Real Machines for Steampunk and Dieselpunk Worlds

Two eras, two kinds of machine

The two styles borrow from different periods, so they need different reference.

• Steampunk looks back to the 19th century: steam, brass, cast iron, exposed gears and wood-and-leather craftsmanship.
• Dieselpunk looks to the 1920s to 1950s: internal combustion engines, riveted steel, streamlined shapes, dials and early aircraft.

Mixing details from both is fine, but know which era each detail comes from. It keeps your design consistent.

Steam age: boilers, wheels and carriages

• Steam Locomotives: 756 photos of steam locomotives in New Zealand, with parts in repair. It looks inside the firebox and the cab, underneath the engines and inside a vintage passenger car. Sorted into three locomotives, a workshop, outside views and the passenger car. Shot with wide, fisheye and telephoto lenses.
• Federated Malay Steam Locomotive 1940s: 155 photos of a light steam locomotive at the National Museum in Kuala Lumpur, from all sides and from above. Wheels, bolts and mechanisms in detail.
• Saw Mill Steam Engine: 93 photos of a 19th-century steam engine built to drive a saw mill in Australia.
• Victorian Horse Carriages: 233 photos of seven carriages from 1810 to 1912, shot from every side, including underneath. Two horse models with full harnesses are included.

Industry: furnaces, pipes and walkways

A steampunk city needs its factories.

• Huge Operational Steel Mill: 328 photos of a working iron smelting plant in Russia, at 5472 × 3648. Many of the photos already look like concept art.
• Paper Mill Industrial Complex: 189 photos of pipe structures with walkways, ladders and overhangs in Finland. Shot in overcast light, with a few stitched panoramas.

Diesel age: rivets, dials and early flight

• D-2 Soviet Submarine Interior: 293 photos inside a D-2 Soviet submarine, focused on its mechanical details, shot in high resolution.
• 1930s Biplanes: 274 photos of biplanes that still fly, including five 1935 Tiger Moths, a 1932 Fox Moth and a 1934 Boeing Stearman. Pre-flight preparation and 47 photos in the air.
• Fords Model A 1930: 155 photos of 5 running Fords from 1930, including coupes, a phaeton and a truck.
• Vintage Car Radio Designs: 48 close-ups of classic car radios and dashboards. Dials, knobs and chrome for control panels.

Try the free Soviet Ekranoplan A-90 Orlyonok pack too: 21 photos of a Soviet ground-effect vehicle, half ship and half aircraft.

Designing a believable retro machine

1. Keep the function visible. A real steam engine shows where the fuel goes in, where the steam goes and what turns. Copy that logic, even if your machine is invented.
2. Respect real sizes. Use the people, doors and steps in the photos to judge the size of rivets, valves and handrails.
3. Show maintenance. Patched panels, oil stains and worn paint tell the viewer the machine has a history. The workshop photos in Steam Locomotives show engines in the middle of repair.
4. Don't overload it with gears. Real machines use gears where they are needed. A few working parts look better than many decorative ones.

For abandoned and rusting machines, see post-apocalyptic reference. For the darker side of Victorian architecture, see horror and dark fantasy reference.

Frequently asked questions

Are these machines in original condition?

Most are restored or preserved. The Federated Malay locomotive was restored in 1972 for museum display, and the biplanes and Model A Fords are kept in running order. Paint and fittings may come from later repairs, so use the packs for construction and mechanism rather than exact period color.

Are any of the machines still working?

Yes. The steel mill is in operation, the biplanes are still flying, and the five Model A Fords are running cars.

Can I build 3D models of these machines?

Yes. The license allows you to create your own 3D models and textures from the photos for your projects. Reselling the photos or packs themselves is not allowed.

Is there anything free to start with?

Yes. The Soviet Ekranoplan A-90 Orlyonok pack is free. For more, see our free reference photo packs.