Thanks, the framework is actually an extension of a past Mik Challenge, The Silverfish. But that one I took the easier route of building it like an RC plane, with tissue over the framework. This Challenge I’m going to cover the framework with styrene which is going to be a much bigger challenge as I have to cut it to match curvatures. I’m planning to stretch paper over the framework and trace the shape then transfer that onto sheet styrene. We’ll see how that goes.
I had the same initial reaction, especially when the John Wayne Bobbit story came to mind for some reason. 
Vic, I love your design, super clever.
I like how you’re using the boiler as merely a srtuctural support, very bold. 
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I think I’m going to be spending the next 2 weeks puttying and sanding that small area on top until its smooth. What i really need is a vacuform machine but too late for that. I might have a heat gun in the garage (if I can find it) that I can try and shape a sheet of styrene over one of the extra styrofoam balls.
i would doubt that. the styrofoam would melt before the styrene.
what speaks against plaster hole filler and sanding it down?
Korm, I was going to glue down the ball, heat just the styrene sheet then place it over the ball. I only needed a 1/4 of the sphere, but I checked an my heat gun is busted so I’m back to painters putty and sanding. On layer 3 its coming along just very slowly. Luckily the putty dries in about an hour and sands well.
Wayne, let me think about that 
You obliviously did not have a Vac-U-Form when you were a kid. You didn’t experience breathing toxic plastic vapors or making scary bugs.
Ok Wayne!
Vapours you say?
With that recommendation, I’m putting it on my to buy list.
That’s nuthin. From the Wikipedia description, this kit contained "four glass jars containing natural uranium-bearing (U-238) ore samples (autunite, torbernite, uraninite, and carnotite
Sorry, I digress… Vic, you bet, heated clear plex. And you can always say “I didn’t inhale.” 
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Wayne
I remember a friend who that one of these, I also remember him not having it very long because being completely irresponsible dummass kids we all got some pretty serious burns from these pretty quickly
Cliff, I would still love to monkey around with that
The heated plex, or U-238? 
You are right, I didn’t have that kit, but a kid in the neighborhood did. We all took them out and held them in our hands, I guess because the directions said not to do that. Another kid had the molds and heat pot to make lead soldiers. I used carbon tetrachloride to clean the contacts of the Thunderjet slot cars.
More hazardous fun was the glass bottle of liquid mercury. Move it all around the cardboard you had it sitting on with a magnet. Cleaning up what spilled was also troublesome.
Why not both
Wow, your project is coming along nicely. It will be neat to see that streamliner screaming down the tracks.
Our Junior High School Science teacher used to demonstrate the cloud chamber and you could see the various paths of the three types of particles (alpha, beta, and gamma).
They also has a really cool Wimhurst machine and an 6" or 8" reflector telescope (Criterion) they used to demonstrate.
My Junior High School Science teacher used to try and demonstrate how they made Cornahol gas in the late 70’s. Then he asked questions about ways to save gas, so I raised my hand and suggested farting in a jar with a sealed lid. Later I was standing outside the room next to the water fountain until class was dismissed.
( sorry vic for the thread jack)