Jul 072012
 

A month back I showed some 8X10 cyanotype blueprints I cooked up using some off the shelf “sun print” paper. Since then, I’ve been tinkering with larger formats and more handmade stuff. I’ve gotten reasonably proficient at making 12X18 prints, using watercolor paper and special chemicals that are mixed and then painted onto the paper. It took a good long while to find a print shop that would even try to print off large format transparencies, but I’ve got the whole system up and running now. Here are some of the first “production run” (i.e. all the basic bugs worked out of the system). Larger prints may be possible in the future… the print shop is getting a larger printer, so large format transparencies should be possible. The only part I’m displeased with is the need to use watercolor paper (a whole bunch of different papers were tried, most were spectacular failures), since the result is a lot thicker and stiffer than old-school aerospace industry blueprints.

Since these are very much hand-made, each one would be different. Unlike stuff printed digitally, each would vary in terms of consistency and shading and whatnot. But as pure art I think they’re pretty spiffy.

Would there be interest in these, and others? How does $10 each plus shipping (rolled in a tube, I believe) sound?

UPDATE: Here is a collection of diagrams I’m thinking of doing as 12X18 cyanotype blueprints. I have a bunch more diagrams that I think would make fine blueprints, but at a wider aspect ratio…meaning longer paper than I can (currently) do.

 Posted by at 2:49 pm
Jul 012012
 

Now available: Bell Aircraft drawing 58-701-008, “General Arrangement Model 58D, ” dated 6-30-1948. This is the X-1D rocket powered supersonic aircraft.

This blueprint, measuring 12,943X5513 pixels (43.1X18.4 inches, printed off at 300dpi), was scanned in pieces and in full color from a blue-line original some years ago. The sheer size of it proved to be too much for my computers to bear in the reassembly phase, and had to await newer, more powerful systems. Now at last it’s available. This blueprint is presented as-is, with stains, tears, fold marks and all… these add character to the print that a pristine version would lack, while taking away none of the historical, technical or artistic value. Additionally, a cleaned-up grayscale version is included.

Also includes  halfsize and quartersize versions of each for easier viewing and printing.

Air drawing 61 can be downloaded for $5.00.

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 Posted by at 10:46 am
Jul 012012
 

Now available: Bell Aircraft drawing 52-700-002, “Inboard Profile MX-743 Research Airplane,” dated 12-12-1946, updated 3-30-1955. This is the X-2 rocket powered supersonic aircraft.

This blueprint, measuring 21,010X5580 pixels (70X18.6 inches, printed off at 300dpi), was scanned in pieces and in grayscale from a black-line original some years ago. The sheer size of it proved to be too much for my computers to bear in the reassembly phase, and had to await newer, more powerful systems. Now at last it’s available. This blueprint is presented as-is, with stains, tears, fold marks and all… these add character to the print that a pristine version would lack, while taking away none of the historical, technical or artistic value. Additionally, a cleaned-up version is included.

Also includes halfsize and quartersize versions of each for easier viewing and printing.

Air drawing 60 can be downloaded for $7.00.
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 Posted by at 10:45 am
Jul 012012
 

Now available: Bell Aircraft drawing 40-976-001, “General Arrangement 3 View Model 40 Airplane.” Dated 3-14-1944, this presents the design that would be built as the twin-jet XP-83 long range fighter. Interior arrangement is shown within the general arrangement.

This blueprint, measuring 13,850X5500 pixels (46.2X18.3 inches, printed off at 300dpi), was scanned in pieces and in full color from a blue-line original some years ago. The sheer size of it proved to be too much for my computers to bear in the reassembly phase, and had to await newer, more powerful systems. Now at last it’s available. This blueprint is presented as-is, with stains, tears, fold marks and all… these add character to the print that a pristine version would lack, while taking away none of the historical, technical or artistic value.

Also includes halfsize and quartersize versions for easier viewing and printing.

Air drawing 59 can be downloaded for $7.00.

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 Posted by at 10:45 am
Jul 012012
 

Now available: Bell Aircraft drawing 44-700-002, “Inboard Profile MX 653 Highspeed Research Aircraft, ” dated 6-25-1945. This is the X-1 rocket powered supersonic aircraft.

This blueprint, measuring 20,829X5359 pixels (69.43X17.86 inches, printed off at 300dpi), was scanned in pieces and in full color from a blue-line original some years ago. The sheer size of it proved to be too much for my computers to bear in the reassembly phase, and had to await newer, more powerful systems. Now at last it’s available. This blueprint is presented as-is, with stains, tears, fold marks and all… these add character to the print that a pristine version would lack, while taking away none of the historical, technical or artistic value.

