Some photos from the past two days. Note: not my hand.
Oct 302010
Oct 292010
In July, the Vietnam Vets of America, Quad Cities Chapter, dedicated a monument to John Baker, who was awarded a CMH for heroism in Vietnam. The top of the monument has a quite nice bronze eagle atop a stone obelisk.
The location of the monument is a bit odd… in front of the Jumers hotel and casino in Rock Island, Illinois. While I’ve little use for casinos, I must admit to some admiration for Jumers. The Illinois gaming commission has laws strictly limiting the location of casinos. I believe the law is written that only casinos “on water” are legal; the intent here was to mean that only riverboat casinos are legal. But the “on water” wording turned out to have a loophole, which Jumers exploited: the gaming floor, as I understand it, rests on a large, flat bladder filled with water, something like 3/8″ thick. It’s not a boat, but it’s on water.
Clever.
Oct 292010
From an old issue of Air Pictorial, a cutaway illustration of the McDonnell F4H.
Oct 292010
Oct 292010
Two updates:
1) 1/72 scale confirmed, trio of booster rockets confirmed.
2) Fantastic Plastic likes the idea of using the Pluto vehicles planned launch stand as a display stand… if it can be made for a reasonable price. So I’m looking into simplifying this as much as practical.
Oct 282010
Oct 282010
Some long exposures, showing the wind-blown clouds hereabouts.
Oct 282010
Oct 282010
Official: the next model that I will master for Fantastic Plastic is the Project Pluto nuclear ramjet cruise missile. The next model was *supposed* to be the “2001” Space Station V, but I’m separated from my references for that. But the Pluto stuff I have on hand.
Currently undetermined is the scale. 1/72 is the obvious choice, but 1/48 might be possible as well. Some measure of “cutaway model” will be inevitable, due to the wide open nature of the inlet and nozzle; a full cutaway with all the innards is unlikely, but possible at larger scales. If you have a preference, leave a comment.
Oct 272010
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2010/10/23/nyc-proposal-renders-bad-drivers-debtors-unfit-guns/
Short form: NY City has proposed new rules that will strip citizens of their Constitutionally guaranteed protections if those citizens have a speeding ticket, or have been fired, or have had trouble with credit cards, or have poor moral character or for any other reason the NYPD might make up.
Also:
http://www.canada.com/news/Farmer+charged+with+assault+after+hatchet+attack/3731735/story.html
Short form: a farmer gets burgled, and whollops the crap out of one of the burglars. So, guess who’s been charged with assault.