VSF without rivets and boilers!

[Howard Whitehouse]

It's seemed that in recent years VSF has been associated with huge, rivety steam things, mostly giant walkers or WH40K tanks with a funnel stuck on. But actual Victorian engineers were often concerned with lightly-built devices that might really be able to fly, or carry humans by means of massive 4 horse power engines. The whole coachbuilding tradition was about making things that were strong but light, rather than massive and locomotive-like. If you look at pictures of experimental devices, they are more often skeleton-like creations of struts and pedals than industrial machines.

Many of them are unintentionally funny, which must surely be a bonus.

So, anyone out there building VSF devices that don't look like they weigh more than a battleship?

[Prof.Witchheimer]

It's seemed that in recent years VSF has been associated with huge, rivety steam things, mostly giant walkers or WH40K tanks with a funnel stuck on.

I can understand it, usually that's easier to build an roughly looking battleship full of rivets, portholes, gun barrels and stacks then the "skeleton-like creations of struts and pedals ". For most people the giant things just look more cool and impressive on gaming table then little stuff. Don't get me wrong, not a patch on little things, i like those too, but although the huge steam things fascinate me

[captain midnight]

I'd like to build something more traditionally(?) VSF. But the problem is finding the right building materials. I think it easier for most VSF gamers to just convert existing toys.

[Howard Whitehouse]

I agree that the big rivety things are imposing, and also stand up to a certain amount of handling, whereas  more delicate creations are always in danger of falling apart!

On the other hand, the idea of 'Warhammer 1890' does nothing for me.

I'm planning on using some of the 1/144 scale Corgi models of the Wright Flyer (made in a cunning way with a clear perspex interior with struts painted on it) to make miniature flying machines for 28mm figures, with seated figures on dining room chairs glued in place, and LeMax Christmas Village sleds as landing gear.

[Sir Barnaby Hammond-Rye]

I saw some die cast WW1 fighters that came in kits - wings separate from bodies, that sort of thing. $9.99CDN. Pretty brightly painted, but maybe that is OK - one was bright yellow with a rooster's head on the side.