Cyanotype Prints 05 & 06: Republic AP-100 VTOL

 aircraft, art, cyanotype blueprints, drawings, new products, projects  No Responses »
Jul 122012
 

Cyanotype Prints 05 & 06: Republic AP-100 VTOL

Two Republic Aviation illustrations of the AP-100 supersonic VTOL strike fighter, circa 1961. Print 05 depicts the aircraft in cutaway; Print 06 shows the overall vehicle configuration. They can be purchased for $10 each, or together for $17.

A hand made cyanotype blueprint on sturdy 12X18 watercolor paper. Each is unique, and likely to feature small imperfections.The blue will fade if left in the sun. If this happens, it can be darkened by placing it somewhere dark with good air flow to re-oxidize the ink. Alternatively. hydrogen peroxide, available from grocery stores, will instantly oxidize the ink and restore it to its full hue.

 Posted by at 8:29 pm

Martin Marietta HL-10 concept model

 aircraft, models, projects, spacecraft  2 Responses »
Jul 112012
 

From the NASA HQ history office, a photo of a Martin Marietta model of the HL-10. The ID plaque on the base of the model reads “NASA HL-10 LIFTING ENTRY RESEARCH VEHICLE,” but the interior clearly shows that this design was intended for transportation of crew, and possibly cargo, to space.

More info, including several diagrams, HERE.

 Posted by at 7:41 pm

Hipster Aerospace Art

 aircraft, art, drawings, history, new products, nukes, projects, rockets, spacecraft  16 Responses »
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

Air Drawing 61: Bell X-1D General Arrangement

 aircraft, drawings, drawings&documents, history, new products, rockets  4 Responses »
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

Air Drawing 60: Bell X-2 inboard profile & elevation

 aircraft, drawings, drawings&documents, history, new products, rockets  No Responses »
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

Air Drawing 59: XP-83 Inboard & General Arrangement

 aircraft, drawings, drawings&documents, history, new products  2 Responses »
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

Air Drawing 58: X-1 Inboard Profile & Elevation

 aircraft, drawings, drawings&documents, history, new products, rockets  No Responses »
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

Man-powered helicopter

 aircraft, news, youtube  3 Responses »
Jun 252012
 

An unofficial record of 50 seconds or so of hovering flight, set by the University of Maryland’s “Gamera II.” Clearly, man-powered helicopters aren’t going to be the mode of transport of choice in the future, but it’s still an impressive achievement.

[youtube H0qfgBeb35Y]

 Posted by at 3:31 pm
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