[HOE] Junkman Buildeth

["Jeff Shoffner" <shoffner@usit.net>]

Hey all, just received Epitaph 2 from a generous friend(?) & it got me to
thinking about a couple things regarding Junkmen.....

In order to build stuff, a junkman needs basic component parts that the tech
spirits can assemble into something the junkman wants/needs.  I understand
that.  However, is there any modifiers if the junkman has component parts
that fit what he has in mind?  Fer instance, for Marv's Motorcycle in the
back, it states to build his motorcycle, he needs 48 mech comps, 16 elect.
comps, & 53 struct. comps. & all of this could be just junk he's scrounged
around.  BUT, what if Marv found an intact Harley softtail just begging to
be fixed up, the frame is intact, most of the engine is there, & the only
thing he really needs is to redo the electronics (EMP got it).  Would it be
feasible to say that this Harley counts for most of the mech & struct.
comps?  It just seems to be with all the abandoned hulks out there on the
ruined interstates it would make more sense to go scrounging for a frame
already made & add what is needed to get it working.  And would this also
lower the TN needed to get it working?

Second, reading on boats in the 'taph 2.  Would a fan be considered a
propeller driven engine?  You know, one of them oversized fans they use on
swamp-rats-- if you've been to the bayou, you know what I'm talking about.
Plus, for the Red October minded, how would you classify the
magnetic-tractor engine for a sub?  :)

Oh, one other thing that popped in my head, but I think I've already
answered by the time I finish typing this.  It states subs are rated at half
the max speed of a boat construction.  Well, today's subs are actually
faster surface ships, but then again, they're very hydrodynamically
designed, & anything a junker could whip up would be more along the lines of
a WWII sub, which was horrendously slow due to all that outside crap it
carried.....

Jeff S