Hot Steampunk R&D Posts

News: Amazing Steampunk Claw Glove

This claw glove by Curiomira, called "Von Richt's Mechanical Glove" is really, really impressive. In addition to the amazing craftsmanship, it also has cool moving parts that make it look mesmerizing in action.

News: Why Andrew Jackson Was Terrifyingly Crazy

President Andrew Jackson was a pretty rough guy. He routinely fought in duels, and even used to beat people with a stick. That's not very funny.

How To: Fill Out Your Steampunk Workshop with These Must-Have Tools of the Trade

Say whatever you want, but Steampunk is primarily a maker culture. Consider that Steampunk has existed since the 1960s and yet more or less languished in obscurity until approximately 2005, which is when it made the leap to costuming. That costuming was what provided the leap to the tangible, despite the fact that Steampunk art had also existed for years.

News: Steampunk Fashion - Handcrafted Costumes

For creating my costumes I try to use only authentic materials, such as old leather, steel, brass, copper, wood and glass. Nearly nothing is glued, most parts are reversible connected with screws.

News: Trudy's Mechanicals

Concept artwork of a Toronto based video game studio Incubator Games upcoming steampunk turn-base tactic game: Trudy's Mechanicals. The military's boat-like Battle Platform. Butler-bot variations: pantsless four-arms and sleek tuxedo. Denizens of the Clockwork Labyrinths and various fashion. A placard for the Aerie and its floating islands connected by cable cars. Incubator Games » games.

News: Presenting Our Short Action Movie with Steampunk Atmosphere...

Video: .

News: Large Steampunk Warship/Train Operating on Live Steam

This ship is over 4 ft. long with many moving parts all run from a live steam engine. There are two videos, one more detailed about the story and one blog showing how it was built. Hope you enjoy.

News: Steampunk Fashion - Timetravelers and Warriors

There are many opportunities to make Steampunk clothing. Clothing can be elegant and relate to the aristocrats of the 19th century. But Steampunk also can be rough and dirty, inspired by the adventurer from stories like 2000 miles under the sea or even movies like "Mad Max" or Wild "Wild West".. There are no rules how Steampunk has to look...

News: What Is Steampunk?

So I have been wondering this for a while now. What exactly is steampunk? I know a little bit about it but I feel as thought the internet definitions can only give so much information. What do you guys think? Is steampunk a lifestyle? A fiction base? A for of a art? I think that steampunk has way more potential than people think. Share your ideas on what you think steampunk is and what you would like to see be done with it!

News: Steampunk Art & Comics

Beautiful etching-like artwork from an upcoming steampunk comic book. Annabelle Avery: Steampunk Girl, Vol. 1 by Matt Kelly.

News: Steampunk Art Doll

Hi, great site - I'm especially inspired by the post on items available at the hardware store. I've used some here in my doll goggles. Mandy at artofdolls.net

News: Steampunk Surfboard

I made a Steampunk Surfboard recently, just for the fun of it. It took quite a bit of time, but I really like the end result. If interested, you can check out my blog for more pics and info on how I made it.

News: Steampunk Bottle (a Red and Malevolent Glow)

Thought I would cross-post a piece I did a while ago.

News: Shark Jumps Steampunk

Shark jumps Steampunk, experts unsure of the meaning. Cape Town -- In an unprecedented move today, a Shark have jumped a steampunk couple as they were attempting to work on their hobby steamboat.

News: Cure All Your Ills (Or Give Yourself Some New Ones) with Steampunk Medicine

We don't generally think of medicine as being very relevant to Steampunk, but it was a big part of Victorian science fiction. Notable examples that you may be familiar with would be Frankenstein and The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.

News: The Vatican's Hidden Steampunk Treasure Inside the Sistine Chapel

While the pope himself may not be Steampunk, you might be amazed at what is: the coronation stove. For those who don't know, it's been a tradition for a very long time to signal the election of a new pope (or the lack of a new pope) via colored smoke. More specifically, once the cardinals have all voted for the new pope during the conclave, the ballots are burned in a special stove in the Sistine Chapel, and the smoke is visible in St. Peter's square.

Artist Spotlight: Frenchy and the Punk Put the "Punk" in Steampunk

I'm not entirely sure how to describe band Frenchy and the Punk, but if I say things like cabaret, punk, and fun, you'll probably get the idea. Their website calls them "rollicking flapper folk punk cabaret", which is about as many words as you need to describe them. I wouldn't call them punk per se, but you can definitely hear the punk influence in their sound.

News: Steampunk As "Superculture" Theory

Veronique Chevalier coined the term "superculture" as a descriptor for the burgeoning realm of steampunk, and it's now gaining a foothold...She now has her very own footnote in steampunk history, #81 to be exact!

News: Caption Contest with Veronique!

Post your most imaginative captions below this saucy, (but not pornographic) pic here, and win your very own personalized copy of Issue #6 of Steampunk Glamour Revue, published by Antarctic Press featuring The MAD-emoiselle One Herself, Veronique Chevalier! Ready, aim, (light my) fire! ;-)

News: A Close Look at the Upcoming Steampunk Web Series "Crypto-Historians"

The upcoming web series "Crypto-Historians" does for cryptohistory what Indiana Jones did for archaeology. For those who don't know, cryptohistory is the study of supernatural or alien elements throughout history, and yes—it's a "real" field.

