Wherein "steampunk" is explained.

The next sentence is the most important one in this article. A model can be "steampunk" without having a single brown piece. Hope y'all read that sentence. A follow-up sentence might look like "In fact, avoiding brown will likely result in a better steampunk model."


The tau-ansformer-tau-ank fad has spread like wildfire, cancer, or christmas cheer. Of note to this article is this "steam varient" tau-ank:


Tongue-in-cheek replies were written; the audience didn't "get" it. This is a common problem. The not-getting-it, yes, but more importantly, the perennial "what is steampunk" question.

The ever-patient Jonesy has attempted answering multiple times — December 2005, September 2006 — and again, today. He might as well tattoo it on his back, dear reader.

Readers confused whether using brown pieces automatically makes a model "steampunk" would do well to study Jonesy's words. Let's not embarrass ourselves again, yes?

Editor's Note: For the purposes of this article, the word "steampunk" is used without reference to or consideration of the literary or cultural birth of steampunk, or the relationship to "cyberpunk" or really anything to do with "punk." Take that, Tim Gould.