Capability photos on Flickr

5 3

Lego / NASA Imagine Our Future Beyond Earth Competition

Today there exists a number of aircraft from private organizations that have the ability to reach a low Earth orbit. Although I won’t name them here (because of the competition rules) they can reach the required orbit and then land again on earth costing only time and fuel at a fraction of what a full rocket would be. Their only limitation is they do not have the capability of leaving orbit like a conventional rocket does.

This creation is designed to eliminate the need for disposable or even re-usable rockets that NASA have planned.

How it works:

Phase 01:

The idea of the Skystation is to be a launch platform. The mission starts with the high altitude craft leaving the runway on Earth and accelerating skyward, arcing into the high atmosphere and docking with the Skystation. The docking ports are housed on the outer rim on top of large magnetic rails that are used for Phase 03.

Phase 02:

There is a docking connection under the shuttle where the astronaught can exit and move into the habitation module centered under the outer rim. This is where the stations crew live, work and where the visiting astronaught's can stay until the launch phase. This is also how the crew are relived, resupplied and the shuttle refueled incase later maneuvering is needed.

Phase 03:

Making use of the Earths powerful magnetic field the launch rails charge up and ready the shuttle for takeoff. They are essentially rail guns using the shuttle like a bullet which benefits their crew as no fuel will be expended. When the crew is ready and secure the shuttle is blasted down the rail at an immense speed and on their way to complete their mission.

Depending on the acceleration needed the shuttle would have been either targeted towards the moon for a slingshot maneuver or if given enough velocity straight shot to the destination. With time another Skystation would be present at mars or another colony meaning that travel between the two planets is more constant and cost effective.

The station itself is powered by a "solar skin" that covers 80 percent of its surface converting the sun’s rays into energy storing it into large batteries

The Pros:

Eliminates the need for any rockets

Saves Fuel

Saves Money

Saves the Environment

No wastage of vehicles

Made to a standard all countries could benefit

Opens the human race to a viable way to break free from our Earthly shackle.

The Cons:

Initial outlay would have a high cost upfront although would pay itself off with the saving of rocket fuel (and rockets!)

Construction would have to be completed in space which although not impossible is difficult.

Autumn at Stowe by Clive t Jones

8 9

Stowe evolved from an English Baroque garden into a pioneering landscape park. The progression is of the greatest interest. Although the end result does not have quite the drama which one might expect from such a famous place, there are many fine buildings and composed scenes. In the 1690s Stowe had a modest early-Baroque parterre garden, owing more to Italy than to France. This has not survived. In the 1710s and '20s Charles Bridgeman (garden designer) and John Vanburgh (architect) designed an English Baroque park, inspired by the work of London, Wise and Switzer. In the 1730s William Kent and James Gibbs were appointed to work with Bridgeman, who died in 1738. Kent and Gibbs designed more temples. Stowe began to evolve into a series of natural pictures, to be appreciated from a perambulation rather than from a central point. Kent's Temple of Ancient Virtue (1734) looks across the Elysian Fields to the Shrine of British Worthies. A Palladian Bridge was made in 1744. In the 1741 Lancelot 'Capability' Brown was appointed head gardener. He worked with Kent until the latter's death in 1748 and his own departure in 1751. Bridgeman's Octagonal Pond and Eleven Acre Lake were given a 'natural'shape. Brown made a Grecian Valley which, despite its name, is an abstract composition of landform and woodland. As Loudon remarked in 1831, 'nature has done little or nothing; man a great deal, and time has improved his labours'. Stowe is said to be the first English garden for which a guide book was produced. The Cobham monument has been restored and shows the owner in Roman dress.

The terraced gardens at Ugbrooke House by The Shaldives

3

Ugbrooke House

Ugbrooke House is a stately home in the parish of Chudleigh, Devon, England, situated in a valley between Exeter and Newton Abbot.

It dates back over 900 years, having featured in the Domesday Book. Before the Reformation the land belonged to the Church and the house was occupied by Precentors to the Bishop of Exeter. It has been the seat of the Clifford family for over four hundred years, and the owners have held the title Baron Clifford of Chudleigh since 1672.

The 9th Baron Clifford was an aide-de-camp to Edward VII and entertained royalty, both Edward VII and George V, at Ugbrooke Park.

