This guy is an absolute nutter (or genius- depending on which way you look at it)

http://www.asciimation.co.nz/beer/index.html

This guy is a nutter....

http://www.interestingprojects.com/cruisemissile/

You can in fact buy some very nice miniature gas turbines off the shelf. Check out:
http://www.cat-ing.de/turbines/jetcatturbinen/strahlturbinen.htm , and all for a mere EUR2262. However, I rather like their burettes, which shows you how boring I am.

They look similar to these, and this site is in english...

http://www.wren-turbines.com/

Cheers,
Hymee.