# Rocketeer finishes a bison model **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 29, 2016, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rocketeer-finishes-a-bison-model/744585 "2016-01-29T17:03:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Rocketeer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocketeer/32/4437_2.png) [@Rocketeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rocketeer)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2016, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rocketeer-finishes-a-bison-model/744585/1 "2016-01-29T17:03:30Z")
Back in September, I posted a few pictures of my latest model project, Thomas Edison Jr’s Giant Steam Bison of the Plains. The Giant Steam Bison started when my eye fell on a half-finished Atlantis-brand American Bison kit (a repop of the old Aurora kit), and I started thinking about the old proto-sci-fi dime novels about Frank Reade’s Giant Steam Man or Mechanical Bull Elephant or whatever. As usual, the project got wildly out of control, but by gum, it’s finished! The scale is HO, 1/87th. There are bits and pieces from everywhere in it, including some plastic wargame figure stuff (the mechanical legs), some locomotive bits (the powerplant), and quite a bit of ready-made building details (windows, etc). I ended up building most of the furniture from scratch; ready-made furniture was generally too large, and whoa-baby expensive. But the comfy armchairs in the lounge are ready-made; they were just too Victorian not to use. 🙂 One of the most fun parts was designing and photoetching my own spiral staircase. Most of the figures are ready-made, except for the cowboy, who’s a fairly extensive conversion. Anyway, enough blah blah blah; here are some pictures for you guys: [Left side view](http://i193.photobucket.com/albums/z256/hilbyf/Steam%20Bison/file_zpswnliz6hc.jpg) [Right side view](http://i193.photobucket.com/albums/z256/hilbyf/Steam%20Bison/file_zps5ypabci3.jpg) [Interior & howdahs](http://i193.photobucket.com/albums/z256/hilbyf/Steam%20Bison/file_zps3d5gmics.jpg) [Lounge](http://i193.photobucket.com/albums/z256/hilbyf/Steam%20Bison/file_zpsq1keqdia.jpg) [Second class berth (that suitcase in the foreground gave me no end of trouble)](http://i193.photobucket.com/albums/z256/hilbyf/Steam%20Bison/file_zps1nxtn6jh.jpg) [Kitchen](http://i193.photobucket.com/albums/z256/hilbyf/Steam%20Bison/file_zpskcjhdgfh.jpg) [First class cabin](http://i193.photobucket.com/albums/z256/hilbyf/Steam%20Bison/file_zpsqe1basr1.jpg) [Cafe](http://i193.photobucket.com/albums/z256/hilbyf/Steam%20Bison/file_zpsfogsbntc.jpg) [Bemused jackelope sitting on a hoodoo (hoodoo hoodoo hoodoo)](http://i193.photobucket.com/albums/z256/hilbyf/Steam%20Bison/file_zpsq3tuyvce.jpg) […and an excited onlooker!](http://i193.photobucket.com/albums/z256/hilbyf/Steam%20Bison/file_zpsv81wa0js.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2016, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rocketeer-finishes-a-bison-model/744585/2 "2016-01-29T17:09:59Z")
Rocketeer - I am clicking on the links and getting a Please Wait while We do Maintenance sign at Photobucket. Always enjoy your work; looking forward to seeing this one. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2016, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rocketeer-finishes-a-bison-model/744585/3 "2016-01-29T17:25:03Z")
That’s one hell of a life-like kitten. And animatronic, too! Looking forward to seeing the actual model when Photobucket is back up. ---
**Author:** ![Rocketeer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocketeer/32/4437_2.png) [@Rocketeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rocketeer)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2016, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rocketeer-finishes-a-bison-model/744585/4 "2016-01-29T17:34:11Z")
Hmmmm; you’re right. The links work for me, but I suppose that’s because the pages are in my cache. I tried accessing Photobucket directly and got the spinny ball of death; so I guess the only thing to do is wait. Darn. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2016, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rocketeer-finishes-a-bison-model/744585/5 "2016-01-29T19:42:43Z")
> [@Rocketeer](#): > > Hmmmm; you’re right. The links work for me, but I suppose that’s because the pages are in my cache. I tried accessing Photobucket directly and got the spinny ball of death; so I guess the only thing to do is wait. Darn. ☹ Sorry, I don’t have that much time. It’s taken several minutes so far with no result. ---
**Author:** ![Eureka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/74df32/32.png) [@Eureka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eureka)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2016, 12:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rocketeer-finishes-a-bison-model/744585/6 "2016-01-30T12:02:40Z")
The links are working fine for me this morning, and your bison is enchanting with a side of baffling. What a creative use of your time and energy. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2016, 12:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rocketeer-finishes-a-bison-model/744585/7 "2016-01-30T12:16:44Z")
I got to see the pics, too. Just wow. Amazing. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2016, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rocketeer-finishes-a-bison-model/744585/8 "2016-01-30T14:14:11Z")
Rocketeer, your cat picture links are broken 🙂 But let me say that is way cool, and you’ve made me realize I have wasted my life not doing something like that. ---
**Author:** ![Digital\_is\_the\_new\_Analog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a88e4f/32.png) [@Digital\_is\_the\_new\_Analog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Digital_is_the_new_Analog)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2016, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rocketeer-finishes-a-bison-model/744585/9 "2016-01-30T16:50:47Z")
Wow is too weak a word. Very nice work! I like having stuff like this around, because there’s always something new to notice. ---