The house, now a Grade I listed building, was remodelled by Robert Adam, while the grounds were redesigned by Capability Brown in 1761.The grounds featured what were possibly the earliest plantings of the European White Elm Ulmus laevis in the UK.The gardens are now Grade II* listed in the National Register of Historic Parks and Gardens.[4] The house and gardens are open to the public for a limited number of days each summer.

Baron Clifford of Chudleigh

Baron Clifford of Chudleigh, of Chudleigh in the County of Devon, is a title in the Peerage of England. It was created in 1672 for Thomas Clifford. The title was created as "Clifford of Chudleigh" rather than simply "Clifford" to differentiate it from several other Clifford Baronies previously created for members of this ancient family, including the Barony of de Clifford (1299), which is extant but now held by a branch line of the Russell family, having inherited through several female lines.

Baron Clifford of Chudleigh is the major surviving male representative of the ancient Norman family which later took the name de Clifford which arrived in England during the Norman Conquest of 1066, feudal barons of Clifford, first seated in England at Clifford Castle in Herefordshire, created Baron de Clifford by writ in 1299. The family seat is Ugbrooke Park, near Chudleigh, Devon.

Notable members of this branch of the Clifford family include antiquarian Arthur Clifford (grandson of the 3rd Baron), Victoria Cross recipient Sir Henry Hugh Clifford (son of the 7th Baron), Catholic clergyman William Clifford (son of the 7th Baron) and colonial administrators Sir Bede Clifford (son of the 10th Baron) and Sir Hugh Clifford (grandson of the 7th Baron). The family is also related to the notable recusant Weld family, of Lulworth Castle, through the 7th Baron's marriage to the daughter of Cardinal Thomas Weld.

Barons Clifford of Chudleigh (1672)

Thomas Clifford, 1st Baron Clifford of Chudleigh (1630–1673)

Hugh Clifford, 2nd Baron Clifford of Chudleigh (1663–1730)

Hugh Clifford, 3rd Baron Clifford of Chudleigh (1700–1732)

Hugh Clifford, 4th Baron Clifford of Chudleigh (1726–1783)

Hugh Edward Henry Clifford, 5th Baron Clifford of Chudleigh (1756–1793)

Charles Clifford, 6th Baron Clifford of Chudleigh (1759–1831)

Hugh Charles Clifford, 7th Baron Clifford of Chudleigh (1790–1858)

Charles Hugh Clifford, 8th Baron Clifford of Chudleigh (1819–1880)

Lewis Henry Hugh Clifford, 9th Baron Clifford of Chudleigh (1851–1916)

William Hugh Clifford, 10th Baron Clifford of Chudleigh (1858–1943)

Charles Oswald Hugh Clifford, 11th Baron Clifford of Chudleigh (1887–1962)

Lewis Joseph Hugh Clifford, 12th Baron Clifford of Chudleigh (1889–1964)

Lewis Hugh Clifford, 13th Baron Clifford of Chudleigh (1916–1988)

Thomas Hugh Clifford, 14th Baron Clifford of Chudleigh (b. 1948)

The heir apparent is the present holder's son Hon. Alexander Thomas Hugh Clifford (b. 1985)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

ERRV Grampian Dee - Aberdeen Harbour Scotland 7/1/2018 by DanoAberdeen

3

Grampian Dee

General

IMO: 9599470

Name: GRAMPIAN DEE

MMSI: 235091304

Vessel Type: STANDBY SAFETY VESSEL

Gross Tonnage: 1343

Summer DWT: 690 t

Build: 2012

Flag: UNITED KINGDOM

Home port: ABERDEEN

Dimensions

LOA 50.70 metres

LBP 40.40 metres

Breadth Moulded 13.00 metres

Draft Loaded / Depth 4.3 metres / 6.0 metres

Tonnage

GRT 1130 Tonnes

NRT 398 Tonnes

DWT 690 Tonnes

Capacities/Cranes

Fuel Oil (MGO) / Connection 300 m³

Fresh Water / Connection 150 m³

Ballast Water Approx 350 m³

Oil Based Mud / Connection N/A

Brine / Connection N/A

DMA (Base Fluid) / Connection N/A

Dry Bulk(s) / Connection N/A

Deck Area Approx 120 m² (Steel Deck)

Deck Loading 3 Tonnes per metre²

Deck Crane # 1 Heila 1.5T @ 15 Metres (3t @ 10m)