News: My Interpretation of a Tesla Power Generator

Hello, I'm new to this group. Thought you might like to see one of my latest creations—my interpretation of a Tesla power generator. Tesla Power Generator Painting by James Christopher Hill.

Steampunk R&D Podcast 06: Thomas Willeford Behind the Scenes of Steampunk Reality Television

This week, another guest returns to our Steampunk R&D show for the second time, Thomas Willeford. In our very first podcast, Thomas talked to us about creating his empire; this time we most notably talk about his recent appearance on the Science Channel's program Odd Folks Home, in an episode entitled "Blow Off Some Steampunk". Thomas Willeford is the owner and operator of Brute Force Studios, and has been responsible for some of Steampunk's most recognizable props and accessories, such as th...

News: Little Clank to Make You Smile on a Monday

Thought I would share a pic of a little "clank" I made a few weeks ago. This one was inspired by the Girl Genius online comic. Repurposed out of a sugar bowl I found at Savers.

News: The Ultimate Valentine's Day Date Guide for Steampunks

You (or your partner, or both) are a Steampunk. Let's get away from all the mindless, unfeeling commercialism for a few minutes and think about dates instead of gifts—where do you take your significant other for Valentine's Day? What would be the ultimate Steampunk Valentine's Day date?

News: Happy 185th Birtday, Jules Verne!

News: Playing Video Games Is the Most Important Thing You Can Do as a Child

It's a controversial headline, I know, but bear with me and I'll explain in due course. Disclaimer: I was once a child, and I played lots of video games. I didn't look anything like this child.

The Known and Unknown Unknowns: Is All of the History You Know Wrong?

The vast majority of people involved in Steampunk are interested in history but, like with science, there's something about history that we don't talk about very often: The holes.

News: Real Metal-Real Wood-Real Steampunk

If you are tired of finding production line, plastic Steampunk pieces then I hope you check out my site and let me know what you think.

News: Steampunk Is More Accurately Vernian, Not Victorian!

ATTN: HUMOUR ALERT Jules Verne was an author of immense imagination, who had a profound effect on speculative fiction, whereas Victoria was a stodgy & pampered royal who led a sheltered and traditional existence. Boring, frumpy, grumpy royal! (Photo from The Guardian, UK)

Steampunk Travesty: Cross-Dressing in Fandom

Cross-dressing and gender-bending are nothing new, but the realm of Steampunk seems to be especially accepting of role-reversal in dress.

Auto Polo: The Most Steampunk Sport That Isn't Steampunk

In the early 20th century, some people decided that it would be a great idea to play polo with cars. Sounds like a great idea, right? It was, and it wasn't.

Steampunk's Rising Popularity: How to Take Advantage of the Hottest 'New' Trend

As practically the entire Steampunk world knows by now, IBM has predicted that Steampunk will be the big new trend from 2013 to 2015. They based this prediction on their computers, which sift through broad swathes of the internet in order to see patterns that may help commercial industries. According to them, Steampunk has been on the rise for the last few years, and they predict that it will explode into peak popularity within the next two years. But what does that mean and how will it impac...

How To: Not Be Steampunk

Many people have spent many hours discussing how to "properly" be Steampunk. Well, I turned it around and asked myself, "How can you not be Steampunk?"

How To: Hey, America—You're Drinking Your Tea Wrong!

Tea has been around for thousands of years, and as a result, tons of customs and ceremonies have sprung up around its consumption. Some cultures take their tea plain, while others put things in it. Sometimes there are special tea-holding vessels, other times not. Maybe there will even be special foods meant to be eaten with tea. However, in America, our appreciation of tea has waned. For many, iced tea is their biggest source of tea consumption, and it's imbibed with no ceremony whatsoever in...

News: A Do-It-Yourself Singing Tesla Coil Kit

I happened across this in my Steampunk Facebook group, and I had to share. A company called oneTesla is running a Kickstarter campaign for a DIY singing Tesla coil.

News: My Latest Steampunk Creations...

Wow, nearly 2013! This is the time I look back over my body of work in 2012 and assess where I am creatively. With large gaps in the year due to moving into a new studio and two extended hospital stays certainly took a toll on my productivity mid year. I'm really proud of the pieces I submitted to "The Antipodean Steampunk Show", an exhibition that will be touring for three years in regional Australia.

End of the Century: The Fin De Siecle's Role in Steampunk

With the new year right around the corner, it's time to talk about the end of the 19th century, a time which plays an enormous role in Steampunk. If you've done any reading of British books written from about 1890 to 1899, you may have come across the phrase 'fin de siecle' and wondered what it meant. You also may have come across this term in reading about the late Victorian era. No worries, I'll tell you all about it! Image by Giovanni Dicandia

News: Have a Little More Christmas in Your Steampunk

Religion is one of the most-ignored topics when it comes to Steampunk, which is surprising given how important religion was in Victorian England. Even the hot-button issues of race and gender are confronted with a greater awareness than religion.