This campaign is closed

The Archaic

A Steampunk Art Vehicle, and Small Buisness, Traveling and Entertaining North America.

Closed
Closed
Closed
Closed
Closed

The Archaic

The Archaic

The Archaic

The Archaic

The Archaic

A Steampunk Art Vehicle, and Small Buisness, Traveling and Entertaining North America.

A Steampunk Art Vehicle, and Small Buisness, Traveling and Entertaining North America.

A Steampunk Art Vehicle, and Small Buisness, Traveling and Entertaining North America.

A Steampunk Art Vehicle, and Small Buisness, Traveling and Entertaining North America.

Kyle Brennan
Kyle Brennan
Kyle Brennan
Kyle Brennan
1 Campaign |
Santa Maria, United States
$30 USD 2 backers
0% of $8,000 Flexible Goal Flexible Goal
Overview
A steampunk art vehicle, Housing a craft shop, Visual and text based creation tools and artists. Her goal is to travel the north american continent creating online web material and entertainment for those at home, aswell as activity, conventions, festivals, and a series of other locations and adventures recorded on 360 video and immersion material to be broadcast to viewers at home, and fans and observers of her antics.

Hello!  My name is Kyle, and I am the Pilot of The Archaic.

The short version is this: 
About five months ago we purchased a 1978 ford school bus with the intention to travel the north american continent as an arts and performance crew.  We plan on working multiple business and trade craft ventures while on the road, also documenting our adventures via video blogging, and creating virtual reality material and content for others to enjoy from their homes.   We renovated the interior to being habitable, fixed some light and wiring issues, and lived in her for a month and a half before taking her first large excursion to Las Vegas.   It was a huge success, although baking in a metal school bus in nevada is a bit miserable.  Fourth gear stopped responding while in vegas and that was not a big issue since there is third and fifth gear, however the clutch began to be finicky and sticking in gears as we were travelling home and once our mechanic diagnosed her it became apparent that the clutch was beginning to mis-align.   Our long time goal with this vehicle is for it to be our home, and a hybrid art vehicle to travel to places of interest both as an entertainer and as an observer to the world.

The main goal is to re-align the clutch so she is once again driveable, and if we get additional funding, repair the transmission and getting the outer hull skinned and painted, aswell as her external props created and installed.

 

Our Funding goal is set at a financial level that will ensure the repair of the vehicle back to moving order, although fourth gear will not be replaced unless surplus funding than our goal occurs, specifically to allow for a leftover for a savings in the event of future mechanical problems.
 

 

>> If You Cannot Donate, PLEASE share us to your friends, and Find(AND LIKE!!!) us on Facebook.  Even if you cannot help us launch, we want you to still follow our adventures!!   <<

 

The Story Thus Far(Long Version With Photos):

Where to begin is a little foggy.  I guess this began about a year and a half ago in a workshop for a metalworking foundry with minimum wage jobs realizing we wanted something better.   Both for our mental health, as well as for ourselves as people, and our minds and souls as counterculture enthusiasts.   

Talking for months on end, we devised what we wanted to do, while acknowledging our own individual plans for our lives and we figured out that we could make something beautifully unique, while at the same time pursuing our own wants as individuals and connecting with the broken society around us.   
Over time, we came to know this idea as "The Archaic"

However, I will take a different approach to explaining this.
Captain, Grimsly, Atticus, One of two who plan on living their existence on the road.   He left high school and bought a Volkswagen bus and immediately traveled.   Irritated and upset with the world around him he decided to see more of life and adventure.  Spending multiple years on the road, through multiple states, life found him back home to the central coast over time.  Experienced in the street, Music skills, artistic talent, and the capability to put up with a lot of things, Captain is part one of our crew.



