Translate

Thursday, May 29, 2014

Cylon Raider

Here are some images of Moebius Models 1/32 scale (Studio Scale) Cylon Raider from Battlestar Galactica from the original 1970's television series.

From Wikipedia"
The Raider in the original series is an exceptionally powerful fighter/attack craft employed by the Cylon Empire and carries much more formidable armament than the weapons on Colonial Viper fighters (two directed energy weapons and provisions for internal bombs). A Cylon Raider carries a crew of three centurions (commander, pilot and co-pilot). The commander sits on a slightly elevated seat between the two pilots and issues orders. Raiders frequently make suicide attacks on enemy capital ships, typically attacking the fighter launch bays. Although a typical Basestar holds far more Raiders than a Battlestar has Vipers, this advantage is often negated by the human ability to improvise and adapt to changing combat situations. In the episode "The Living Legend", Baltar commissioned a personal fighter to take part in a battle. It is used to transport him (not unlike Colonial shuttles).
The original series' Raider made an appearance in the reimagined series vignette Battlestar Galactica: Razor, though slightly altered in appearance, and piloted by centurions very reminiscent of the originals.

Monday, May 26, 2014

Geschützwagen BP 42 II

Here are some more images of Trumpeter's 1/35 scale Geschützwagen BP 42 Armored Rail Car.

From Nasa Technika"
Germany used armored trains on all fronts to protect the supply and transport trains from destructive action of guerrilla groups in the neck of German army. Sets labeled BP42 began to appear during 1942. In 1944 came a modernized version labeled BP44.
BP42/BP44 set was composed symmetrically. In the middle of the armored locomotive type Baureihe 57 or 93rd For a locomotive to be placed Geschutzwagen, Infanteriewagen, Kommandowagen, Kanonen und Flakwagen, and Panzerträgerwagen Abstosswagen. In 1944 was added Panzerjäger.
Commander car BP42/44 Kommandowagen type ATG-4 is at first sight differed dimensional location of the radio antenna on the roof of the wagon. This car was restored succeeded so far from the outside, is currently under repair and restoration of the interior.

Panavia Tornado ECR Composite

Here is my composite image of Revell's 1/32 scale Panavia Tornado ECR in tiger markings for the 2002 tigermeet.

Images of the model can be seen here.

Saturday, May 24, 2014

1805 Virginia Pilot Boat Swift

Here are some Black & White images of Artesania Latina's 1/50 scale 1805 Virginia pilot boat Swift.Virginia pilot boats were used extensively on the Chesapeake and evolved into the famed Baltimore clippers.

Not Mr. Spock II

Here are some more images of AMT's 1/12 scale Mr. Spock. This kit is an original issue not a re release.
I don't care what anyone says this model does not look like Mr. Spock. One would think that upon the re release they would would have created a new head for it but nope.
So what does one do in a situation like this? Answer: Convert him into a Crewman. I think it makes a nice alternative to the usual Mr. Spock figures one often sees. And he's wearing red which means he'll be dead in a few seconds.
The only addition I put to this kit was I added a cover for the communicator.

Friday, May 23, 2014

Piper L-18 Super Cub

Here are some images of Monogram's 1/32 scale Piper L-18 Super Cub.

From Wikipedia"

 The Piper PA-18 Super Cub is a two-seat, single-engine monoplane. Introduced in 1949 by Piper Aircraft, it was developed from the Piper PA-11, and traces its lineage back through the J-3 to the Taylor E-2 Cub of the 1930s. In close to 40 years of production, over 9,000 were built. Super Cubs are commonly found in roles such as bush flying, banner and glider towing.


