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siarven · 5 years

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11/11/11 Tag

Tagged by @fatal-blow, thank you!! <333

there are so many tag things waiting for me and I’m procrastinating everything but this looks fun so here we go!

1. How many wips do you have going on right now?

Uhhhh.....in terms of active wips I have two! As Dreams Collide and Like Dragons of Old. Though Dreams is more active than Dragons, right now, because dammit I have to finish something once. Both are the first in a trilogy, but Dragons is probably going to escalate very badly and be 400k long. I hope Dreams stays under 200k XD

Counting on-hold WIPs all in all I have ... 9? I bet none of them will stay standalones, so ... far too many. :’D Whyyyy can’t I do short things.

2. Loud clicky keyboards or quiet keyboards?

Hmm I started typing “quiet keyboard” but then realized that mine clicks pretty loudly so I guess.... I like keyboard sounds? XD

3. Who was your first OC?

That is a very good question. I don’t really remember? I’ve never written fanfic so all characters in all my stories were original (well, sort of, some were very similar to characters from my latest fave book.... xD) I told myself stories long before I could write... I think it might have been a tiger xDDD

I think my “first proper” OC is Ilien, who’s been ghosting through my stories for a pretty long time now. He’s now one of the main characters in Firewings, an immortal, 500-year-old sort-of-mercenary who is known by others as “fog rider” (It sounds better in German...) and most people think he’s a myth. He wears only white and runs around at night killing poeple-eating monsters and saving those stupid enough to be caught by them. Firewings sort of grew around him and his accidentally-adopted-daughter :D

4. Are there any common themes that come up in a lot of wips or characters?

I really, really love hope punk since its creation last year! I think the theme in that would be ... weaponized kindness and compassion and hope? xD

Grey morality is 100% my thing

I usually have some sort of dragon in any given story, does that count as a theme?

Also, really mean, creative magic systems and the cost of power

I love the found family trope :’3

platonic love!!!!!!! (but also all other kinds of love)

stories!

uhhhh probably more but I can’t think of anything

5. Are there any genres you currently write for now that you never thought you would write for when you first started?

Uhhh not really xD I’ve always loved fantasy stories and my stories are still mostly fantasy xD

6. Do you typically spend more time developing/creating protagonists or antagonists?

Hmm I think it’s definitely protagonists xD I usually start developing them far earlier, too, and then the antagonists sort of come after xD

7. Do you have a line you’ve written that you really like? Post it if you do!

I can’t think of one right now, probably because the only thing I’ve written during this past month has been an “Overly Detailed Outline” of As Dreams Collide. XD

8. When you’re coming up with a new wip, where do you usually find inspiration?

There are so many ways! Usually it starts with a character, or a place, or a concept, and then it grows around that. Or “what if”s! I also really like pinterest for character/place/mood inspiration :3 I’ve found that my most creative ideas usually come from non-fiction talks, novels, or documentaries (or travelling). Especially when these things are about something connected to nature :3

As Dreams Collide started with a certain “mood” and an image I had in my head back in 12th grade, which I then wrote down, made a short story out of, and then it turned into a novel during NaNoWriMo 2014. It’s something completely different now and even that original mood and image are gone, but it’s grown with its characters and the world and I really like where it’s going. The original idea was quite similar to a lot of other things, which was fine... but it’s much more original now, and I really, really like that :3 Also it’s much more me than that original idea would’ve been xD

Like Dragons of Old started with the idea of a half-feral kid being raised among towering stacks of books in a library, with stories being a very important theme. (I got that idea from listening to a talk by Neil Gaiman about the importance of stories and, specifically, libraries). Then another kid emerged, who’d been born in the library, and LDOO evolved into a story of two children who loved each other more than anything else in the world, but would grow up to make a single different choice under the very same circumstances which would set them on drastically diverging paths, and who would end up as terrible enemies one day, while still loving each other.

I realized quite quickly that it would have to be a trilogy, and I also really liked the idea that they’d start out as kids and grow up in the first one, be apart from one another in the second, and be around 40 or 50 years old during the last book, when everything had escalated to its worst point and they would meet again on opposing sides.

