>
>The original motor (the blue one, which is now disconnected) didn't make a
>single noise, and the wings deal with most of the wind noise, but the gears
>on the larger motor do tend to make an annoying fuzz. Maybe I should try and
>get better gears, made of metal.

Belt drive would be the quietest option.
Plastic gears, like nylon, are rather quiet.
Metal gears can be quiet, but only if very well ($$) made.

>Of course I considered a disk, but I don't think the 1/8" axis and its 1/2"
>ball bearings would have lasted long with the added weight. If I can find or
>make a larger axis and larger ball bearings, this might be worth
>considering.

1-2 pounds isn't very much, and you could always counterweight it so that
the bearing doesn't see any skewed load, just weight.  I'm sure there are
suitable bearings.  You would probably want to allow for replacement though.

For bonus points, add Wimshurst hardware, and use that to power the circuit :)

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