 
While based on the design of the earlier Cubs, the addition of an electrical system, flaps (3 notches), and a vastly more powerful engine (150 hp), make it a very different flying experience. Although the "standard" Super Cub was fitted with a 150 horsepower (112 kW) Lycoming engine, it is not uncommon to see them equipped with a 160 horsepower O-320-B2B, or even 180 horsepower (134 kW) Lycoming O-360 powerplant. The high-lift wing and powerful engine made the Super Cub a prime candidate for conversion to either floatplane or skiplane. In addition, the PA-18A (an agricultural version) was produced for applying either dry chemical or liquid spray.
The Super Cub retained the basic "rag and tube" (fabric stretched over a steel tube frame) structure of the earlier J-3 Cub.
PA-18 Super Cub 150 (G-HACK) at the Great Vintage Fly-In Weekend, Kemble, England, in May 2003
The first true "Super" Cubs had flaps, dual fuel tanks, and an O-235 Lycoming engine producing about 108 hp (115 hp for takeoff only). However, a 90 hp Continental variant without flaps and an optional second wing tank was available. Their empty weight was, on the average, 800–1000 pounds with a gross weight of 1,500 lb. These Cubs would take off in about 400 feet (at gross weight) and land in about 300 feet (thanks to the flaps). The Super Cub is renowned for its ability to take off and land in very short distances. The first Super Cubs were going to be offered with a unique four-wheel tandem main landing gear designed for landing and takeoff from rough terrain, but eventually a simpler and lighter two wheeled unit replaced the four wheel design. The O-290 Lycoming powered Cubs (135 hp) followed and would take off in about 200 feet (61 m). The landing distance remained the same at about 400 feet (120 m), or 300 feet (91 m) using flaps. With the use of the Lycoming O-320 at 150–160 hp, the Cub's allowable gross weight increased to 1,750 lb while retaining the capability of a mere 200 feet (61 m) required for takeoff.
The PA-18 has developed a very dedicated following in the bush-flying community, and many modifications have been developed for it, to the point where it is quite rare to find an original, completely stock Super Cub. Modifications include extended baggage compartments (reaching farther back into the fuselage, or even two-level baggage compartments in the top and bottom of the rear fuselage), external luggage pods, fuel pods, lumber racks for carrying construction materials into unimproved bush runways. Also the removal of header tanks, larger 24 or even 30 gallon wing fuel tanks, extended main landing gear for better ground clearance of the propeller, strengthened tailwheel springs, the addition of a small third passenger seat in the luggage area and lightweight generators and starters. Also various different mount areas for the battery (to move the weight forward, and reduce tail weight to shorten takeoff distance), various different tailfin shapes to increase surface area, lengthened flaps, various wingtip designs, vortex generators on the leading edge of the wings, movement of the electrical panel from the right wing root to the dashboard to reduce fire hazard during a crash, and even the addition of a constant-speed propeller. Above all, the most common modification is the addition of "bush wheels", large, soft, low pressure balloon-tires designed to absorb impacts from rocks and boulders, and to not sink into sand or other soft surfaces, ideal for off-runway landings.

L-18C Super Cub
Military designation of the PA-18 Super Cub for the United States Army, powered by a 95 hp (71 kW) Continental C90-8F piston engine, 838 delivered, at least 156 of which were delivered to other nations under MDAP.

Thursday, May 22, 2014

F 104 Cockpit II

Here are some more images of Italeris (ERTL/ESCI molds) 1/12 scale Lockheed F 104 Cockpit. This is the other cockpit from the series and is every bit as detailed and nice as the F 16 cockpit.

From Wikipedia'
Early Starfighters used a downward-firing ejection seat (the Stanley C-1), out of concern over the ability of an upward-firing seat to clear the "T-tail" empennage. This presented obvious problems in low-altitude escapes, and some 21 USAF pilots failed to escape their stricken aircraft in low-level emergencies because of it. The downward-firing seat was soon replaced by the Lockheed C-2 upward-firing seat, which was capable of clearing the tail, although it still had a minimum speed limitation of 104 mph (170 km/h). Many export Starfighters were later retro-fitted with Martin-Baker Mk.7 zero-zero ejection seats, which had the ability to successfully eject the pilot from the aircraft even at zero altitude and zero airspeed.

Wednesday, May 21, 2014

Tuesday, May 20, 2014

F-16 Cockpit

Here are some more images of Italeri's (ESCI/ERTL molds) 1/12 scale General Dynamics F 16 Cockpit. This model is of the early F 16 version and from what I've been told quite accurate. This kit along with its 104 counterpart is amazing. The detail is excellent and was a blast to build. I only wish they had made more in the series like a B 52 cockpit. I can dream can't I?