Timbre and Selandri slowly turned into people, and the world(s) they would live in mostly emerged from inspirational photos and art that I found on pinterest :D

The magic system and gods came from a long brainstorming session, with me deciding in the beginning that it would be sound/music magic and tree gods, and then trying to figure out how to make that into a cool thing.

Onii, the phoenix who chooses to look like a chicken, happened because I really wanting a chicken in the story, but one who wouldn’t die from old age during it, and then she was suddenly a POV character x).

It’s grown out of a bunch of random ideas and images that have next to nothing in common which I really loved, and it’s now my fave WIP ever. I have all of those random mini-ideas and concepts written on small pieces of paper, and all of them are stuck together so I don’t loose them in the chaos XD

Usually my best ideas are things that have nothing in common, get put in a big pot, stirred thoroughly, and are somehow “cooked” into a coherent story x)

Hm, this escalated a bit whoops

9. Would you ever want to have writing as a career?

Yessssss

10. What is your ideal writing environment?

I have a desk and there I sit and type XD Bonus points if I can listen to film/game scores, or instrumental music. Extra bonus points when there’s a thunderstorm outside and I don’t have to leave the whole day and can just write. :’)

11. Pick your favorite question that I answered and answer it!

Well, you gave me the same questions, so... XD

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I’m an idiot and also lazy so you all get the same questions because they were very good questions and I want to know your answers :)

instead of question 11 you get: What are your favourite 3 books and why? (it’s a great way to find new books hehe :D all the unread books in my bookshelf sigh in horror)

I’m tagging @romenna @fynniana @madmoonink @kittensartswriting @raiswanson @paper-shield-and-wooden-sword @wilde-writing @theprissythumbelina @cirianne and anyone else who wants to x) Only if you want to, of course! :3

#about me #tag game #tagging game #11/11/11 tag #11/11/11

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jonathanbelloblog · 6 years

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So-Cal Speed Shop Builds a 1972 Bronco

For the uninitiated, Pete Chapouris was a legend in the world of hot rodding. Being one of the founders of Pete & Jake’s Hot Rod Shop, the landmark ‘1970/80s-era hot rod aftermarket parts and chassis business, Chapouris was among the best when combining professional-level promotion and showmanship with a high-quality parts business.

Throughout his 50-year career, Chapouris not only had a knack for developing and manufacturing hot rod parts that people needed but, along the way, he also opened up many new avenues for car enthusiasts to express themselves.

His history includes building hot rods for rock stars (with multiple vehicles for ZZ Top’s Billy Gibbons), restorations of iconic hot rods (including the Doane Spencer roadster), and vintage race cars, such as Alex Xydias’ So-Cal Speed Shop belly-tank racer from the January 1949 cover of HOT ROD.

It was through working with Xydias on the belly-tank restoration the next phase of Chapouris’ life would begin with the re-creation of the SO-CAL Speed Shop (located in Pomona, California), which included partnerships with GM on their Bonneville salt flat racers as well as multiple SO-CAL Shops franchises located across the United States. Cars built under Chapouris have been regularly featured for their design in museums and in retrospectives of the hobby, and one recently won the America’s Most Beautiful Roadster (AMBR) award at the 2012 Grand National Roadster Show, one of the highest honors for design and workmanship there is in the custom car world.

Looking at things in a new way was standard operating procedure for Chapouris, so when Sean Devine, a writer in his mid-30s, wanted Pete and the SO-CAL crew to rework his recent purchase, it opened up yet another avenue for Chapouris to become immersed.

Sean is the offspring of John Devine, a GM executive as well as a former customer of Pete’s (which included a ’66 Chevelle), and cars were always in Sean’s life one way or another. Looking for something a bit different, Sean wanted to upgrade a first-generation (1966-1977) Bronco in a way no one else had done- a job tailor-made for Chapouris. Under Pete’s guidance, Sean’s 1972 Bronco would become a hybrid of both the off-road and hot rod worlds.

