Oh dear. Well, every cloud eh...
Quite so. I figured it'd eventually happen so not too gutted.

Jibril is looking very businesslike. I guess it's just going to be the motor directly driving that big gear? Seems like a more straightforward (and possibly cheaper?) way of doing it than a gearbox along the axis of the motor shaft. Plus I guess it makes the whole thing a bit more modular when it comes to the inevitable repairs...
The axe on Jibril is being powered by a 2.3HP Ampflow F30-150 motor running through a single stage 4.5:1 reduction gearbox so yes, in effect, the motor will drive the big gear directly. You'll know when this hits you, put it that way.

The gearbox you describe is a planetary gearbox and whilst that might offer a more compact unit, I very much doubt it'll be able to take the strain. I've shattered gearboxes before in that sort of manner. :S Repairing it is going to be doddle if it comes to it.