Here is the dilemma; sixty of the moons are so small that at scale they would appear as a grain of salt or smaller. Even if I could mount them there would be so many arms it would be almost solid and as most of them are in outer orbits the model would appear more like Saturn. Soooo we will take some artistic licence and endeavor to place them in an aesthetically pleasing manner that is still representative. Next, we want to make this with a "steam punk" flair. It has been noted by some lately that applying random cogs and gears and slapping on a coat of copper paint does not steam punk make. I agree and while this is intended as a non-functional piece of art I would like the "hardware" to again represent a logical reason for being there.
Let's start this build! Jupiter will be an eight inch spun aluminium gazing ball one can purchase at most any hardware/garden store. For the pedestal I am going to use a piece of column from a vintage art deco floor lamp. If this were a functional orrery it would require a mechanical means to rotate the moons around the planet so I an going to set the sphere atop a gear I located at a local garage and cleaned-up with my sand blast cabinet.
The base will need to be heavy enough to provide stability to the orrery that will probably be about twenty inches tall and equally as wide. I am thinking of using another gear that might have provided the planet with its own revolution providing the gravity required to keep all its moons in orbit. This gear will undoubtably sit on a wooden base that will be stained in a yet to be determined color.
Well enough for day one now it is time to go spend some quality time with my lady so until next time keep imagining.
15 December 2011
Ok then, I was cutting the top portion of the lamp pedestal so the ball would fit better and also lower the overall height. The cutting disc broke caught the pedestal and slapped the hand I was holding it with against the saw frame Damn that hurt but I frequently tell the students "make like a civil engineer, build a bridge and get over it" so I am eating my words and I'm over it... but, it still hurts. I am liking the look of this for starters and looking forward to the next two weeks of winter break for plenty of time to play.
17 December 2011
So after a late night (early morning) with my lovely wife at her company Christmas party I have had my coffee and am ready to start. I cut another two inches of the pedestal this time without inflicting bodily harm upon myself.
This was to accommodate the smaller gear that would be used to orbit the moons around Jupiter.
I am very pleased with the proportions and appearance at this point.
I need to cut and drill the wooden base that will hold the larger gear that might have provided the planetary revolution and supports the pedestal and orrery. I am going to secure all the parts mechanically with all thread, nuts, and lock washers. That being said, the next step will be to drill a hole in the gazing ball to install a wall anchor with which to screw in the all thread. Then I will need to drill holes in the smaller gear to accept eight arms that will eventually support the moons. So it is off to the hardware store for a carbide bit and anchor. When I return our local steam punk society is going to see the latest Sherlock Holmes so I will probably call it a day. The boss is working tomorrow so if it pleases the dogs I will attempt to make more progress in the AM.
19 December 2011
After several attempts I finally got the dry wall anchor firmly inserted/attached and test fitted the assembly with success.
I've tried to drill holes in the small gear for the eight arms but every attempt has been an epic fail. Tungsten, carbide, and a couple others don't even make a dent so it appears I must develop a plan B. Perhaps spot welding eight small nuts and then cutting threads into the rod ends. I gotta give this some thought. I found some small gears with which to embellish the pedestal. I think these will add depth and a little steam punk flavor. Off to the atelier to see what kind of trouble I can get into today.
20 December 2011
I cut eight slots in the small gear to accept telescopic tubes that will eventually hold the arms supporting the moons.
Next I painted the gazing ball. I sprayed it with a hammered brown then spun it with a drill while I stripped it with gold and silver. As I finished the stripping I took my finger off the drill so it stopped immediately, however the momentum spun the ball off the all thread and it went bouncing across the driveway. After a few choice words acquired over twenty plus years in the Navy, I took it down to bare metal and started anew. I am happy with the outcome. I will need to airbrush the "giant red spot" onto the globe and we will call it Jupiter.
21 December 2011
After expending much time and more gas doing "seasonal" things I am here with the dogs and the women folk are out doing retail therapy. As I suspected, it hasn't been an especially productive day but, I did paint the four Galilean moons.
Welcome Io, Europa, Ganymede and Callisto. These are really Jupiter's only spherical moons. The other sixty are basically rocks with the four largest; Metis, Adrastea, Amalthea, and Thebe being the "inner moons." The largest of the inner moons is Thebe at 100km in diameter in relation to Europa the smallest outer moon at 3,122km. The remaining fifty-six are all less than 5km. Are we beginning to see the predicament involved placing them with the added bonus being that all of them have erratic/non-eliptical orbital paths. Speaking of moons, the one outside the window is whispering it is time to call it a day.
23 December 2011
I put together a working model to see how the colors would look together. It is quite a bit larger than the "minis" but still only less than five inches tall. I like the colors and can't wait to start on the moons for the big one.
30 December 2011
So after a few days off I started back to work on Jupiter. I painted the pedestal and sealed it with polyurethane as well as the gears and wooden base. Once it is dry (probably in the a.m.) I can fasten it all together and start installing the moons. The eight large moons will sit atop individual copper rods which go very well with the overall color of the piece. The other fifty-six will be affixed to eight pieces of wire arched to represent the rings around the planet. I am trying for as near invisibility as possible but lets face it the little buggers just refuse to levitate so wire seems to be the only solution. Since there is a ring around Jupiter I think this will be more aesthetically appealing than myriad of individual arms. The eight arms fit into numbered tubes on the top gear and are "pinned" to keep them from spinning. This should make it quite easy to assemble/disassemble especially for shipping. Jupiter attaches by just spinning it onto the threaded rod in the top gear. Barring any unforeseen events it should be ready to find its new home in about a week.
31 December 2011
Go ahead and count 'em folks cause all sixty-four are there. A bird's eye view is the only way you will see them all so there it is. The last thing to do is airbrush the "eye" and spin on Jupiter (which I have done earlier to gauge the positioning of the arches.)
Overall I am happy and you can judge for yourself whether or not I was successful when I post tomorrow's pics.
Overall I am happy and you can judge for yourself whether or not I was successful when I post tomorrow's pics.
Party hearty but be safe.
1 January 2012
Since Janus and Jupiter were co-existant and often invoked together it is an all together not inappropriate day to unveil the completed orrery.
first quadrant second quadrant
third quadrant fourth quadrant
a bird's eye view
detail of the base
detail of the upper pedestal