Devine bought the truck online and, though worn out and under powered, its bones were pretty good, with straight metal and no rust to speak of. The build would encompass every aspect of the Bronco, from the suspension and drivetrain to body modifications, custom paint, and one-off upholstery.

Work began by boxing the frame with 3/16-inch plate and re-welding factory welds on the chassis. A new factory rearend went in, augmented with a limited slip differential, 31-spline axles, and a Hellwig anti-sway bar. Pro-Comp shocks and the rear brakes remain at stock specification, but the fronts are a retrofit using pieces from Tom’s Bronco Parts.

The spindles and steering are OEM (the box is a rebuilt ABS unit), though the brake master cylinder is upgraded with a CPP Hydra Stop unit, used in conjunction with Wilwood’s adjustable proportioning valve and an OEM pedal assembly. The gas tank is a 25-gallon unit from Tom’s Bronco Parts, and the hot rod steering column comes via Flaming River. It is topped with a factory steering wheel refurbished and redesigned by Gabe’s Custom Upholstery. The truck rolls on black Robby Gordon XD Series 17×9 wheels, wrapped in Toyo MP295/70R17 rubber.

For the powerplant, John Beck, a record-setting Bonneville and dry lakes racer who works at Vintage Hot Rod Design & Fabrication in Chico, California, started with a 5.0 block, and set it up for a displacement of 347 cubes using a 3.400-inch Eagle crank and 4.030-inch KB Performance pistons with Mahle rings. Comp Cams provided the timing set, ARP handled the main and head bolts, and the V-8 was topped with an Edlebrock intake, an MSD Atomic EFI, Spectre’s cold air intake tubing, a K&N air filter, MSD ignition and wires, Ford Motorsport valve covers, and a 100-amp alternator.

SO-CAL Speed Shop fab’d the exhaust system, and this Bronco’s exhaust note sounds like no other. The transmission is a C4 outfitted with a Dana transfer case, assembled by Remac Transmission in San Dimas using a B&M Pro-Ratchet shifter, a Tom’s Bronco Parts twin-stick, and a driveshaft from Reel Driveline.

One of the tricks Chapouris designed into the body was using a second set of front fender wheel openings that were sectioned into the opposite rear quarters (using the driver’s front on the passenger rear, and the passenger’s front on the driver’s rear). It stretches up the wheel openings just enough without being overtly noticeable, and SO-CAL’s Evin Veazie performed the meticulous metalwork. Other tricks include narrowing the bumpers, so the ends don’t extend beyond the edge of the body, and relocating the mounts so the bumpers now tuck in tight to the body.

After the body work was done, the Bronco was rolled next door to Mick’s Paint in Pomona, California, and several coats of PPG Mercedes Iridium Silver was applied. Once finished, a subtle goldenrod pinstripe was added by Murietta’s Dr. Design down the side just above the top reveal line, as well as some classic hot rod lines added to the glovebox door.

More hot rod influences can be found in the interior, with the aircraft gauges mounted on top of the dash’s face (rather than behind it), the light bar and Vintage Air AC controls hidden inside the glovebox, and nine more toggle switches mounted in three panels above the driver attached to the SO-CAL fab’d six-point roll cage.

Chapouris designed the interior, and the dash pad is covered in the same Ultra brown leather as used by Gabe’s Custom Upholstery on the outboard portion of the custom bucket seats. The inboard seat material is vintage Vietnam-era US Army canvas, with its minor color flaws intentional in their placement. Gabe’s also created the soft top for the Ford, though there is also a removable hardtop that Sean can use at his discretion.

Diamond Rubber Products made the Bronco’s floor covering and a ‘197 Chevy’s rear mirror was utilized, too. SO-CAL’s Justin Veazie wired up the ride, which included the Marshall amp converted into the bluetooth-based stereo’s speaker box that’s mounted under the dash. Before its final delivery, the Ford was turned over to Jon Ciauri, who added an external oil cooler to the transmission to help it run cool. He aldo did the final “tuning” on the truck’s wiring to get everything running as good as possible.