Also includes  halfsize and quartersize versions for easier viewing and printing.

Air drawing 58 can be downloaded for $7.00.

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 Posted by at 10:45 am
Jun 202012
 

Seems Fantastic Plastic has released the Space Station V I modeled for ’em:

I haven’t seen one of the kits in person, but I have seen the laser stereolithographically produced master parts… and I gotta say it looked pretty spiffy even in that unfinished format. What with the photoetched-steel “unfinished rim” bits, the finished model photos look pretty snazzy.

 Posted by at 12:24 am
Jun 022012
 

… and I’ll close off “investment” on this little project:

Kickstarter: Computer/2001:SSV

I have reached the goal (woo!), though I haven’t blown past it far enough to retire upon (boo!). The products to be produced will be produced in extremely limited quantities and won’t be otherwise commercially available , so if detailed diagrams and technical description of the Space Station V floats your boat, here’s your shot.

UPDATE: The project was successful in obtaining a sufficiency of pledges; it is now closed to new pledges.

 Posted by at 1:49 am
May 272012
 

I’ve been looking into Kickstarter as a way to generate some business. It seems geared quite closely to artist types and people looking to set up businesses that require lots of funds. Sadly, the rules explicitly ban campaigns for things like “help me get a new computer.” And since a new computer is what I need, that’s kind of a shame. Additionally: every idea has to be reviewed and approved by humans, and I’d bet good money that most of the ideas I’d try through Kickstarter would get shot down. Oh well.

But the general concept is interesting. Someone says “I need X number of dollars for Project Y by date Z,” and offers a series of goodies of increasing value for specific levels of buy-in ($10, $25, $50, $1000, whatever). People who are interested pledge whatever amount they want. They sign up with Kickstarter and have to assign a credit card. If by date Z X dollars have not been pledged, then the project has failed, and those who pledged aren’t charged; on the other hand, if the project is successful and at least X dollars have been pledged, those who pledged have their credit cards charged and the artist gets his funds.

Seems like a plan. One I’ll copy for my own “I need a computer” project.

So, here’s the deal.  I have, as I’ve shown before, a pretty good 3D CAD model of the 2001 Space Station V. But I need a new computer to carry it any further. I need $600 for this new computer. So here’s what I’ll produce for various pledge levels:

$10: A hearty “thanks” and a PDF file with a few good illustrations of the Space Station V model

$25: As above, plus a collection of 11X17 prints of the SSV, showing it as a “real” design (akin to the numerous “blueprints” of Star Trek ships that people have done over the years).

$50: Everything above, with a MagCloud printed booklet describing the Space Station V. Not the kit or the CAD model, but a fictional, technical account of how the NCA & contractors would go about using the Orion II cargo shuttle and other much heavier lifters to orbit and build the thing, as well as a general overview of the design.

$100: Everything above, with the addition of large-format prints of the Space Station V CAD diagrams, at least 16X20 (probably 24X36).

$150: Everything above, with high-rez, non-encrypted extractable PDFs of the CAD diagrams

The timelimit: hmmm, let’s call it a week or so.

UPDATE: The project was successful in obtaining a sufficiency of pledges; it is now closed to new pledges.

The time to deliver your goodies: rather longer. Several months, I’d guesstimate.

If you’d like to pledge, send me an email: scottlowther@up-ship.com/blog

Don’t send money (unless you have a driving urge to pay off that $600 Right Now) until I’ve actually succeeded in getting a sufficiency of pledges to make it worthwhile.

If this works – and it’s a big if – another idea I’ve pondered is “photographic expedition.” I need to get down to Albuquerque to the nuclear weapons museum in order to take a few thousand photos, but I can’t financially justify it. However, a similar sort of “kickstart” might make it worthwhile. We’ll see…

 Posted by at 10:38 pm
May 242012
 

Some time back I came into possession of a control yoke from an F-102 Delta Dagger. It’s an interesting thing… I’ve never seen another control stick quite like it. It’s two handed; the left-hand stick can be unlocked, and used to slew the radar dish around. It looks like something that should have been used on a Colonial Viper or similar sci-fi spacecraft.

It seemed to me that there might be a market for replicas at several levels of detail. The simplest would be a basic “kit” of cast urethane resin, featuring the main stick including the right-hand control, the left-hand stick, the connecting “joint,” a few separate toggles and decals; next would be a finished & painted & decaled display piece based on the kit; next would be a kit with all the bells and whistles; and last would be a finished version of that kit. The basic kit I would guesstimate at $75 or so; the finished detailed piece at something like $350 or so.

Any interest?

Anybody know any Hollywood prop houses working sci-fi flicks who’d be interested is getting a bulk purchase???

 Posted by at 8:42 am