Deck Crane # 2 N/A

Deck Crane # 3 N/A

Winch Option - Buoy Recovery System fitted

Wire Reel N/A

Deck Tuggers N/A

Engines/Thrusters/Aux

Main Engine(s) MAK 6M20 (2133 BHP)

Propeller(s) 1 x CPP

Bow Thruster(s) HRP Azimuth @ 500BHP

Stern Thruster(s) N/A

Rudder Systems / Type Fishtail HP Rudder

Aux Engines 2 x Cat @ 547kW per unit

Shaft PTO’s 1 x PTO from Main Engine

Emergency Generators 1 x Emer Genset @ 365 kW

Control Systems/Dynamic Positioning

Control Positions Fwd, Aft, Port & Stbd

Full Manual Control Fwd & Aft consoles

Integrated Joystick Control Coverteam Joystick System

Joystick Control Aft, Port and Starboard consoles

Dynamic Positioning System N/A

Fan Beam Laser N/A

DGPS # 1 N/A

DGPS # 2 N/A

Hydro Acoustic Pos Ref # 1 N/A

Hydro Acoustic Pos Ref # 2 N/A

Vertical Taut Wire N/A

Rescue/Emergency Response Equipment

Daughter Craft Davit # 1 NED DECK MARINE Heave Compensated

Daughter Craft Delta Phantom 10.25 metre (Diesel)

Daughter Craft Davit # 2 Option

Daughter Craft Option

Fast Rescue Craft Davit # 1 NED DECK MARINE Heave Compensated

Fast Rescue Craft 1 x Avon SR 6.4 15 Man (Petrol)

Dacon Scoop Fitted

Dacon Rescue Crane Heila Telescopic Boom crane 1.5t@15m

Cosalt Rescue Basket Fitted & Launched from aft deck

Jason Cradles Frames Fitted

Winch Area Located on Aft Main Deck

Emergency Towing Capability Towing Hook Fitted

Dispersant Tanks 2 x 5 Tonne Tanks below Main Deck

Dispersant Spray Booms Fully outfitted Port & Starboard

Searchlights 4 x IBAK Kiel Fwd, Port, Stbd & Aft

Navigation/Communication Equipment

Radar(s) (Fwd) Furuno 2817 ARPA Furuno 2837 ARPA

Radar Rptr (Aft) Hatteland

ECDIS Microplot ECDIS

PLB System N/A

DGPS(s) Furuno DGPS 90

Gyro(s) Anschutz S22 Gyro

Autopilot Anschutz NP 60

Magnetic Comp Gillie 2000

Echo Sounder FE 700 ES

Digital Depth Recorder FE 720

Navtex Furuno NX 700 Navtex

Sat Comms Inmarsat C Felcon, Fleet 77 CapSat (A3)

MF/HF Radio Furuno FS 2570 C (A3)

UHF 3 x UHF Units

VHF (Fwd) FM8800 GMDSS VHF, ICOM ICM 401E

VHF (Aft) FM8800 GMDSS VHF, ICOM ICM 401E

Helo Radio ICOM IC A110

AIS Jotrun AIS TR 2500

VHF Direction Finder Taiyo TDL 1550

Doppler Log Furuno DS 80

SSAS Furuno Felcom

Portable VHF 3 x Jotrun GMDSS

Portable VHF 6 x ENTEL HT 640 VHF

Portable UHF 3 x ENTEL HT 880 UHF

Portable UHF 2 x Kenwood UHF

Sonic Helmets 4 x Sonic Helmets Mk 10

Smartpatch Phone ICOM PS1

Crew Facilities

Crew Cabins 15 Man Single Berth cabins c/w en suite facilites

Recreation & Leisure 1 Messroom, 2 Lounges

Leisure 1x Sauna, 1x Gym, 1x Ship's Office

Wimpole Hall by giles sanders

1

SAC 01 NATO Strategic Airlift Capability Boeing C-17A Globemaster III - cn F-207 by Espen

5

SAC 01 NATO Strategic Airlift Capability Boeing C-17A Globemaster III - cn F-207 landing @TRD/ENVA 10.02.16 NATO Cold Response Exercise 2016

Blenheim Bridge by Iwate Itinerary by Paul

5 8

When the 1st Duke of Marlborough and his architect, John Vanbrugh, surveyed Queen Anne's gift of Woodstock Park, they saw an awkward valley of marshland. Vanbrugh reimagined this marsh as ornamental water - crossed by the “finest bridge in Europe”.