Once finished, Sean says “It was worth the wait.” Hoping to get it up on some Park City off-road trails near his home in Utah, Sean is aware of the truck’s historic pedigree because of Chapouris’ involvement, and the Bronco is something he’d like to give to his son one day as a fitting family heirloom.

The Bronco also proved to be the last project Chapouris would complete, as he passed away just three weeks after these photos were taken. But Pete’s legacy burns as bright as was his talent, and it’s vehicles like Sean’s that will be a perfect way to remember him for many years to come.

One of the body mods some folks don’t notice include using a second set of front wheel openings on the rear of the Bronco (the passenger front to the driver’s rear, and the driver’s front to the passenger’s rear).

A 347 Ford stroker motor built by John Beck was squeezed into the engine bay, allowing enough room for an MSD Atomic EFI system and Spectre air intake topped with a K&N air filter. The V8 mates to a C4 transmission outfitted with a Dana transfer case, assembled at Remec Transmission.

Ground clearance is aided by a lift kit. Pro Comp shocks are used on each corner, and a Hellwig anti-roll bar is used.

Seating was custom-made by Gabe’s Upholstery, who also covered the bench and buckets with Ultra leather around the edges and Vietnam-era Army canvas on the inner portion. A Marshall amplifier box was converted to the speaker box for the stereo.

Aircraft-style gauges mount to the face of the dash (rather than behind it), and a redesigned three-spoke steering wheel was stitched at Gabe’s Upholstery. The pinstripe color on the glovebox is carried over to the truck’s exterior, just above the body reveal.

A B&M Pro Ratchet shifter connects to the C4 transmission, while twin sticks from Tom’s Bronco Parts controls the four-wheel-drive. The mini Marshall amplifier was converted to a speaker box for the stereo.

Four-point latch-type safety belts were custom made by DJ Safety in Los Angeles, and used on both the front and rear seating. Canvas tote bags on the back of the buckets helps keep important papers intact.

A myriad of switches overhead control everything from starting the engine, the fuel pump, hazard lights, turn indicators, and a pair of dome lights.

The Mercedes Iridium Silver paint from PPG was sprayed at Mick’s Paint in Pomona, CA. The truck rolls on 17 x 9 Robby Gordon XD Series wheels wrapped in Toyo rubber.

Gabe’s Upholstery also created the canvas top for the Bronco, and full doors and a hardtop was also made for the vehicle.

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exdraghunt · 7 years

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NC MerMania 2017

Today I’m finally flying home from North Carolina, so I thought it was a good time to put together my con report from MerMania, which I attended last weekend.

I arrived Friday night, about an hour before the mixer. Found my roomie, got my room key and moved my stuff into the room no problem. First time I’ve been in a con hotel that’s provided a mini-fridge in the room. score!

A line to get registered at a convention is hardly anything knew, and this was honestly nothing compared to some cons I’ve attended. Reg got a bit of a late start due to computer issues, also nothing new for cons. It was still relatively painless to fill out paperwork and get my wristband and goodie bag and all. Plus, while hanging out in line I got to re-connect with a bunch of people I hadn’t seen since last year.

The mixer was fun. The food was a nice bonus, I wasn’t expecting to get fed. As was the booths set up for vendors. I was rather dissapointed at the lack of Karaoke. I practiced a song for this year and everything. I did, at least, get to do the craft swap. Gave away nearly all my square-knot bracelets. I’m glad they were well received by everyone! Plus, I got some cool stuff in return.

My big test this year was my new ears. I’ve long wanted to include pointed ears with my mer outfit, I’ve just never had the resources before this year. I got a pair of $5 latex ear-tips at Champion, painted them to be closer to my skin color, and stuck ‘em on with spirit glue. They were a surprisingly big hit! And, even better, actually stayed on through hours of swimming. I tested them in the water for the first time in the hotel pool Friday night and was very pleased to discovered they stayed put exactly where they were.

My one issue was that i could never get the center of them to stay stuck down, creating a very obvious gap that irked me all con. Oh well, time to drop a little more money on a nicer pair of ear tips.