Myself, I went to High school, and then jumped into college.  Normal academica did not stick well in my head, The basics yes, but I latched onto trade crafts more than higher studies.  Leatherworking, Jewelry smiting, Wire Wrapping, Lapidary skills, Blacksmithing, Welding, and basic carpentry skills.   I learned over a few years time a series of crafting skills, basic filmography knowledge and an eye for art and unique aesthetic.   I ended up deciding that I wanted to open my own Travel Agency as a career and began the process of launching said business, as well as investing into equipment for pursuing a Virtual Reality aspect to the business.   Over a large period of time I have learned a series of extinct trade skills, dabbled in online content creation, and researched and learned things from the internet.     I am part two of our crew.


I cant remember exactly how we met, but we were friends for a time and then his job in a casting foundry had an opening, and I got that job.  We learned we both shared a fandom for the Steampunk Aesthetic, And completely opposite tastes in music.  I am a sheltered, living in the same region, kid.   Captain Is a street dweller and explorer of as much as life will let him.  We talked, we discussed, and something kept popping up, an idea, and a want for a different life than the norm.   We both wanted to travel, live lives outside of the norms of the broken society around us, and pave our own paths. 

We built a genuinely insane idea.  
Get a school bus, Paint it a series of different colors, split it in 3 parts.   Go full steam/grunge punk, Making art and wares to sell while on the road. My panoramic Virtual reality camera that I funded on kick starter arrived in the mail and it was an enthusiastic "Lets Do That Too!!"  While discussing uses, we decided that we would like to catalog our adventures Via a Video Blog, and make content for others to observe and enjoy of our ventures.     I knew it was absurd, sounded fun, but probably wouldn't happen.   We saved money from our paychecks as we could anyway.

Suddenly one day I got a text message "Are you down for a trip to fresno?"    
I responded thinking it would be a casual weekend trip "Yeah, sure!"
Then, "Do you think you will be up to driving the bus back?"


(The White Whale, parked after purchase and us getting our bearings)

 


It was a very interesting drive to say the least.  Engine ran GREAT!   
Half way through the trip, it got dark, and we discovered that none of the lights were functioning properly, the break lights and the running lights were not lighting, and our blinkers did not respond properly.  Only the headlights were working properly, thankfully we had a tailing vehicle that escorted her home.

Registration, Basic repairs, an inspection by our mechanic, and Insurance took a few weeks. We then made the interior livable by sheeting the walls, and building a loft for our sleeping area that provided under storage.   We found a series of odd furniture pieces for having a dresser and kitchen storage, and moved in supplies.  We stayed in our city living in Archaic for a time, and the small business we had been working for sadly collapsed on itself and we found ourselves jobless with a small savings.

A few of our friends approached us with savings of their own, and we decided to do an excursion trip to Las Vegas.   It was enjoyable for the first few days, and then fourth gear stopped responding properly.   We stopped using fourth, and I was revving third to jump to fifth while driving.    We stayed in vegas for a time, performed on the street, and our goal was to find employment when we decided it would be best to take her back home to the central coast of California.  On the way home however, the clutch began to stick into gears and fight from being moved.

 

After we got her securely home, people disembarked and traveled to their own home towns and I began cleaning from our strange, yet fun trip to vegas.   

Our mechanic visited, we got things diagnosed, and a rough estimate, and here we are Today!!

 

Deeper Details:

We had decided in the very beginning that we wanted to do a crowd funding with our project, before the bus even was in our possession.  Giving the world around us the opportunity to invest into our project, and building bonds and community with a group of people who would get to ride with us from the beginning.  Enthusiasm is important in life, and we were excited with the idea of offering up our art and crafting skills to others in exchange for their donation and excitement over getting to watch us grow.   However, we did not plan on loosing our jobs, we did not plan on the bus having engine trouble so soon, and we wanted to crowdfund sometime in summer of 2017, after parts of the exterior were already painted and skinned, Not now.
Alas, we are here now and life does not always go to plan, and we hope we can make you excited on what we plan on doing.
 

 

The Beauty That Will Be The Archaic!

