Jet Pack? No sir...STEAM Pack!

My next project is a piece that is part of a theme environment.  In this case, it's a home theater.  I have already designed much of the room and have several pieces to complete, but thought this one would be a great place to start. 
The concept for the Theater is a Jules Verne inspired airship named "The Aeronaut".  I'll post more about the theater soon, but we'll start with the emergency "escape packs" which allow guests a quick escape method should the airship meet with some form of destruction.
These "escape packs" allow guests aboard to fly from the airship to the ground- and even incorporate a pair of back-up parachutes should the steam run out at a bad time.
I have no doubt some elements of the design will change as I progress. The drawing is a guide, but I try to keep it a somewhat loose one.  The process of building objects like this always seems to present ideas along the way that improve upon this initial sketch.

Launch!

Finishing a project like this is kind of like Christmas..only in reverse.  You see, I've always enjoyed ripping the layers of paper off of presents to find out what was beneath.  But with projects like this, it's the layers of paint that I'm adding that reveal what it's finally going to look like. With each new layer I get a little more of the picture and a little more excited.
I finished the project on Thursday- but with the the gray skies and rain, I just couldn't bring myself to take any pictures. I really thought this thing needed to be outside to be appreciated.
Finally..today a bit of good luck and the sun is up and it's awesome outside.
I hope you enjoy the pictures, although it's really something to see in person!

 

Here's another pic of the moon...this one taken inside. The sun seemed to blow out some of the color.

Dad, what is that noise?

A quick update...my daughter joined me again in the shop to do some painting while I worked on the rocket.  I had no idea I was doing anything until my daughter said, "Dad, what is that noise?".  I then realized that I had been making the sound of the rocket engines firing while I was painting.  I stopped for a bit and then as soon as I'd back up to look at the paint on the rocket from a distance, I'd automatically start making it again.  As far as I can tell, building a rocket will automatically turn you into a 9 year old.  I don't mind a bit.

Sometimes the Planets Align...

I'm finally putting paint on this project! First, though, I had a few last details to finish- including a minor change I decided to make to the pedestal.  As I installed the rods between the panels, I thought they needed something on top.  I played around with a couple ideas and decided that I had so much fun sculpting a moon that I'd do several little planets.

Each one has a different texture and will be painted in a unique color. 

Next, I put some additional "victorian/steampunk" details on the rocket, just to put it over the top.

This was another place where I used a home-made mold.  I found a great piece left over from a

home-made arcade I built (www.frankencade.blogspot.com) and knew that it's arched shape would

translate into wrapping around the base of the rocket legs really well. I was right.

Now, the last pieces to attach to the pedestal are the planets and a decorative element that will go under each of the "quote" panels.  These got a base coat of copper, and will get much more in terms of glazing and detailing.

Then, it was finally time to start painting the rocket.  I've been looking forward to this since the day CarveWright released the 3d model import software. I knew from the first day I wanted to build a rocket...and I had one like this in mind.  The first layers of paint are always confusing for some because

it looks nothing like it will in the end.  This base coat is an under layer for lots of other colors to come.

Updates will speed up now and I sprint to the end of this totally fun project.

 

Riveting details

It's not always easy finding ways to let children be a part of what you do...but I've allowed my daughter into my shop since she was very little.  I've taught her to be cautious when necessary and when she can simply have fun. This weekend she asked if she could help with the Rocket Sign project and I readily said "YES!".  I had calculated that the pedestal was going to require about 500 rivets and knew exactly how to involve her in the process.  I know some of you may think "Why doesn't he just have the rivets be a part of the carving and save himself the time?" It's a good question, and one that gets to the heart of what I'm trying to do to give my signs life and make them unique.  If I had the machine carve them, they would be perfect..every time.  That's not what I want!  I want a random, hand made quality to the signs that will loudly declare to whoever sees them that they were touched by a human hand and are the better for it.

The way I make the rivets is to first mix a batch of Magic Sculpt, then create hundreds of little peanut size balls.  This can be done quickly, and then lets me focus my attention on placement of the rivets without having to think about it.  I showed my daughter what size to make the balls and told her to fill several small containers. She had a great time and told me all about a penguin game she's been playing and why it's so great.  In all too short a time, she had made me more than enough rivet-peanuts to complete the job.

Because I sometimes use a lightweight foam product for signs, I have to give it a primer coat, and then a hard shell resin coating for protection.  In this case, all the panels on the pedestal needed a coat, which I gave them.  Once that was dry and hard, I could begin adding the rivets.  I push them into a dome shape and then with a small round tool, I indent them randomly to look hand hammered.

I continue to sculpt the last few sections of moon and this afternoon I'll have it done.  I've learned so much just sculpting craters.  It's fun to look at reference photos and then combine that with my own vision of what kind of details would look good for this moon.  I couldn't help but remember the old "Bob Ross" painting shows that used to be on as I added more and more craters. I imagined Bob saying "A happy little crater lives right over here...it's your sign, let that crater live wherever you want!"

I also started putting on a few last little details on the rocket.  I don't want to give them all away yet, but I thought I'd let you see my use of some "found items" for the landing feet.  CarveWright owners will be able to identify at least part of the assembly.