I spent most of the first night in the hotel trying not to roll off the edge of the bed. Narrowest hotel bed I’ve ever slept in. Didn’t get much sleep in consequence, but I’m used to operating on very small amounts of sleep. I did, at least, have plenty of time to get my makeup on and everything together before heading out to the GAC.

Staying with a roommate with a car was the best thing ever, by the way. No begging for rides to and from the GAC this year. xD

God, I do love the pool at the GAC. 17 foot deep dive well, hell yeah. I did make the decision not to use the locker rooms at the pool this year, unlike last year. There was a swim meet happening, and I was not comfortable trying to share the locker room with a bunch of non-convention goers (mundanes). Especially not in North Carolina, where it’s illegal for me to use public changing rooms anyway.

The GAC did have a gender-neutral bathroom, which came as a pleasant surprise to me. It was all the way at the end of the hall, which meant a rather long walk to and from the pool, but it saved me from the usual anxiety attack that normally accompanies using a locker room for me. Being a bathroom, the gender neutral space lacked showers, but I knew there was a shower pool-side from last year, so that wasn’t a big deal.

I did hear from another trans con-goer that she had issues accessing the gender-neutral space due to the pool staff. Which. Why would you try to keep anyone from using a gender-neutral bathroom? That’s kind of the whole point of having one, that it’s open to everyone.

Had another odd encounter with a pool-staffer. While I was sitting and hanging poolside with some other queer merfolk, one came up and randomly decided to inform us that “this was a family venue, so no kissing or anything like that.”

I have to wonder if the staffer would’ve said the same thing to a heterosexual couple kissing poolside, or if we required such a reprimand just for being queer. Even odder, none of us was kissing, or even being physically affectionate. Just a real wtf moment.

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I didn’t attend any of the panels this year, just because there weren’t any that interested me. They all seemed very useful for other people, I must say. I also did want to attend the Mers of Color panel, but didn’t manage to get up early enough for it. I hope the people who did attend had a good time! Maybe next year we should have a panel about transgender, or LGBT merfolk in general.

I also chose not to attend the ball this year. It was a little out of my budget, and I must say I rarely have fun at them. The music just isn’t my jam, and if I don’t enjoy the music being played I know I won’t enjoy the evening. Instead, we played Cards Against Humanity up in the hotel room, and that was a real blast. I will never top the Haiku I managed to make for the “Make a Haiku Card”

Extremely Tight Pants

Exactly What You’d Expect

A Salty Surprise.

True poetry.

Sunday was another day spent mostly in the pool. I sat down to put my tail on, and immediately snapped one of the ankle-straps on my monofin. Because of course it would break at the con. Oh well, I should probably be glad it didn’t choose to break Saturday.

I was worried about finding something to borrow, since I know not a lot of mers use the Hydra fin. Fortunately, a very kind merman had one he wasn’t using that he allowed me to borrow for the day. Allowing me to swim all Sunday. (Now I just have to email Swimmear and see about getting a replacement from Spain. Yay.)

As is tradition, I was determined to do a merman group photo. We do one every year at the convention. The staff was really busy, so I had a hard time flagging anybody down to do an announcement or anything. Instead, I swam around and told every merman I could find, then got my roommate with a camera to take the shot. We didn’t get everyone (It’s honestly impossible to get every possible person for a group photo, if furry cons have told me anything), but it was certainly the largest merman group photo yet!

Finally, we packed up everything and went back to the hotel. I wiped off my makeup, packed up all my stuff, and went down to closing ceremonies. My mother apparently texted me that she had arrived to pick me up (I got that text roughly two days later), so I got my stuff and got into the car. Thus ends another Mermania.

Really, I had a great time. It’s not really like any other con I’ve attended. I know one thing, we’re gonna need a bigger venue next year!

There was also the fact that there was media everywhere you looked. I’m used to Furry cons, where media is banned, or anime cons, where the venue is so enormous you never really see the media. I gave a couple interviews, we’ll see if anything comes of it. I talked to people last year and never saw any of that footage. I’m proud of the people who did get interviewed though!

#con report #nc mermania #personal post

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