The Duke duly approved Vanbrugh’s design, and building of The Grand Bridge began in 1708.

The main arch was eventually keyed in 1710, measuring 31 metres (101ft) wide and containing more than 30 rooms. Yet the bridge never quite scaled the heights of Vanbrugh’s intentions, as the arcaded superstructure that was planned to crown the bridge was never completed.

Still, it proved a stunning addition to Blenheim Palace – particularly when Capability Brown built a dam and cascade near Bladon, allowing the River Glyme to flow through the lower parts of the bridge.

The resulting ‘natural’ lakes on either side gave purpose to Vanbrugh’s heroic structure, prompting Sir Sacheverell Sitwell to remark: “The lake at Blenheim is the one great argument of the landscape gardener. There is nothing finer in Europe”.

Raven Raptor 332 TS Roof Motorcycle Toy Hauler Bar Raptor 332 TS 2016 20170123_3091 by Shane Smith

1

I just deleted this album then re-loaded it to un tag a dealer i have problems with and to blow off steam about his companies' problem. it won't take the wind out of my sales for the love of life on the road. I just spent the last two hours deleting tags to dealers I’ve made large purchases from. The next step is to take their name off of my Truck and Fifth Wheel! That will teach them! I’ve even deleted two entire albums of photos with tags leading friends to the dealerships. My small protest but to have to spend more money in civil court. There should be a court for dealing with consumer products after large purchases and problems exist. Who can afford to do that and or spend the time teaching the bad dealer a lesson! It’s hard when you live on fantasy island and want to believe there are people out there that are true pros and true craftsmen. I know there are a few people out there because I met them and refused to do business with other dealers because I met them too. I’ve seen a guy weld a Holiday Rambler that broke in half over night at the frame and get me back on the road. There is even an RV dealer five minutes from my house that did such a poor job on a 30 foot trailer I want to restore that they lost a ten-grand restoration job! I went elsewhere for a purchase. Where is Brett Michaels when you need him! Now to find the proper venues to vent. Do you think the dealer’s sites post bad reviews? I’m the perfect sucker for a Salesman that cares nothing but for the commission or if they aren’t paid on commission for the BS they lay on you to kill time to eventually close the sale. I shopped for years at many different places within the State and even some Florida dealers for the right RV for me. I have twenty years’ road experience with travel trailers in and out of campgrounds and dealers. The hard part is when you find a good mechanic you are often down the road on the next adventure. The dealer can’t take away my enthusiasm for the joy of my new trailer. They are so useful when built properly and so versatile for travel or events or full time Road Warriors! Who wouldn’t be frustrated when there are 18 jobs that need attention! I was told by the salesman I’d get a good education from top to bottom and the demo guy was going to send me out of the dealership with the fifth wheel receiver or jaws ungreased with no Teflon pad for the fifth wheel! I really needed a fifth wheel hooking and unhooking lesson along with good Hydraulic jack lesson. I was good for most other things except how the solar panel works. But they try hard to push you off on the useless manuals or Destruction books because they are over worked and under staffed in the service area. I get that. Except learning the hard way almost cost me my hand with a bed and the fifth wheel. Luckily I’m quick. Sometimes I don’t know if I should have been a great mechanic a teacher or a great lawyer. I walked HIM through greasing the B&W hitch and greasing the receiver and made him put the Teflon pad he was going to make me leave without that I bought two years ago in anticipation of having a fifth wheel from Mark (the good guy) at the RV show in Greensboro. No kidding, I put a lot of thought into this. Needless to say, he has mechanical skills beyond my capability and they used the excuse it was market time or the RV show to be short with me. Now that I have tested things on the trailer before a trip and found at least 18 jobs that need to be done after waiting for a call for parts that had already been delivered and a call never received then accused of not paying for screens that didn’t fit and that a $125.00 per hour fee was going to be charged, who wouldn’t be upset? Did I mention this? It will always be something! They can just put the nail in the coffin for the common belief that it is over after the Sale is done. Getting passed off from one department to the other is unforgiveable! The excuse is familiar. I just do Sales; you have to talk to Service. Service says we just do Service, you have to go to parts. Even with lifetime warranty printed and tagged all over the trailer with a promise to teach you about how everything works I’ve found out the hard way from a popular dealer in Rural Hall, NC that it is not the case! It’s too bad I didn’t buy my Truck or RV and