature exhibits is the enchanting visage of the Fee Gee Mermaid. No mere taxidermy trick peddled by unscrupulous showmen, this mermaid towers over the most strapping of men, its power and beauty drawing them into a dark and final embrace under the shadowy seas. Not for the faint of heart indeed!

In addition to the main exhibits, there will be many smaller items and mementos from other Abolisher adventures. There will also be video and audio explanations of the wonders and horrors of the exposition so that you, our valued guest will be safely and studiously guided through this wonderland. The Abolishers themselves will also be on hand during exhibition hours so rest assured, should anything beyond the pale were to occur, you would be in the most capable hands possible.

Beyond the exposition, the night will feature the thrills and enchantments of Clocktease Burlesque. On stage that night will be a show that beggars the imagination, a steampunk-inspired entertainment that will move you in ways beyond measure. The ladies of Clocktease Burlesque will thrill you and amaze you with their provocative and uproarious acts, each one more exciting than the last, culminating in a grand finale that will bring you to your feet!

Throughout the day, there will be various other distractions and excitements. See fire eaters, feats of strength and enjoy the jaunty stylings of a string band. This will truly be an event that will whisk you far, far away from the doldrums of everyday, humdrum life and deposit you directly into the steam powered world of wonder that you hoped was out there, somewhere.

As a special treat to those of you on our official mailing list, we will be releasing the link to the video to you first. So, if you want to be one of the first to watch “The Audition”, sign up for the mailing list today!

Builder’s note: Harbor Freight runs regular deals on a “mover’s dolly” that has four 3.5″ swivel casters, usually for around $8 (eight bucks). You can’t buy four individual casters for that much. It’s a great deal.

Here are a few pics from the installation of those casters on to the base of the power pack transport case:

And here’s the finished product. Keep in mind this was done as a practice run to get familiar with the shapes and methods for this piece. The final production pieces will be made from real brass sheet.

First step was to trace the pattern of an individual panel (leaf) from a real horn. I used the one that forms the business end of Sir Quincy’s Sonic Blunderbuss. Then I cut the pattern out of thick craft roll paper.

Next I traced the pattern onto aluminum flashing and hand cut a few leaves using tin snips. This was a laborious and sometimes bloody ordeal. I scored the edges with a brass pulley that I pressed into the aluminum by rolling it along the edges. Then I folded the edges up at an angle.

Next I drilled 1/8″ holes through the matching edges of the leaves and used short aluminum rivets to hold the pieces together.

After doing two of these, I realized that I needed to improve my methods if this was going to be something repeatable and safe. So in the next post I’ll show how I moved up to a better tool for the job.

The two packs now are almost identical in all aspects. We’ve tried to reduce the weight while maintaining durability.

Some exciting new features include motion and lighting. A gearmotor drives a chain and sprocket system which turns a propeller above the Emeraldic Energy Extrapolator.

And the Extrapolators now pulse brightly thanks to their LED strips that are driven by Arduino boards.