After breakout the streamers would slowly drift over the smooth surface of the toroid. Very exciting to watch. This photograph shows the components of Steve Bell's Tesla coil. Power is provided by a 10kv Neon Sign Transformer at the front of the base. The MMC style primary capacitor can be seen at the far left, and a multiple static gap can be seen at the back.
Grounding is via a thick copper strip leaving the right of the picture.
A long xenon tube with one end grounded was placed within striking range of Steve's coil. The blinding flashes of light which result are captured below Tim Davey setting up his Van de Graaff generator. The box at the base contains control electronics and a powerful electric motor. There is a belt running up the plastic tube to the discharge sphere. The operator pulls 18 inch discharges from the sphere on top of the generator to a hand held metal target.