This may seem like a blasphemous question in this forum, but have any of y’all ever built a steampunk/Wild Wild West themed layout?
no, and until i know what you are talking about i will not be able to. ???
grizlump
Alternate history, where technologies that developed in our timeline didn’t develop in the same way. So steam trains and airships might still be viable technologies, maybe even further developed in directions they didn’t take in our reality.
No, can’t say I have ever considered modeling that.
Smile,
Stein
You mean like what I intend for my next layout, where my AHM 1860s era 4-4-4-0s and Rivarossi 2-6-6-6 will share the main with my Grandt Line GE 23 Ton and C-44-9 Diesels pulling anything from old truss rod cars to modern auto racks, alternating with appearances by electrics and some of my Thomas the Tank Engine rolling stock? Or a drag freight headed by a USRA Light 2-10-2 pulling a string of moder n container cars? A GP-50 pulling a string of Main Line and Ambroid Chicken cars, along with an old Ambroid watermelon car? A comuter run using a Bachman King of Prussia or John Bull?
EM-1,
That is not what he meant. If I’m correct what it means, is people building steam powered machines that have the look and feel of the late 1800,s, but doing modern things. As if steam became the preferred technology instead of the internal combustion engine. So the steam powered turbo trains would have become a much used locomotive.
So you can see where the Wild, Wild West part comes in. That is for those that watched the TV series and/or saw the movie.
That’s correct. The alternate history theme. Jules Verne and such. Remember the “Master of the World” movie with Vincent Price? Some of the outlandish things in Wild Wild West and Briscoe County, Jr? Some of the outlandish mechanical inventions that were imagined and written about but never built. It’s 19th century science fiction.
It would be interesting to create a layout that had in it elements of what people back then thought advanced technologies would give them in the future.
What you are referring to does indeed take off from the 1960s Wild Wild West technology-oriented episodes, but more properly refers to the sub-genre of modern science fiction that builds on such things as “What if Charles Babbage’s Analytical Engine was a reality in the mid-19th century and how would it impact societal and technological development thereafter” types of things. With respect to an industrial age rail theme influenced by steampunk, many of the 1920s- late 1940s add-ons to steam technology were not feasible in the mid-19th century due to materials science developments that were necessary to allow them to occur. It is like trying to envision the creation of a laser from the first X-ray tube at the start of the 20th century. Metals technologies that allowed for more powerful locomotives and such evolved concurrent with the evolution of other things, such as metallurgical techniques and newer metal alloys. Heavier rails- far heavier than those used on the first transcontinental railroad- would be needed, and if accelerated speeds due to more powerful locos occurred, then the advance of rail signal systems and rail switch and track detection equipment- such as was around in the 1920s would have been needed some 50 years earlier. Not to mention brake systems, suspension systems, etc.
However, having said all that, the idea is a good one and I would suggest that you research the possibilities, then rough-out the sort of modifications to equipment that might be “alternate universe-feasible”. Perhaps some of those sci-fi steampunk authors might be contacted for their views and perspectives. One of them is a fellow in Britain who has written several novels in recent years, although I can’t recall his name.
Best of luck and come to think of it, this is one way younger modelers could come into the hobby- keep the rest of us informed, please!
Plain old Wild West has been done - look in the back issues of MR for the Rock Ridge Central layout - town complete with Howard Johnson’s 1 Flavor ice cream parlor - and Mongo riding a steer.
A Steampunk layout could be quite insteresting. I see nothing wrong with making an attempt to build something like this, and would be very interested in seeing the results.
As for Wild WIld West - being a fan of th original 60’s series with Robert Conrad and ROss Martin (and many of the guest stars crossing over to the original Star Trek, as well as many an episode directed by the same directors who would do Star Trek spisodes), I find the Will Smith moview ot have absolute no redeeming qualities. A mockery of the original series if you ask me. I’ve been a fan of the tv series practically forever, in fact I used to (and still have) AHM and Tyco old-time equipment that I would pretend was the train from WWW. Not too far a stretch as one of the locos used WAS an ex V&T loco, like the AHM model. I’d couple up a baggage car and a coach or else the Lincoln Funeral Car and pretend it was Jim and Artie heading for their next assignment.
–Randy
Although the steampunk genre existed prior to it’s release, William Gibson & Bruce Sterling’s The Difference Engine, brought widespread attention to it. The novel takes place in a world where Babbage’s mechanical computer was actually built, and the computer age arrived in the late 1800s.
K.W Jeter, Harry Harrison, Michael Moorcock, Keith Laumer, and Ronald W. Clarke all wrote steampunk novels in the 1960s and 70s, although the term itself wasn’t coined until 1979 by K.W Jeter in Morlock Night.
The most widely known examples of steampunk today, are probably Alan Moore/Kevin O’Neill’s graphic novel series The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, and the anime series Steamboy. SyFy’s series Warehouse 13 also contains many steampunk elements.
Nick
It does sound like a very interesting concept for a layout. I’m picturing something along the lines of anime like Full Metal Alchemist or Trigun. Sure the rivet counters will scream bloody murder but who cares, It’s only model railroading.
If it blows your whistle, do it. You don’t need anyone’s approval.
I write my own history
Or go to major gaming/comic book conventions and take a look at 30% of the attendees. I was REALLY surprised this year at how many people are embracing and dressing up in steampunk gear. I guess its the new cool thing.
Well, I am planning on puting in a 1900 vintage Tesla power plant and Wardenclyffe type wireless distribution tower. The “Fossil Creek Pikes Peak & Tesla” shortline locomotives will be wireless electric though not steam.
Then of course there is also the Space 1889 role playing game series. This is where outer space as being “ether” theory (instead of a vaccuum) panned out. So one could put sailing ships out with steam powered ether propellers to move between the planets & moons.
lol, i went to the comic-con this year and i was really suprised at the amount of steampunk! but thats getting off topic. i think its an awesome idea, and i would love seeing how it turns out! heck, you might have given me an idea! final thoughts, great idea, results when finished please!
Now that’s a great idea, explains all those electric locos runnign on 2 rail track with no overhead wires!
–Randy
A friend of mine sent me this link to a blogpost about an artist who has a steampunk themed layout. (You will need to scroll down to read the post and see the pictures.)
I have never thought of it but it sounds like a good idea. I’m building my first layout and am working on a fantasy layout with steam engines. I bought 10 mm bowmen, knights and other military to battle a dragon I bought. I even have castle walls to go with phase 2. I also have some ceramic mushrooms for houses for my people to live in. I’m glad to see someone wanting to try something new.
I’d love to hear more of what you’re planning and see what you end up doing.
Joe
I’m with Spacemouse and Allegheny on this one: Why do you need anyone’s permission or input on it? Sure, there’s a vocal minority that insists that everything be prototypical, right down to the last rivet, but you don’t need them.
If if’s what you want to do, go do it with our blessing.
FWIW, I didn’t like the way “real” history treated the location I wanted to model, so I wrote an alternative history. Keep it internally consistent, and you can justify anything you want to do.