Vertical Generator

I started building the vertical generator as a standalone model so that I can test the functionality and figure out how to light it.  The base needs to be tall enough that a minifig can standup and look like they are controlling what is happening, realizing the spinning axle will be in the center.  Also needs to be a roof light so that you can see everything in the control section.  There will be two  minfigs in there. Here is a view of the three main subsections built.

You can see that two minifigs is the max amount that will fit.  The two outboard engines will be used to connect hoses to the platform.

 

The reverse side of the roof of the base/bottom of the top section is shown here.  The astute observer will notice that the square tile has a hole in it for the axle.  Not a normal Brick piece and was modified by me.  Need a smooth surface for the generator to  spin on.

These two pictures show the generator attached to the base.  The top section is built in such a way that only the spinning generator can be seen and not the axle.  The goal is to make it look like it is spinning in space.

The final design with a temporary base.The number of 8x8 dishes on the top is strictly a function of color scheme, the detail effect we are trying to achieve and the length of the axle that needs to be taken into account.  This version only has one dish since the axle used would only go through one 8x8 dis and the final 10x10 dish on the top.

Again lighting this section is going to be challenging.  This needs the random PWM lighting effect I used in the original MOC I did last year.  It would be nice to also to have an LED on the top with a ramp effect which would simulate a rotating beacon.  These will be task for a a later time.

The other item on the top section is should the entire enclosure be trans light blue or should the back piece be tan.  The entire glass effect is nice, but the tan piece allows for hiding wires.  The problem here is that you cannot center the tan piece in the back..So for now I will leave it as all glass and just figure a way to minimize the wires exposure.

I worried that the generator would wobble just enough to strike the enclosure.  Testing to date has shown this not the case if everything is properly seated.
 
Finally here is a short video of it running.