drive all the way to Atlanta to deal with @Scott Trail or find a similar friend that would make sure everything is right. Dream on Consumer! So, if any name bashing starts remember we always have one friend in the car, RV, insurance or Sales business. When we overall call all Salesman assholes or all insurance companies thieves or all dealings with service mechanics complete disasters we have to remember we have people on our friend’s lists that have those jobs. You know what, right now after a huge purchase and being shuffled it’s amazing I can work up any mercy for any of them. I’ve tried to be a Salesman. Service over profit was my downfall. I’ve tried to be a Customer Service Rep. It was difficult talking to people that needed parts after a large purchase when you just learned there aren’t any parts! We are all selling something whether we know it or not. If you aren’t taking pride in your job to be the best you can be and just killing time you are a part of this problem! Not everyone has a dream job. But it is just my turn to take a punch, but I’m swinging back! It is just unfortunate for them I know a little about RVs. I must have too high a standard to believe that there are really people that give a damn about products or follow through after the sale. I hate that we just don’t care attitude that leaves you searching for a better place. I had a place in Mooresville that I will find again for service. Hopefully the same family runs the place. It is near the Lake in Terrell. I need to return to and find another mobile mechanic once that moved on to a dealer in the mountains and I can’t dig his name up. There are good people out there. They are so hard to find. Maybe it is just me. I expect too much after laying down a hard-earned wage or a life savings for a house, new car, recreation vehicle or piece of equipment that is supposed to work. When I get a new toy, I want to take a photo of every nut bolt and screw on it, one because I am proud, the other reason is for future reference when things fall apart. Buyer’s remorse sucks even if you know the term all too well, Buyer Beware! I saw one guy at the current dealership I am dealing with now running, literally running to get from customer to customer after my purchase. In between him and the good mechanics are problems! The good guy’s name is Mark. He is extremely smart and knows RV’s and fifth wheels up and down. He was literally running with a ladder and carrying three heavy hitches with him to try to wait on at least two customers at the same time. I’m always leaving a window or looking for the good and hoping I’m not back on fantasy island. There were excellent qualified educated trailer technicians in the service in a good building with the right tools to build trailers from scratch, including paint. Getting to them is a full-time job on the customer’s end. They even had parts delivered that they owed me on what they call a we owe and hadn’t bothered to call in a three-week period. They wanted to double charge for some bug screens around 50 bucks until I produced a paid receipt. Even after the Salesmen told (I know his name) the parts manager he personally sat with the mechanic for a half hour trying patiently to put on the wrong screen. Even with lifetime warranty written all over my trailer they wanted to charge me for service $125.00 per hour for labor. That must be some sort of trick. For $125.00 an hour most any parts should be free! I waited three hours even with a scheduled appointment to even get told they were ready to take her in. Two days later I had to force the call to get an eta on when she would be ready. Imagine if I were a full timer living full time in my RV or still doing three shows a day in three different cities a day. Fortunately, I am gifted with a little time. The service manager mentioned to do the 18 jobs I needed to be done he still had to order parts. Imagine I was sold a unit that I (The Customer) found at least 18 things to do after leaving the lot and running the unit. So, I am going to rescue my unit tomorrow and hope what they did fix after two days waiting can get me through my first trip until parts come for the rest of the job. Do you think I am a fool to take it back? It is a hard call! I’ll know tomorrow if I receive a bill or the trailer is in good shape. The tough part is, after you have been tough with service now your unit is at their mercy. I was told by a good agent I don’t take any crap from anyone. But sometimes it costs me. But those of you that are passive and just let them walk all over you take a bigger beating. With full time jobs or people that depend on their unit as a full-time vehicle you can imagine the pressure to change up vacation times or deal with time off from your job to take care of problems.

Master of All He Surveys by Sharon Emma Goldring

44 27

I went for a walk around Petworth Park to see the deer during the rutting season, strange groaning and belching sounds echoed around the park. The clash of antlers could be heard for miles as the males showed off their virility to potential mates. This stag had just won a dual and chased his rival away, captured as he proudly looks out over his harem.

