Datamancer , otherwise known as Rich Nagy , is the top Maker of customs steampunk object around today . He create my personal favorite , theSteampunk Laptop , as well as theOpti - Transcripticon steampunk scannerand the awesomely - namedNagy Magical - transportable - Type Pixello - Dynamotronic Computational Engine , one of the craziest microcomputer casing mod around . We catch up with him to postulate about his trade , and solicit him for an exclusive snitch peak of his next labor , the Tesla Cane .
https://gizmodo.com/steampunk-laptop-reminds-us-why-steampunk-is-cool-318191
Gizmodo : When did you first get into creating steampunk target ? What was your first project ? How do your early projects equate to your newest ?
Datamancer : I guess my first major “ steampunk ” modding project was The Nagy Magical - Movable - Type Pixello - Dynamotronic Computational Engine . I set out that one several twelvemonth ago as a nonaged pillowcase mod ( just the PC case ) and the project kept growing beneath me until it became the adorably awkward behemoth it is today .
I think the last two year or so have marked my great betterment in both fictionalization and design skill . I look back at some of my senior task now and am in reality a trivial embarrassed by some of the flaws in them . I ’ve always been a half - hearted tinkerer and customizer of all things , but I did n’t really “ tune ” my science to customs fabrication until somewhat recently . I call up the steampunk “ modding ” pigboat - movement definitely inhale me to greater heights and caused me to devote much more meter to the thing I now realise I was probably intend to do .
gravitational constant : What sources do you take out the most inhalation from for your projects ?
D : I believe some of my earliest influences were the prop of the Terry Gilliam motion picture , Brazil , and The Difference Engine novel by Bruce Sterling and William Gibson . I ca n’t retrieve where I first heard the full term “ steampunk , ” but I retrieve that there were only about 10 results for it on Google at the time . I conceive it could have been from my former teen age where I encounter a part - play plot bear the same name and thumbed through the biz books .
now , I love walking around outmoded shops and see how thing were built in the old day , when objects were made to last . I make notes of little flourish and decorative elements that catch my oculus and attempt to see how the items are put together ( much to the discouragement of the shop owner , sometimes ) . late I ’ve been recover a lot of brainchild on theBrass Goggles Blog and Forumwhich has get into a keen picayune community of friendly and creative multitude who divvy up all their cool steampunk findings and creation . I also love clicking through theAetheremporium , which is a great collection of steampunk links , and pitch throughSteampunk Magazine .
Most of all , I love seeing what my fellow builder likeJake von Slatt , Crab - fu , Jake “ of all trades ” Hildebrandt , AlexCF , Professor Fzz , etc . ( too many to number ! ) are up to . We all seem to traverse - prompt each other and promote each other to bully heights .
gm : How long does it take you to do most of your projects ?
D : It depends on the project and whether or not I have someone baby-sit around waiting for it . In the past tense , I ’d ordinarily have about seven different projection in the works at once and bouncing between them in a blur of tackle ADD . I ’d hit a parts delay on one , jump to the next , then get an idea for another , jump over to that for a while , take a hop back to the first , etc . In that attentiveness , the projects almost check their own timeline . Now that I ’ve gotten into deadlined commission piece of work , I ’ve had to concenter my effort and learn to wield my time a little more efficiently . Even so , most of my task have become very detailed and still take quite a while to discharge . My keyboards take about a month to build after all of the cutting , filing , sanding , and hand - shining of the alloy frame , finding materials , modifying and fabricating the 105 typewriter keys , making the spacebars , cut the faceplates , forum , testing , etc . , etc .
gibibyte : What dick do you use ?
I really do n’t have ( ca n’t afford ) very many “ strong point ” fiction tools like lathe and pulverization . I mostly just use a circumstances of commonly uncommitted hardware - fund tools and if I need one to do something strange , I build custom jigs , spacers and mount for them . I find that older tools are great for that kind of affair . Old pecker seem like they were almost made to be modded . There ’s always some small setting , tab , or removable faceplate on them that countenance you bolt - on some customs contraption or guide on meeting place . You do n’t need some fancy shop class to establish cool stuff . To be honest , most of my work is done on an old umber board in my cellar or on a homemade bench in the back of my one - motorcar service department .
GiB : Have you ever consider creating a portable steampunk object , such as a music player ? What challenge would you face modding something that minuscule ?
D : I ’ve in reality been adumbrate some designs for a steampunked iPod built out of an old pocket vigil . The wires for the earphone will be draw through a gold chain that could be clip to your lapel or onto a swath loop if you ’d want to in reality put it in the “ picket pocket ” of your denim ( yes , that ’s what that little pocket was originally signify for ) .
Naturally , modding the electronics of new , diminutive devices stick more difficulties than computers or large twist . All of the component are in that near - microscopic , sub - micro - PCB - backing data format and all of the cables and connecter are tinier , but it ’s still doable . From a design standpoint , it ’s difficult to modify minor devices like cellphone , PDAs and MP3 participant without ruining the intrinsic convenience and portability of the gimmick . It ’s always difficult to balance form and function in a mod , but portable gimmick make that chore even harder .
G : What do you have planned for your next projection ?
D : I was thinking global domination , then mayhap a unclouded tiffin . No , I think my next prompt projection is arrange up a decent shop . After that , I design to construct some more nerveless contraptions like full desktop PC suites with matching monitor , cases , mice ( mouses ? ) , scanners , printers , etc . I also have a few ideas repose out for major hot rod figure and maybe even a custom motorcycle . I ’d wish to use my art to fund some full - on , no - gimcrackery applied science project and move my style into actual heavy science , if potential . Who knows where all of that will bring me ? mayhap I ’ll get my pilot ’s license and build an elaborate , disturbed dirigible dirigible in the style of a Spanish galleon .
One labor I ’ve been playing with for a while whenever I get a spare moment is something I ’m loosely call “ The Tesla Cane . ” For a picayune while , it seemed like almost every steampunk tinker was building a cane of some sort , so we all had a running joke about these being “ Steampunk Signature Cane ” projects ( like a Jedi ’s lightsaber ) , so I decided to try my hand at it .
I start out with a black sword cane because it was hollow , cut the sword poor and used the nub of the blade to secure a long , close barrage pack that slides inside and power a mini 3 - inch plasma earth up top . For the globe , I had to experience the king supply in one-half and move a few thing around to make it sparse enough to fit inside the cane head . The ball is going to be housed inside a steel cage like the protective cage on detonation - proof industrial light fixtures . To complete the high - voltage melodic theme , I ’m go to build an 800,000 - V stun truncheon into the bottom of the cane with prongs that will slide out and gallop past the gumshoe cane foot , then retract after use .
Thanks so much to Rich for satisfying our rarity and giving us that sneak peep of the Tesla Cane ! [ Datamancer ]
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