From Wikipedia'
One feature of the F-16 for air-to-air combat performance is the cockpit's exceptional field of view. The single-piece, bird-proof polycarbonate bubble canopy provides 360° all-round visibility, with a 40° look-down angle over the side of the aircraft, and 15° down over the nose (compared to the more common 12–13° of preceding aircraft); the pilot's seat is elevated for this purpose. Furthermore, the F-16's canopy lacks the forward bow frame found on many fighters, which is an obstruction to a pilot's forward vision. The F-16's ACES II zero/zero ejection seat is reclined at an unusual tilt-back angle of 30°; most fighters have a tilted seat at 13–15°. The tilted seat can accommodate taller pilots and increases G-force tolerance; however it has been associated with reports of neck ache, possibly caused by incorrect head-rest usage. Subsequent U.S. fighters have adopted more modest tilt-back angles of 20°. Due to the seat angle and the canopy's thickness, the F-16's ejection seat lacks steel canopy-breakers for emergency egress; instead the entire canopy is jettisoned prior to the seat's rocket firing.
The pilot flies primarily by means of an armrest-mounted side-stick controller (instead of a traditional center-mounted stick) and an engine throttle; conventional rudder pedals are also employed. To enhance the pilot's degree of control of the aircraft during high-g combat maneuvers, various switches and function controls were moved to centralised "hands on throttle-and-stick (HOTAS)" controls upon both the controllers and the throttle. Hand pressure on the side-stick controller is transmitted by electrical signals via the FBW system to adjust various flight control surfaces to maneuver the F-16. Originally the side-stick controller was non-moving, but this proved uncomfortable and difficult for pilots to adjust to, sometimes resulting in a tendency to "over-rotate" during takeoffs, so the control stick was given a small amount of "play". Since introduction on the F-16, HOTAS controls have become a standard feature on modern fighters.
The F-16 has a head-up display (HUD), which projects visual flight and combat information in front of the pilot without obstructing the view; being able to keep his head "out of the cockpit" improves a pilot's situational awareness. Further flight and systems information are displayed on multi-function displays (MFD). The left-hand MFD is the primary flight display (PFD), typically showing radar and moving-maps; the right-hand MFD is the system display (SD), presenting information about the engine, landing gear, slat and flap settings, and fuel and weapons status. Initially, the F-16A/B had monochrome cathode ray tube (CRT) displays; replaced by color liquid crystal displays on the Block 50/52. The MLU introduced compatibility with night-vision goggles (NVG). The Boeing Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing System (JHMCS) is available from Block 40 onwards, for targeting based on where the pilot's head faces, unrestricted by the HUD, using high-off-boresight missiles like the AIM-9X.

Monday, May 19, 2014

Reggiane Re.2005 Sagittario Composite

Here is my composite image of Pacific Coast Models (PCM) 1.32 scale Reggiane Re.2005 Sagittario.
This aircraft flew with the Luftdienst Kommando Italien unit at Maniago Italy Feb 1944.


Images of the model can be seen here.

English Electric F.3 Lightning Composite

Here is my composite image of Trumpeter's 1/32 scale English Electric F.3 Lightning against a cloudy sunny sky.

Images of the model can be seen here.

Sunday, May 18, 2014

Saturday, May 17, 2014

Fiat G.55 Centauro Composite

Here is my composite image of PCM's (Pacific Coast Models) 1/32 scale Fiat G.55 Centauro (Centaur) against a cloudy blue sky.

Images of the model can be seen here.

Bell P-39 D Airacobra UMP Composite

Here is a composite image of Revell's (Special Hobby Molds) 1/32 scale Bell P-39 D Airacobra UMP against a cloudy blue sky.

Images of the model can be seen here.

Friday, May 16, 2014

Chance Vought XF5U-1 Flying Flapjack Composite

Here is a composite image of Planet Models 1/32 scale Chance Vought's XF5U-1 Flying Pancake (Flying Flapjack) against a blue sky.

Images of the model can be seen here.

Wednesday, May 14, 2014

Battlestar Galactica

Here are some images of Moebius Model's Battlestar Galactica from the TV series of the late 70's.

From Wikipedia"
Battlestar Galactica is an American science fiction television series, created by Glen A. Larson, that began the Battlestar Galactica franchise. Starring Lorne Greene, Richard Hatch and Dirk Benedict, it ran for one season in 1978–79. After cancellation, its story was continued in 1980 as Galactica 1980 with Adama, Lieutenant Boomer (now a colonel) and Boxey (now called Troy) being the only continuing characters. Books have been written continuing the stories.
The series was remade in 2003, beginning with a three-hour mini-series followed by a weekly series which ran from 2004–2009. A feature film remake is also planned, to be directed by Bryan Singer with production input from original series creator Glen A. Larson. However, the movie has yet to go into production.
In a distant star system, the Twelve Colonies Of Mankind were reaching the end of a thousand-year war with the Cylons, warrior robots created by a reptilian race which expired long ago, presumably destroyed by their own creations. Humanity was ultimately defeated in a sneak attack on their homeworlds by the Cylons, carried out with the help of a human traitor, Count Baltar (John Colicos). Protected by the last surviving capital warship, a "battlestar" called Galactica, the survivors fled in any ships that were available to them. The Commander of the Galactica, Adama (Lorne Greene), led this "rag-tag fugitive fleet" of 220 ships in search of a new home. They began a quest to find the long-lost thirteenth tribe of humanity that had settled on a legendary planet called Earth. However, the Cylons continued to relentlessly pursue them across the galaxy.
The era in which this exodus took place is never clearly stated in the series itself. At the start of the series, it is mentioned as being "the Seventh Millennium of time", though it is unknown when this is in relation to Earth's history. The implication of the final aired episode, "The Hand of God", was that the original series took place after the Apollo 11 moon landing in July 1969 (as the Galactica receives a television transmission from Earth showing the landing). The later Galactica 1980 series is expressly set in the year 1980, though it is also claimed that the voyage to Earth took 30 years which contradicts the Apollo moon landing transmission which was only 11 years earlier.
Larson incorporated many themes from Mormon theology into the shows.