Ralph,
They didn't get my pass word. What ISP does is not let you in to your site. They send you a new pass word to get in and then you change it to what you want. It was for security reasons. I'm back running again. Still need to clear up one issue and then I'll be all set.
Ok, now on to my suggestions. After looking at that last C-o-C of yours I figured that ball won't probably run very good on a pivot such as you had drawn. Here's my idea I'd like to enter for your brain to think about.

On a shaft mount two bearings make sure the shaft is about 3/4 the length of the ball dia.

I'm sure you got that, but just incase. Let's say the ball is 2" in dia. you would make the shaft 1.75" long to mount the ball bearings on.
Now comes the part about making it look "pretty", at least I think so. I have done this type of work(?) since I was very young and enjoy it very much. It's called "fret work". I believe it acutally started in the UK eons ago. Here's a link to better understand what's involved:
Fret WorkAnd here's some of the work I've done. It's a piece of wood 1/8" thick X 2.5" wide X 3.375" long. Bascially you glue a pattern on the wood and cut it out. Same can be done with 1/8" thick metal (brass, copper,etc.).

And here's an example C-o-C of what I envision for a Heron's Aeolipile"

Of course you could make it a lot fancier than my C-o-C, but you get the idea.
So that's my input to your project of a Aeoipile.
Oh I get a commission on all that you make from my ideas by the way. I want to get paid in gold though.

Regards,
Bernd
P.S. I found another web site that better represents fret work:
http://www.woodworkzone.com/shelley/fretwork/fretwork_clocks.htm