The fallow deer (Dama dama) is a ruminant mammal belonging to the family Cervidae. This common species is native to western Eurasia, but has been introduced widely elsewhere. It often includes the rarer Persian fallow deer as a subspecies (D. d. mesopotamica), while others treat it as an entirely different species (D. mesopotamica).

Petworth House and Park in Petworth, West Sussex, England, has been a family home for over 800 years. The estate was a royal gift from the widow of Henry I to her brother Jocelin de Louvain, who soon after married into the renowned Percy family. As the Percy stronghold was in the north, Petworth was originally only intended for occasional use.

Petworth, formerly known as Leconfield, is a major country estate on the outskirts of Petworth, itself a town created to serve the house. Described by English Heritage as "the most important residence in the County of Sussex", there was a manorial house here from 1309, but the present buildings were built for the Dukes of Somerset from the late 17th century, the park being landscaped by "Capability" Brown. The house contains a fine collection of paintings and sculptures.

The house itself is grade I listed (List Entry Number 1225989) and the park as a historic park (1000162). Several individual features in the park are also listed.

It was in the late 1500s that Petworth became a permanent home to the Percys after Elizabeth I grew suspicious of their allegiance to Mary, Queen of Scots and confined the family to the south.

The 2nd Earl of Egremont commissioned Capability Brown to design and landscape the deer park. The park, one of Brownâs first commissions as an independent designer, consists of 700 acres of grassland and trees. It is inhabited by the largest herd of fallow deer in England. There is also a 12-hectare (30-acre) woodland garden, known as the Pleasure Ground.

Brown removed the formal garden and fishponds of the 1690âs and relocated 64,000 tons of soil, creating a serpentine lake. He bordered the lake with poplars, birches and willows to make the ânaturalâ view pleasing. A 1987 hurricane devastated the park, and 35,000 trees were planted to replace the losses. Gracing the 30 acres of gardens and pleasure grounds around the home are seasonal shrubs and bulbs that include lilies, primroses, and azaleas. A Doric temple and Ionic rotunda add interest in the grounds.

Petworth House is a late 17th-century mansion, rebuilt in 1688 by Charles Seymour, 6th Duke of Somerset, and altered in the 1870s by Anthony Salvin. The site was previously occupied by a fortified manor house founded by Henry de Percy, the 13th-century chapel and undercroft of which still survive.

Today's building houses an important collection of paintings and sculptures, including 19 oil paintings by J. M. W. Turner (some owned by the family, some by Tate Britain), who was a regular visitor to Petworth, paintings by Van Dyck, carvings by Grinling Gibbons and Ben Harms, classical and neoclassical sculptures (including ones by John Flaxman and John Edward Carew), and wall and ceiling paintings by Louis Laguerre. There is also a terrestrial globe by Emery Molyneux, believed to be the only one in the world in its original 1592 state.

For the past 250 years the house and the estate have been in the hands of the Wyndham family â currently Lord Egremont. He and his family live in the south wing, allowing much of the remainder to be open to the public.

The house and deer park were handed over to the nation in 1947 and are now managed by the National Trust under the name "Petworth House & Park". The Leconfield Estates continue to own much of Petworth and the surrounding area. As an insight into the lives of past estate workers the Petworth Cottage Museum has been established in High Street, Petworth, furnished as it would have been in about 1910.

www.nationaltrust.org.uk/petworth-house

ROCK SOLID COMMITMENT by Multinational Corps Northeast

This has been a turning point in the history of the Headquarters Multinational Corps Northeast (HQ MNC NE). With the successful completion of the exercise „Brilliant Capability 2016”, the Corps – Custodian of Regional Security – has become operationally capable to assume command of the Very High Readiness Joint Task Force, also referred to as the “spearhead force”. I strongly believe that our team effort will provide tremendous value to NATO. – said Lieutenant General Manfred Hofmann, the Corps Commander, on the occasion of the Distinguished Visitors Day, which took place in Szczecin, 2nd June.

Island View by PcStumpy

6 21

Stowe Landscape Gardens, Buckinghamshire, designed by Capability Brown. Pentax 67II, 75mm lens, polariser, 81 warm up and tripod. Velvia 100 film.

Scanned from a 120 film slide.

