Giant Steam Powered Statesmen

[Red Orc]

Now, don't be scared. There was a thread a week or so ago, that I might even find at some point, about an Abraham Lincoln figure, that provoked the comment 'Great Abraham Lincoln!"

There was also a cartoon posted of a gigantic Abraham Lincoln.

And someone posted a question about why Germany didn't seem to be united in the VSF period, and posed the question that it could be because France had won the Franco-Prussian War through military superiority in Vernesque mechanical devices.

All of this got me thinking about an arms race in huge fighting automata, in the sort of style of giant Japanese robots that bash each other while simultaneously and accidently destroying cities.

The French, for instance, could have developed the Napoleotomaton, the Germans the Mechanische-Bismark, the British the Clockwork Gladstone, and the Americans the Automatic Abraham Lincoln.

So, 50-foot war robots dressed as rivetted versions of their historical masters... genius, or lunacy? I can't tell any more 

[Calimero]

... genius, or lunacy? I can't tell any more  ...

That’s a VERY thin line between the two, you know…

[Thunderchicken]

You wacky guy you! I dare you to build one.

[Skrapwelder]

An Automatic Abraham Lincoln would be fine but I want to see the Taft Titan. Think of the boiler on something like that.

[Mr. Burning]

You have vision and greatness.

Its a grand idea.

[Lupus]

I think us VSF folks seem to be pushing each other to greater heights of insanity 

[myincubliss]

Have you read Extraordinary Engines, the steampunk anthology? There was a short story in there with a similar premise, giant automatons boxing in a victorian-esque period... possibly on mars?

[Whiskyrat]

If you are in need of a little inspiration.

 this

[Lupus]

Nice not that i need more inspiration

[Steve F]

the Clockwork Gladstone

A coal-fueled Palmerston might be even better - smoke venting from his ears, as he careens erratically around the battlefield ...

[YPU]

If you are in need of a little inspiration.

[[awesome stuff]]

I just know the system to play something like this in, mekton zeta. Convert some space marine into a smaller scale and some scenery. Sounds like a project to me!

[ushistoryprof]

Don't for get the Japanese Meji Emperor vs the Last Samurai.  It's not madness it's Mad Science...Haaaa Haaaaa Haaaaaaa!!!

[gamer Mac]

Have you been looking at my work bench Red Orc

[Red Orc]

Have you read Extraordinary Engines, the steampunk anthology? There was a short story in there with a similar premise, giant automatons boxing in a victorian-esque period... possibly on mars?

You know, you're right. I read a few of the stories in it and that was one. Maybe I had it in mind subconsciously.

And the Dr Who episode with the Cyber-King was on tonight, perhaps that was also an influence.

@ Whiskyrat - I love that animation, there's more than a touch of Wallace abd Grommit in it that's quite endearing.

And to everyone else - excellent! It's not just me! I like the Lord Palmerston, and the Meiji Emperor... the principle I suppose is infinitely extendable. I supposed the Swiss would be the first to invent one (clockwork and all) or maybe several... huge automata guarding all the routes into Switzerland, all called 'Helveticus'.

I also figured that the British would have invented a smaller, lighter, faster model than the Clockwork Gladstone, a new version called the Coke-fuelled D'Israeli, which, despite its many advantages over the slower and more ponderous Gladstone, in the end was too erratic for sustained service.

@ Gamer Mac... yes. Yes I have, using my extro-extendiscopifing omnivisual telegraphicator.

[Chairface]

Any body see the Southpark episode with the Giant evil Abe Lincoln and the Giant good John Wilkes Booth Statue? Classic.