The Archaic, has her namesake because she is a hybrid vehicle.  The front is based off a twentieth century steam locomotive, her center is a nineteenth century rail car, and the back is a eighteenth century galleon ship.   Regardless of crowdfunding, she will look, once complete, like this...
(Side note, The ENTIRE roof is planned on being a flat top stage once we can frame it, but that's a long ways down the road)
 

Locomotive

The hood of our bus beautifully is flat.   It is not angled or sloping like a modern school bus, and has a solid right angle as its drop down, with a mostly flat top.   Perfect for a recessed Boiler prop build.   The front 10 feet of our bus will be modified into a unique steampunk locomotive.  

(a REALLY bad Microsoft paint image, but a basic understanding of our planned recessed boilers)

Of course the question is "HOW ARE YOU GOING TO ACHIEVE THAT?!"
and the fun answer is "I met my mechanics first as Live steam hobby enthusiasts"
Oh!  you don't know of live steam?   Its a hobby that is at times more expensive than owning a sports car.    Miniaturized Functioning Steam Locomotives, on hobby club property.

(an actual photo from our local Bittercreek Western Railroad)

The mechanic for the Archaic, builds these two foot tall locomotives in his garage as a side hobby to his job.  His job, is also a locomotive builder, for a private railroad that runs at 3 feet gauge.   (13 ft tall locomotives)   
The plan in the long term, is to someday install actual "steam" lines throughout the bus, and use compressed gas to visually simulate steam coming from the boilers.
Oh!  well, I guess also, the Pistons on the back wheels also account as a part of the locomotive build also!
Using modern race car technology for removable mountings(for legally driving down roads when not performing), and custom piston block builds, we plan on having large scale pistons mounted as a prosthetic to the driving wheels of the bus.   Prop pipes and tubes will be connecting each piston block to our gas system and a series of custom check valves will allow the gas "steam" to release depending on the rotation of the wheel and piston.

(ANOTHER BAD MICROSOFT PAINT IMAGE!!!)

 

Victorian Rail Car

The central length of the bus will be in a Victorian rail car motif and styling.   The primary color will probably match the primary color of the boilers, but that is undecided.  The exterior of the bus will have false rivets for the rail car paneling, and the framework of the windows will be thickened. An arch will be added to the top of the windows instead of the current box framing to fit the styling of the era.  The center of the "rail car" section will have pin striping and an emblazoned "archaic" wording in brass paneling.  Once the roof stage is installed, there will be a slight overhang along the top, framing will be placed there, as well as light strips for color at night.

 

18th Century War Ship

The rear of the Archaic will be in the styling of an old naval ship.  The back will be painted in a wood weathering and design, with wood plating and segments mounted to key locations.   We will not be drilling the bus full of holes to mount 2x4's, because we don't have room to do so and remain legal to use roadways with other traffic.  Accent pieces of carved wood and plating will be placed in certain spots to accent the art that will be our rear ship.  The roof will be accented with railing and a upper decking to create a roof rack for any needs applicable.

 


Parallel boilers along with the cab,  Blunt transfer to a Victorian rail car, with a phased transfer into 18th century war galleon.    I apologize for how bad the image is, I did not have much to work with.

 

The Business(es)

While on the road, we plan on using multiple aspects  of our joint knowledge and our activity to make income.  

The Foundry 

(The name is still in the air)

While on the road, we plan to smith, craft, and create.  Creating goods and wares while traveling will allow us to sell goods for income, while at the same time releasing our own style of creativity into the world around us.  Blacksmithing knives and tools, Leathercrafting armor and bracers while using wire wrapping techniques and gemstone knowledge to create unique jewelry.  Modifying already existing props and equipment into our own style of presentation and aesthetics, and creating unique pieces of art and stylus.

