Author Topic: Biggest Ever Walker - Construction Begins! (Read 76588 times)

Colonel O Truth · « **Reply #315 on:** April 05, 2015, 07:35:11 PM »

Thanks chaps! Always nice to be appreciated for the marbles one has misplaced - I'll try not to let you down!

I admit, this has become an obsession - I hate to say I'm going to do something and then not do it. And once I have an idea, it won't leave me alone until it is done.

Interestingly, Bezzo, along with the Crystal Palace, a number of Victorian piers were a part of the early inspiration for this project. I also looked at the iron work at St. Pancras station, along with Leeds, York, and other Victorian stations built under cover. (Unfortunately, the station at my home town of Sheffield is not so grand - we produced all the iron and steel, but every other bugger benefitted!)

The development of iron work engineering by men like IKB and Paxton allowed for massive single-span roofs which give those places a cathedral-like quality which I always found awe-inspiring as a boy. I remember them fondly.

The original idea for this massive rivet-festooned project was that I was going to build a Victorian moon base, set upon legs like those at Brighton pier, and with barrel-vault roofs along all the passageways and bio-domes. Somehow, my sketches inspired me to turn the whole thing into a vehice instead.

I may still do the moon base one day, when I have a few hundred thousand rivets and five years to spare.

On the other hand, if anyone else feels like having a go, you'd better get started...

Colonel O Truth · « **Reply #316 on:** April 05, 2015, 09:52:53 PM »

It's a thing of beauty, Bezzo!

Great minds and all that...

Sadly, my new (and much beloved) home of Wellington, NZ, does not boast such grand Victorian Architecture, but we do have a rather lovely railway station.

It was opened in 1939, and was the largest building in NZ at the time (it seems quite small now) and you can see it owes a lot of its design to the Victorians. I rather like it.

The arches and glazed roof are in evidence, but none of the ornate iron-work: the more austere 1930s minimalist style has taken over. Nevertheless, it has that lovely echoey quality that railway stations ought to have.

von Lucky · « **Reply #317 on:** April 05, 2015, 11:47:51 PM »

Another delightful update.

Have you thought where this beauty will be placed when finished? Because it's not something to be kept out of sight in a storage box.

Colonel O Truth · « **Reply #318 on:** April 05, 2015, 11:57:09 PM »

Quote from: von Lucky on April 05, 2015, 11:47:51 PM

Another deliteful update.

Have you thought where this beauty will be placed when finished? Because it's not something to be kept out of sight in a storage box.

I have no idea! Currently, my Wild West town, 'Leadwood' resides in its boxes. I think I've taken it out twice in the last year... I've even thought about selling it to someone who'll get some use out of it.

Think I'll finish this thing first and then worry about why on earth I did it!

tnjrp · « **Reply #319 on:** April 06, 2015, 06:50:55 AM »

The good Colonel will no doubt construct a Victorian style glass cabinet for it. And an extra wing to his house in order to accomodate for the said cabinet

Colonel O Truth · « **Reply #320 on:** April 06, 2015, 09:46:26 AM »

As a matter of fact, I am considering a Victorian style glass cabinet... Might be expensive though!

Maybe I'll just sell it when it's done. Shall we say $1 per rivet, chaps?

Cubs · « **Reply #321 on:** April 06, 2015, 10:27:33 AM »

You realise this legendary item may well live long in well deserved fame after we're all dust?

Colonel O Truth · « **Reply #322 on:** April 06, 2015, 10:41:59 AM »

Quote from: Cubs on April 06, 2015, 10:27:33 AM

You realise this legendary item may well live long in well deserved fame after we're all dust?

I'm flattered that you think so - and you're assuming I'll ever actually finish it!

It's a nice thought.

von Lucky · « **Reply #323 on:** April 06, 2015, 02:05:03 PM »

SSSSHHHHHHHHHH - there's trams in Auckland!

The_Beast · « **Reply #324 on:** April 06, 2015, 03:25:48 PM »

Quote from: Bezzo on April 06, 2015, 12:54:53 AM

von Lucky would you have asked Michaelangleo

"Mikey when you have finished 'David' where are you going to keep him?"

Just as long as he doesn't quote Rex Harrison's Pope Julius II in The Agony and The Ecstacy!

"When will you make an end?"

No rush, REALLY!

You'll just have to say 'when I am finished!'

Doug

Colonel O Truth · « **Reply #325 on:** April 06, 2015, 07:43:22 PM »

Quote from: von Lucky on April 06, 2015, 02:05:03 PM

SSSSHHHHHHHHHH - there's trams in Auckland!

Are there?! I wouldn't know. I'm in Wellington.

von Lucky · « **Reply #326 on:** April 06, 2015, 10:27:17 PM »

Okay, you're safe:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antoni_Gaud%C3%AD#Death

Constable Bertrand · « **Reply #327 on:** April 06, 2015, 10:33:13 PM »

Sell it to the city, after all you've given them another national treasure!!

Wouldn't that be grand? little kiddies going for rides, screaming with excitement as they go up and down town. Tourists flocking to see the amazing Lord Smudgington Smythely-Smythe's Hydraulically Motorvated Sextupedal Land-Traversing Vacational Domicile, at its home in Wellington. You'll take all Sydney's tourists! Then we shall have to claim your Australian anyway

Matt.

Colonel O Truth · « **Reply #328 on:** April 06, 2015, 10:48:32 PM »

What a horrifying thought!

I'm British, Sir!

tnjrp · « **Reply #329 on:** April 07, 2015, 05:02:28 PM »

Donating it to some sort of museum thingy might be the best option for such a big artwork. Places like that take on large ship and architectural miniatures, why not the Lord Smudgington Smythely-Smythe's Hydraulically Motorvated Sextupedal Land-Traversing Vacational Domicile.

Or else you could sell it as prop to the nearest steampunk bar.

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