The Steampunk Adventurer's Guide: Contraptions, Creations, and Curiosities Anyone Can Make

The Steampunk Adventurer's Guide: Contraptions, Creations, and Curiosities Anyone Can Make

Released October 2013
Publisher(s): McGraw-Hill/TAB Electronics
ISBN: 9780071827850

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Book description

Fascinatingly Fun, Family-Friendly Steampunk Projects

"Here’s a Steampunk tale with an invitation to build Steampunk props. An interactive notion; an imaginative adventure; and a way to further stimulate your own imagination." -- From the Foreword by David Silverman, director and producer of The Simpsons Movie and codirector of Monsters, Inc.

Steampunk stalwart Thomas Willeford cordially invites you on an adventure--one in which you get to build ingenious devices of your own! Lavishly illustrated by award-winning cartoonist Phil Foglio, The Steampunk Adventurer's Guide: Contraptions, Creations, and Curiosities Anyone Can Make presents 10 intriguing projects ideal for makers of all ages and skill levels, woven into an epic tale of mystery and pursuit.

Follow the exploits of Isaac and Amelia, a brother and sister who must devise a series of beguiling gizmos to rescue their uncle from a skyship that's been commandeered by a nefarious villain and his rogue automatons. Each chapter contains an installment of this captivating story along with the step-by-step instructions and list of tools and materials you'll need to create the featured gadgets.

Discover how to forge these imaginative contraptions:

  • Decoder armguard
  • Signaling periscope
  • Goggles
  • Grappling hook launcher
  • Airship harness
  • Glider wings
  • Rivet gun
  • Power armor
  • Magnetic amplification gauntlet
  • Rocket pack

Table of contents

  1. Cover
  2. About the Author
  3. The Steampunk Adventurer’s Guide: Contraptions, Creations, and Curiosities Anyone Can Make
  4. Copyright Page
  5. Dedication
  6. Contents
  7. A Foreword of Sorts—All Sorts
  8. Agents and Accomplices
  9. Meanwhile, in an Underground Lair
  10. Part the First Before We Begin
    1. Chapter 1 What Is Steampunk?
      1. Alternative History
      2. Retro-Futurism/Modernism
      3. What Steampunk Is Not (“Cog on a Stick”)
    2. Chapter 2 Tools of the Modern Mad Scientist . . . and Materials, Too
      1. Tools
      2. Materials
      3. A Material to Make: Fleather—the Latest Thing in Mad Science!
      4. Embellishments
      5. Embellishments to Make
    3. Chapter 3 You’ll Shoot Your Eye Out!
      1. Sharp Things
      2. Other Dangers
  11. Part the Second The Adventure
    1. Chapter 4 Decoder Armguard Wherein our heroes get the message
      1. Build the Decoder Armguard
        1. Step 1: The Armguard Base
        2. Step 2: Bits and Pieces
        3. Step 3: The Code
        4. Step 4: The Decoder Mechanism
        5. Step 5: Odds and Ends
    2. Chapter 5 Signaling Periscope Wherein our heroes pass the message along
      1. Build the Signaling Periscope
        1. Step 1: Cut Out Your Pieces
        2. Step 2: Put the Pieces Together
        3. Step 3: Install the Lights
        4. Step 4: Finish It Off
    3. Chapter 6 Goggles Wherein our heroes prepare for a trip
      1. Build the Goggles
        1. Step 1: Cut the Gasket Pieces
        2. Step 2: Prepare the Lenses
        3. Step 3: Assemble the Gaskets and Lenses
        4. Step 4: Embellish Your Goggles
    4. Chapter 7 Grappling Hook Launcher Wherein our heroes get a lift
      1. Make the Grappling Hook Launcher
        1. Step 1: Cut Your Pipe Sections
        2. Step 2: Assemble the Launcher Mechanism
        3. Step 3: Flesh It Out
        4. Step 4: The Tank
        5. Step 5: The Grappling Hook
        6. Step 6: The Shaft
        7. Step 7: Embellishments
    5. Chapter 8 Airship Harness Wherein our heroes fly by night
      1. Make an Airship Harness
        1. Step 1: Make a Strap
        2. Step 2: From Strap to Belt
        3. Step 3: The Back Strap
        4. Step 4: Shoulder Straps
        5. Step 5: The Up Straps
    6. Chapter 9 Glider Wings Wherein our heroes get separated
      1. Build a Pair of Glider Wings
        1. Step 1: Lay Out the Patterns
        2. Step 2: Cut Part 1 of the Wings
        3. Step 3: Cut Part 2 of the Wings
        4. Step 4: Cut Part 3 of the Wings
        5. Step 5: Embellish the Wings
        6. Step 6: Assemble the Wings
        7. Step 7: The Harness
        8. Step 8: Mount the Wings
    7. Chapter 10 Rivet Gun (Modded Nerf Blaster) Wherein our heroes get stranded
      1. Build the Rivet Gun
        1. Step 1: Paint the Gun
        2. Step 2: The Handle
        3. Step 3: The Slide
        4. Step 4: The Top Ridge
        5. Step 5: The Magazine
        6. Step 6: The Barrel
        7. Step 7: Further Embellishment
    8. Chapter 11 Power Armor and Magnetic Amplification Gauntlet Wherein our heroes are reunited
      1. Build the Power Armor
        1. Step 1: The Chest Plate
        2. Step 2: A Bit of Armor
        3. Step 3: Make the Belt
        4. Step 4: Make the Riveting Details
        5. Step 5: Form the Chest Plate
        6. Step 6: The Gauge
        7. Step 7: The Back Plate
        8. Step 8: Strapping
        9. Step 9: Finishing Touches on the Body Armor
        10. Step 10: Shoulders
        11. Step 11: Arm Pieces
        12. Step 12: Embellishments
      2. Build the Magnetic Amplification Gauntlet
        1. Step 1: Cut Out Your Patterns
        2. Step 2: The Base of the Arm Guard
        3. Step 3: The Grill
        4. Step 4: Put Them Together
        5. Step 5: Steampunk Tailoring for the Arm Guard
        6. Step 6: Hand and Knuckle Guards
        7. Step 7: Put It All Together
        8. Step 8: Embellishments
    9. Chapter 12 Rocket Pack Wherein our heroes visit their uncle
      1. Build the Rocket Pack
        1. Step 1: Prepare the Bottles for Painting
        2. Step 2: Paint
        3. Step 3: The Mounting Plate and Harness
        4. Step 4: Decorate the Tanks
        5. Step 5: Attach the Tanks to the Mounting Plate
        6. Step 6: Attach the Nozzles
        7. Step 7: Embellishments
    10. Chapter 13 Epilogue Wherein our heroes escape
  12. Part the Third Hastily Scribbled Laboratory Notes
    1. Appendix A This Way Lies Madness
      1. Further Reading
      2. Viewing
      3. Music
      4. Games
      5. Merchandise
    2. Appendix B Dramatis Personae
      1. Easter Eggs
    3. Appendix C For the Brilliant but Mathematically Challenged Mad Scientist
      1. Metric to U.S. Conversions (Length)
      2. U.S. to Metric Conversions (Length)
      3. Conversion Chart: Fraction/Decimal/Millimeter
  13. Final Thoughts
  14. Master Patterns
  15. Index

Product information

  • Title: The Steampunk Adventurer's Guide: Contraptions, Creations, and Curiosities Anyone Can Make
  • Author(s):
  • Release date: October 2013
  • Publisher(s): McGraw-Hill/TAB Electronics
  • ISBN: 9780071827850