 

Art and Writing


"Beyond Time and Space (Pyrats)"    - Atticus Grimsly    January 2015

We are both well read as individuals, and we plan on writing short story's and poetry, while creating independent perspective articles for gonzo journalism.  Creating articles for our followers online through Facebook and other internet mediums, as well as publishing to Kindle and other E-reader mediums both science fiction and real world perspective story's.  We will also be doing art prints in digital media for individuals to purchase and print at home.   As well as print versions that will be signed by the creator and mailed via parcel.   From time to time there will also be canvas prints, and items from our sketchbooks uploaded to the internet for free.

 

Tungsten Wing Travel


The travel agency that I launched a year and a half ago will be hopefully reborn sometime in the next eight months.  Long story short, it had to be shut down to not incur monthly fees building into debt.   Tungsten is an alternative culture travel agency that is capable of handling normal travel infrastructure across the board from cruise ship booking, to flights, rental cars, and building vacations to the destination you wish to go to and all the smaller excursions at your destination.   When booking with us you can plot out your snorkeling, hiking, food, and (insert local small business attraction here) adventures.


However, another goal and capability of tungsten, is that of one of the worlds first Virtual Reality vacation immersion organizations.    While we travel the north american continent, we will be recording different locations that we visit in full 360 degree panoramic footage that you can view from home.   From large city's to wilderness areas and national parks, across the board to lakes, and footage from conventions that we visit, and music festivals that we plan on attending, we will be making footage for you to enjoy at home.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2IyRU99M8h0
(A video from our Vegas excursion)

 

Online Web Content Creation


(A Panoramic image from our 360 degree camera taken near our home city)

Our largest activity while on the road, although not one that will make income very much, will be online content creation.  Armed with multiple cameras, and an enthusiasm to show what life on the road can be, we plan to document our activity daily and publish it to the internet for viewers enjoyment.   Our social media framework has been built on many different platforms, but the main we will be using will be; Facebook, Youtube, Gmail, and Instagram.

Also, While on the road we plan to seek out other web creators to collaborate with them on unique videos and web content using our skills, and fitting in with the niche of their style of performance.   It should be a lot of fun.

 

---Some Things We Plan On Creating On The Road

-A Steampunk Mini Web Series
-A Travel Youtube Series Of Locations Of Interest
-A Gonzo Journalism Web Series
-A Few Independent Films
---Whatever pops up down the road 

--- Panoramic 360 Degree Live Streaming Of Events and Festivals

 

 

 

>>>>What We Need Your Help For<<<<

The Bus itself has a mechanical malfunction, thus why we are doing crowdfunding before we expected to.   We do not know total cost (One of those "your not going to know for sure till you get in there" situations).    To be able to diagnose exactly what is wrong with the clutch alignment, we have to remove parts, and we do not have the money for labor.   However we have an extremely strong estimate for multiple needs.

Our priority is to re-align the clutch.  After that is complete, our funds will be assessed, we will fix the transmission if possible.

The behemoth is still movable without repairing fourth gear.  Hopefully, we will have the funds to re-align the clutch and repair the transmission.   But if we cant, we will get it running first and foremost.  
Option 1:  Re-align the clutch, run out of funds.
Option 2: Re-Align Clutch, re-paint the bus body
Option 3: Re-Align clutch, repair 4th gear
Option 4: Clutch, 4th, Repaint

From here, surplus funds will be going to making the ship more sustainable and getting the exterior built.  Also funding will be distributed depending on what reward tiers were claimed.

Estimates:

Transmission 4th gear - $70
Transmission Gasket Set - $270

(approximation) Clutch Repair - $300
(approximation) Manpower - $2000

This campaign is a flexible funding campaign so we can still give rewards to individuals and know who is excited over the idea of our arts crew.   The goal funding amount is set at a high surplus, and if achieved, the basic repair of the bus, as well as installation of our power bank and basic sustainability needs for living in the bus should be met.  

Please Follow us on Facebook for updates and information as to what is occurring and happening with the bus.   We, as individuals seeking to create a lifestyle this expansive and unique, plan to be keeping everyone updated as often as possible with full transparency.

 

Rewards

The big thing we were looking forward to about this, was getting to ask people to donate in exchange for pieces of our art and work.