Far and beyond by BigHands McGhan

4

Went to Gatton Park today but this time the privately owned part not belonging to the National Trust. The Royal Alexandra and Albert School own it but on the first Sunday of each month from May to September it opens it's grounds to the public for the princely sum of £4. Worth every penny! The grounds were originally designed by Capability Brown.

This is the view from the rear of Gatton Hall which was once owned by the Colman family (Colman's Mustard), purchased in 1888 by Sir Jeremiah Colman as the family home.

Capability Brown Five Arches Bridge North Cray by John K Thorne

4

Listing Text

NORTH CRAY ROAD

1.

5005

(west side)

North Cray

TQ 47 SE 4/14 Five Arch Bridge

II

2.

250 yds north-north-west of Church of St James. Circa 1781. Much rebuilt

5-arched footbridge, incorporating weir on north side. Round arches, graded

in size ; curved parapet with ends curving outwards. Now largely of yellow

brick, but with red brick on each side; courses of flint below stone band;

stone parapet much replaced in cement. The bridge linked the 2 former estates

of North Cray Place and Foots Cray Place, as part of Lancelot Brown's landscaping

of both parks. (See Dorothy Stroud's 'Lancelot Brown').

1:72 Hawker Hurricane Mk. VI; RAAF "A60-25/QE-V", 4th Sq.; Tsili-Tsili airfield, New Guinea, early 1943 - (Whif/Hobby Boss kit conversion) by Dizzyfugu

4 9

+++ DISCLAIMER +++

Nothing you see here is real, even though the conversion or the presented background story might be based historical facts. BEWARE!

Some background

The Imperial Japanese Army Air Force's fighter force, especially the Nakajima Ki-43, had been underestimated in its capability, numbers and the strategy of its commanders. Within a few months, Japanese forces had conquered vast areas of the Pacific and South East Asia. During these campaigns, the ill-prepared Allied air forces in the Pacific suffered devastating losses.

Because of political and cultural ties between the United Kingdom and Australia, British manufacturers were the main source of RAAF aircraft. However, the British aircraft industry had long been hard-pressed to meet the needs of the RAF. Although United States companies had enormous aircraft manufacturing capacity, their output was now intended first and foremost for US air units. Even if aircraft built overseas did become available, they would be shipped long distances in wartime conditions, with consequent delays and losses. As a consequence, CAC came into its own with the development of the Boomerang fighter, which was not operational before late 1942.

Following the outbreak of war with Japan, 51 Hurricane Mk IIs were sent as a stop-gap in crates to Singapore, with 24 pilots, the nucleus of five squadrons. They arrived on 3 January 1942, by which time the Allied fighter squadrons in Singapore, flying Brewster Buffalos, had been overwhelmed in the Malayan campaign. Even though the Hurricanes were a significant progress, they suffered in performance.

Because of inadequate early warning systems, Japanese air raids were able to destroy 30 Hurricanes on the ground in Sumatra, most of them in one raid on 7 February. After Japanese landings in Singapore, on 10 February, only 18 serviceable Hurricanes remained out of the original 99. After Java was invaded, some of the pilots were evacuated by sea to Australia. 31 Hurricane airframes, which had been on the wayby ship, not been assembled and lacked Merlin engines, were directed to Australia in the wake of events.

From these unfinished machines, the Hurricane Mk. VI was quickly devised: the airframes were mated with P&W Twin Wasp engines, which were produced under license at the CAC plant in Lidcombe, Sydney, for the RAAF's Boomerang and Bristol Beaufort. It was clear from the start that these Twin Wasp-powered machines would rather be stop-gaps and no true fighters, rather fighter bombers and more suited for the ground attack role. Hence, like the latest fighters at the time, planning for the Mk. VI included automatic cannons. As no such weapons were manufactured locally, a British-made Hispano-Suiza 20 mm which an Australian airman had collected as a souvenir in the Middle East was reverse engineered – and four of them replaced the eight and partly twelve 0.303 machine guns of the original Mk. IIB machines. Additionally, the pilot received extra armor plating, and the wings were reinforced for external ordnance.

The RAAF Mk. VI Hurricanes carried A60-02 through -32 registrations. As a side note, A60-01 was a single Hurricane Mk.I serialled V-7476. This aircraft served with No.2 and 3 Communications Flights RAAF and was used on occasion for experimental work at RAAF Base Laverton on the outskirts of Melbourne. The aircraft was scrapped in 1945.
The Hurricane Mk. VIs actively took part in Pacific operations with RAAF’s No. 4 Squadron and No. 5 Squadron, being joined by Boomerangs in early 1943. They were operated in New Guinea and during the Solomon Islands Campaign as well as the Borneo Campaign, mostly in the close support role and with marked success.

