Chris Walas.... Doctor Crankensteam.....

Doctor Crankensteam's home is deep in a far corner of Rogue County, where Count Trackula lives (Trainsylvania). His life's work is spent in the attempt to create new and different uses and applications of steam! This is just one of his many (yet to be revealed) creations!


It's built on a battery toy car chassis, one of the New Bright ones. It trundles along nicely on one AA battery.


There's a lot of fun in throwing these little things together. The fact that it doesn't have a prototype means I can glue anything together! The great thing about these little fantasies is that they ARE the prototype so the number of rivets HAS to be right!


The paint scheme is simplicity itself; Basic flat black overall, two coats of acrylic rust, then drybrushing with Liquitex metallic brass.


The fun part is that I finished it in less then 6 hrs...thank goodness for paint!


Well, that vapor mad Dr. Crankensteam is at it again! He's developed a steam driven bathysphere to explore the ocean's deepest mysteries. He calls it the ANGLERFISH!

This is actually a test for me. I'm trying to come up with a more cartoony look for one of the Fairplex Futuropolis trains.


The Anglerfish is powered by a for real, old Stomper and it's made almost entirely out of styrofoam. The rivets are drops of Titebond II. The windows need a few more coats of gloss to cover the foam texture, I see by these photos!
Still, with a little more work, I think I can get the look I'm after. It sure is fun to have these little battery car chassis around. Easy to get inspired to do silly stuff!