ALL REWARDS ARE CAMPAIGN EXCLUSIVE.


There will be a "crowdfunding scrapbook" on board the Archaic, and that will be the only place to view the art rewards and pieces that result from this campaign if you do not fund it.  The general public will have access to view this scrap book whenever the interior of the ship is open to guests at events and festivals, and thus we ask anyone who funds us to write us a note/letter to be placed inside this scrapbook.  The scrapbook will contain the names and information of all funders, and letters of congratulation from said funders if they wish to send them in to us, photography of any built props and weapons that are mailed to funders as their rewards(including canvas artwork and prints) as well as smaller printed versions of all rewards.

Thus, for obvious reasons, there will be no photography or examples of rewards on this crowdfunding page.   
Makes your rewards that much more exciting, because you get to expect a surprise depending on what tier you fund us on.

We Are Very Flexible With Our Rewards, If you have an idea on something that is not available, PLEASE CONTACT US and we will see if your idea can be completed for your donation to our launch

 

>> Core Digital Rewards <<
First and foremost, you will see our first tier(s) rewards offer things that most crowd funding projects do not offer at such low financial donations.    That is because they are all digital rewards, Instead of having the overhead cost of mass printing and shipping, they will be created by us and digitized, then emailed.   This also allows us to take more time and effort into the quality of said reward since we do not have to take the time to print, postmark, and ship said rewards.
These base rewards are included in ALL HIGHER TIERS


All reward tiers further, have descriptions included and should be examined and checked yourself.  

Our large poster sized art pieces, will also be digitized and sent to you, so even if your print somehow gets destroyed by life, you can simply take them to the print shop and get a fresh copy.

Some of our higher rewards will be including behind the scenes footage and material from our build and repair, aswell as multiple months into our excursion.   (We do not know when, or even if we will be cutting off these behind the scenes rewards in the coming months, or years)

Our personal contact information and email address will be included in some tiers aswell.   Since you donated such a wonderful amount to get us started, we would like you to be able to get ahold of us and talk about life and our adventures on the road whenever you want to.

A few restricted (limited to a certain amount of benefactors to claim) rewards will be full prop builds.   Thats right!  We will build your characters next weapon upgrade!!    There is a standing possibility of us hand delivering said weapon to you, and a photoshoot with the archaic Herself can be arranged!!  (If you are outside the continental united states, sadly this may not happen and it will be shipped to you plus anything you might request from us will probably be entertained)
 

 

All Funds From This Crowd Funding Are Exclusively For The Archaic.

We, as individuals, will not be taking or using funds for personal use from this crowdfunding campaign.   Funds will only be used to maintain our ship, Exterior build, and maintenance of our vehicle.

All Surplus Funds Will Be Placed Into An Exclusive Trust For The Maintenance And Upkeep Of Our Vehicle, And We Plan On Adding To That Trust While We Are On The Road.

 

Last, But not least.   Thank you for reading our campaign.   Thank you for sharing us to social media, and exclaiming us to your friends.    Even if you can not fund us, Please spread us far and wide since this is the life we as individuals have chosen for our future and our happiness.  

 

Theres only a handful of things to wrap up.
My personal online persona name is "FightingDrag"   
You can find me here:   https://itsmyurls.com/fightingdrag

The Archaic has a presence on facebook, and is currently being built and expanded to other platforms, as well as revamping our imagery and presence
https://www.facebook.com/TheArchaic/

Tungsten Wing Travel, has a website and a facebook page.
https://www.facebook.com/TungstenWingTravel/

I instructed Captain Grimsly to create a professional page as well, but he told me to just use his normal profile:
https://www.facebook.com/captain.grimsly
 

 

See You In The Multiverse!!!

Looking for more information? Check the project FAQ
Need more information
Let us know if you think this campaign contains prohibited content.

