Awesome bits of kit

Singer sewing machine.

If you havent got one, why not how do you fix stuff?

(and cover up your enormous machine balls)

In reply to the OP – the launcher is pretty awesome too

An eclectic mix:

Not sure the Cheytac fits in with the other two above, but I agree it’s a good piece of design and implementation.

For me , this:

Saw one in the flesh today and it was amazing.

How do you transport one of the most awesome machines ever made? Why, with one of these:

Dunno if it still is, but it used to be the largest self-powered vehicle in the world.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crawler-transporter

The crawler-transporter has a mass of 2,721 tonnes (6,000,000 lb) and has eight tracks, two on each corner. Each track has 57 shoes, and each shoe weighs 900 kg (1,984 lb). The vehicle measures 40 by 35 metres (131 by 114 ft). The height from ground level to the platform is adjustable from 6.1 to 7.9 m (20 to 26 ft), and each side can be raised and lowered independently of the other. The crawler uses a laser guidance system and a leveling system to keep the Mobile Launcher Platform level within 10 minutes of arc (about 30 cm (1 ft) at the top of the Saturn V), while moving up the 5% grade to the launch site. A separate laser docking system provides pinpoint accuracy when the crawler-transporter and Mobile Launch Platform are positioned in the VAB or at the launch pad. A team of nearly 30 engineers, technicians and drivers operates the vehicle.

Tell me that’s not awesome.

Whether it’s a good or a bad thing is arguable, but it’s a very good example of functional design.

Sea launch one

Columbia II – currently for sale[/url]

Also, one of the things that pretty much got humans going:

just for the round bit, that is, although the giant lorries are fairly awesome themselves

1000t hydraulic salvage grab

built by a bloke in a brown coat from the GPO

In the same vein as julianwilson’s (DYSWIDT?)

Small, beautiful, functional things…..

Flipship! Clever 😉

I’m not understanding that flip ship.
What does it do?

Antikythera Mechanism

My awesome bits are NSFSTW 😉

This, though, is truly awesome

Too much massive machine envy. Here’s the best bit of kit I’ve ever bought. 15 years and counting and still perfectly functional. I swear I’m going to buried in this.

Less “kit” than “concept” but still… how about THIS

e1/03-BICcristal2008-03-26.jpg/1280px-03-BICcristal2008-03-26.jpg[/img]

Leading to tools that ultimately evolved over a long time to THIS

Along the way allowing for THIS to happen

Then evolving to be avialable to the masses like THIS

And finally ending up with THIS

1 by markwsf[/url], on Flickr

The 70’s Marshall Amp stack and Gibbo LP.

And “the” Moog.

This, spent a fair bit of time around it as it was where my dad worked. Can move it with just a drill and has full movement.

OP – a school friend is a designer for RNLI kit, started with Severn Class and more recently the Tamar Class.

The tevo tarantula- basically the cheapest 3D printer that doesn’t suck donkey balls. Costs $200, comes in a shoebox from China, builds like meccano, then makes things. Mine continually makes me feel like I’m living in the future.

The original British Seagul outboard engine. Powered millions of small boats for generations..

And the incogitable..

Leatherman Wave

Kettlebell

[/url]Capture by Scud75[/url], on Flickr[/img]

Bought when i first joined up 25 years ago, tried killing it but it refuses to die, still use the side pockets all the time for bikepacking and the main bergen doesn’t have a stitch out of place

Morizumi spoke making machine:

Click for video.

Handmade in Japan, it’s a beautiful little thing.

Or a Curta:

Curta Dismantled by Ben Cooper[/url], on Flickr

Over 600 parts, in something you can easily fit in one hand…

Has to be the E Class Mk2. Not as big as a Severn, but goes crazy fast. We don’t have a kettle though.