So thanks for the kudos and all, but I don't think my little funfest is nearly as difficult, time-consuming, or requiring of talent as, say, the folks that do scale models for NARAM or FAI. Those models require craftsmanship and precision; Barbicane is less about either of those things than it is an arts and crafts project, and one that rewards imperfect finishes, to boot! The Barbicane effort is still two calendar months and many build-hours short of my Level III build. It's easier than it looks, especially if you do it in small doses of 20-30 minutes here and there [and are retired so you have time for the "here and there"].
All you folks out there with bins of disused parts from rockets, plastic models, and household junk might consider joining me in the "Hmmm, I wonder if I could make this look cool" club!
. The left valve handle turns on the jets (flickering candle lights); the right valve handle turns on and controls dimming of the ye olde incandescent bulb. Today it got a new, permanent base. There's a gauge yet to come; I'll wait for that to be installed before the full reveal. That was also a fun project, inspired by some work I found while searching the internet for steampunk fodder. The steampunk genre is much bigger and broader than I had imagined!