Choose your Perk

Something to Stare at

$1 USD
Our unique Astral Travelers art piece. Your name on our donors list. (attached to all other rewards)
0 claimed

Audible Madness

$10 USD
A form of audio and musical whimsy as thanks, Audio file will be exclusive to this crowd funding effort. This is included in all future tiers
0 claimed

Insanity in Poetry

$20 USD
A bundle of Captains unique poetry inspired by his adventures, travels, and dark mind. This is included in all further tiers of rewards
0 claimed

Nightmare Reality 34-c

$30 USD
Unique art from a part of the lore we participate in, Home to darkness and horrors, 34-c is a unique developed quality art piece
0 claimed

Tesla Bros

$50 USD
A Tesla themed multi media art piece featuring the ship, crew, and a strange invention in the multiverse. Includes the base Art, Poetry, and Audio tiers
0 claimed

Disposable Observance (lvl1)

$60 USD
The core rewards are included in this perk. During our build we will have a disposable camera with your name on it!! during our build and first month we will be taking unique to your camera photos, just for you!! once your camera is full, we will mail it to you for you to develop and enjoy a perspective of our build no one else gets!!
0 out of 5 of claimed
Ships worldwide.

Tales of Archaea

$75 USD
Short story writing of some of the miscellaneous adventures of the Archaic and her crew. Includes all previous rewards
0 claimed

Many Moons Of Mayhem

$100 USD
Behind the scenes content and material for the next 6 months, Art, Writing, and Audio goodies from this campaign on lower tiers included, and your name in our donor book.
0 claimed

Disposable Observance level 2

$125 USD
all previous rewards are included During our build we will have a disposable camera with your name on it!! during our build and first month we will be taking unique to your camera photos, just for you!! once your camera is full, we will mail it to you for you to develop and enjoy a perspective of our build no one else gets!!
0 out of 20 of claimed
Ships worldwide.

A Canvas For The Drawing Room

$250 USD
A unique canvas art piece with hours invested directly to it. We will contact you by phone with a massive thank you message and request a bit of information about yourself, and how big of a canvas we can use for your available space. We will also be inquiring about your interests and tastes in art. includes base digital rewards and a few secret perks scattered through the year after the campaign
0 out of 15 of claimed
Ships worldwide.

Iron Launch Raiders(earlybird)

$350 USD
WOW! Thank you so much!! we are keeping this as a restrained earlybird tier, and you get all digitized rewards in this campaign, If it is sent over a computer, you get it!! Also we are including behind the scenes content for the next year!! (photography, video, and writing reports of our exploits) art when created, and content and material monthly, Participation in exclusive Google Hangouts for this Tier, and a series of other perks!!
0 out of 50 of claimed

Magnificent Crew Member

$1,000 USD
If you donate the magnificent amount of one thousand dollars, You Are Awesome!! You will get our contact info, all digital rewards of this campaign, Update videos and content, you will have right to direct us during live streams, discounts and first priority booking and commissions from all businesses, multiple unique canvas paintings, digital copys of most writing and art pieces created for the next year, And we will travel to your location to meet, greet, host, and entertain(continental U.S.)
0 claimed

This Is Madness!

$3,000 USD
3 years of unique behind the scenes material and footage, aswell as art and creative content on the fly from everything we do. A Unique weapon prop, and holster. contact information, aswell as we will meet with you multiple times to host gatherings with the ship! a XXX-large canvas multi medium art piece, copies of books, writeups before sent to publishers, and multiple aspects of behind the scenes material not accessable to anyone else.
0 claimed

Steampunk Obsession (woah!)

$5,000 USD
Multiple visits with our ship, behind the scenes content and video, and exclusive access and communication with us, all rewards, plus copies of our created material till our ship crashes and burns (at least 5 years, were hoping for 10) a weapon build, and a unique canvas art piece. It would be amazing to have someone contribute at this level, in the event someone finds this amazing enough, you will be getting material and goodies each month for quite a while. Expansive rewards not listable.
0 claimed
Tags for this project
Up Caret