**Author:** ![kayT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayt/32/3633_2.png) [@kayT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayT)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2016, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rocketeer-finishes-a-bison-model/744585/10 "2016-01-30T17:00:17Z")
I love your steam bison! Totally awesome. I agree with **Digital** , always something new to notice. Also I always love how photobucket offers suggestions about things to do with your photos. A Steam Bison calendar would be very cool, but please tell me you’re going for the Steam Bison holiday greeting cards for next xmas. I’ve been trying to think of what the greeting inside should be… ---
**Author:** ![Tangent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tangent/32/3098_2.png) [@Tangent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tangent)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2016, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rocketeer-finishes-a-bison-model/744585/11 "2016-01-30T17:15:22Z")
Very cool project and nice photos! If I might make a suggestion–in one of the ‘wide shot’ photos, include some common object (coin, key, pencil, what-have-you) next to the model to give us a sense of scale. ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2016, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rocketeer-finishes-a-bison-model/744585/12 "2016-01-30T17:30:58Z")
That is cool as all get out. Question: what ever made you think of such a thing!? ---
**Author:** ![Rocketeer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocketeer/32/4437_2.png) [@Rocketeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rocketeer)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2016, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rocketeer-finishes-a-bison-model/744585/13 "2016-01-31T22:26:21Z")
Thanks for the kind comments, guys! > [@Tangent](#): > > Very cool project and nice photos! > > If I might make a suggestion–in one of the ‘wide shot’ photos, include some common object (coin, key, pencil, what-have-you) next to the model to give us a sense of scale. Yeah, I should’ve done that–but for now, it might help to know that an HO-scale human is about an inch high; that is, about as tall as a quarter coin. > [@White SIFL](#): > > That is cool as all get out. Question: what ever made you think of such a thing!? You know how it is: You stock your imagination with all sorts of stuff, and once in a while, something worthwhile pops out 😉 I think the main influences were having heard of the 1800s dime-novel adventures like “Frank Reade and his Steam Man”, and having once seen pictures of a Visible Trout that a fellow had turned into a nuclear-era Canadian navy “experimental submarine”. ---
**Author:** ![Rocketeer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocketeer/32/4437_2.png) [@Rocketeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rocketeer)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2016, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rocketeer-finishes-a-bison-model/744585/14 "2016-01-31T22:28:02Z")
> [@kayT](#): > > …Also I always love how photobucket offers suggestions about things to do with your photos. A Steam Bison calendar would be very cool, but please tell me you’re going for the Steam Bison holiday greeting cards for next xmas. I’ve been trying to think of what the greeting inside should be… 😃 If you come up with anything, let me know 😉🙂🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2016, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rocketeer-finishes-a-bison-model/744585/15 "2016-01-31T22:43:04Z")
I’d probably pay admission to tour your workshop. And I’m the cheapest SOB alive! Well done, Sir! (or Madam) ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2016, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rocketeer-finishes-a-bison-model/744585/16 "2016-02-01T00:32:17Z")
Looks like it’d be a bumpy ride! :eek: 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Rocketeer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocketeer/32/4437_2.png) [@Rocketeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rocketeer)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2016, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rocketeer-finishes-a-bison-model/744585/17 "2016-02-01T00:40:17Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > Looks like it’d be a bumpy ride! :eek: 😉 A gentle rollicking motion: Ka-WHOOMP! Ka-WHOOMP! Ka-WHOOMP! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Isamu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/7c8e57/32.png) [@Isamu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isamu)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2016, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rocketeer-finishes-a-bison-model/744585/18 "2016-02-01T01:17:14Z")
Very realistsic detail for 1:87 scale! What kind of glasses do you use? ---
**Author:** ![Rocketeer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocketeer/32/4437_2.png) [@Rocketeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rocketeer)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2016, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rocketeer-finishes-a-bison-model/744585/19 "2016-02-01T04:02:18Z")
> [@Isamu](#): > > …What kind of glasses do you use? Well, when I was younger, I used an Optivisor, which is a marvel; the magnification really lets you step up your game. Your hands can do really fine work, once you can see what you’re doing. Now that I’m …older… I use reading glasses and an Optivisor :rolleyes: 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Rocketeer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocketeer/32/4437_2.png) [@Rocketeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rocketeer)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2018, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rocketeer-finishes-a-bison-model/744585/20 "2018-10-27T17:49:15Z")
Since Photobucket is…unreliable, here’s a link to [a Flickr album of Bison pictures.](https://www.flickr.com/photos/150559382@N07/albums/72157687664320250) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rocketeer-finishes-a-bison-model/744585.md?page=2)