Bringing fire and steel to life

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During a show staged in San Jose, Calif., by Survival Research Labs, veteran presenter of spectacles featuring remote-controlled mechanical monsters, the group's tesla coil and its Boeing-engine-based machine enthrall a sold-out crowd of 2,000.

Scott Beale/Laughing Squid
SRL founder Mark Pauline watches the V1 fire cannon warm up before the show.

Scott Beale/Laughing Squid
Survival Research Labs artist Kimric Smyth checks on his Boeing-engine-based machine.

Scott Beale/Laughing Squid
SRL founder Mark Pauline (bending over) checks the status of one of the machines.

Scott Beale/Laughing Squid
SRL's V1 fire canon torches an art piece.

Scott Beale/Laughing Squid
The noise level and the amount of fire and feverish activity were nearly overwhelming, although the crowd of 2,000 wasn't complaining.

Scott Beale/Laughing Squid
SRL's Inchworm does its thing.

Scott Beale/Laughing Squid
San Jose's fire marshals watch the SRL show.

Scott Beale/Laughing Squid
CNET News.com reporter Daniel Terdiman brandished a fire extinguisher in case something went wrong during the setup for the Survival Research Labs show in San Jose, Calif., on Aug. 11, 2006.

Scott Beale/Laughing Squid
Fire and burned out machines are everywhere as the SRL show nears its end.

Scott Beale/Laughing Squid

During a show staged in San Jose, Calif., by Survival Research Labs, veteran presenter of spectacles featuring remote-controlled mechanical monsters, the group's tesla coil and its Boeing-engine-based machine enthrall a sold-out crowd of 2,000.

Scott Beale/Laughing Squid

By Bill Detwiler

Bill Detwiler is Editor in Chief of TechRepublic and the host of Cracking Open, CNET and TechRepublic's popular online show. Prior to joining TechRepublic in 2000, Bill was an IT manager, database administrator, and desktop support specialist in the ...

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