Flying in pairs (one to observe the ground, the other to observe the air around them), their tasks included bombing, strafing, close infantry support and artillery spotting. When attacking larger enemy formations, the Hurricanes often operated in conjunction with the smaller and much more agile Boomerang fighter. In this role, a Boomerang would get in close to confirm the identity of the target and mark it with a 20 lb (9 kg) smoke bomb with the "cooperating" Hurricane, Beaufort or Havoc delivering the major ordnance in a quick run and from a safer distance. The partnership between RAAF planes and Royal New Zealand Air Force Corsair fighter bombers during the Bougainville Campaign was said to be particularly effective.

The Australian Hurricane Mk. VIs soldiered on until early 1945, when they were finally retired. The Twin Wasp engines were used for spares, all airframes were scrapped, no plane survived the war.

General characteristics:

Crew: 1

Length: 32 ft 3 in (9.84 m)

Wingspan: 40 ft 0 in (12.19 m)

Height: 13 ft 1½ in (4.0 m)

Wing area: 257.5 ft² (23.92 m²)

Empty weight: 5,745 lb (2,605 kg)

Loaded weight: 7,670 lb (3,480 kg)

Max. takeoff weight: 8,710 lb (3,950 kg)

Maximum speed: 331 mph (531 km/h)

Range: 650 mi (1.045 km)

Service ceiling: 36,000 ft (10,970 m)

Rate of climb: 2,303 ft/min (11.7 m/s)

Wing loading: 29.8 lb/ft² (121.9 kg/m²)

Power/mass: 0.15 hp/lb (0.25 kW/kg)

Engine: 1× Pratt & Whitney R-1830 Twin Wasp radial engine, 1,200 hp (895 kW)

Armament: 4× 20 mm (0.787 in) Hispano or CAC cannons; 2x 45-gallon (205 l) drop tanks or 2× 250 or 500 lb (110 or 230 kg) bombs

The kit and its assembly

The Hurricane Mk. VI is a whif, even though with little effort but a good story behind it. The original idea to mate a Hurricane with a radial engine came when I found a drawing of a Russian Hurricane, mated with a Schwezow ASch-82 engine. It looked… interesting. Not certain if this had been done for sure, but a great inspiration.

While browsing through the scrap heap I later found a Twin Wasp engine – that fueled the idea of a respective conversion. The Russian option was dead, but when I checked contemporary planes I came across the small Boomerang, and the historical facts were perfect for an obscure Australian Hurricane variant.

The rest was quickly done: the basic kit is a Hurricane Mk. IIC (Trop) from Hobby Boss, the Twin Wasp comes from a wrecked Matchbox PB4Y Privateer. The original Merlin was simply cut away and replaced by the "new" and relatively small radial engine. A surprisingly easy task, even though I had to widen the area in front of the cockpit by about 1mm to each side. With some putty and a new exhaust pipe with flame dampers, the surgical part was quickly done. A pilot was added, too, in order to distract from the rather bleak cockpit.

To make the plane look more interesting and suitable for a display on the ground, the flaps were lowered (scratch-built) and vertical and horizontal stabilizer were moved away from OOB neutral position. Additionally, the cooler under the fuselage was omitted, what creates together with the radial engine a very different side view. This "Aussie'cane" looks stout but disturbingly realistic, like a Boomerang’s big brother!

Only other changes/additions are a pilot figure and two wing hardpoints, holding bombs. The rest is OOB.

Painting

I have always been a fan of all-green RAAF WWII planes, so I chose such a simple livery. Inspiration came from real-life 4. Squadron Boomerangs, so I adopted the “QE” code and tried to mimic the overall look.

Interior surfaces were kept in Humbrol 78 ('Cockpit Green', dry-painted with light grey). The plane was painted with “Foilage Green” on all outer surfaces - a tone which seems to be heavily debated. Most sources claim FS 34092 (Humbrol 149) as a nowaday's replacement, but to me, this color is just too green and blue-ish. IMHO, “Foilage Green” has a rather yellow-ish hue - Humbrol 75 ("Bronze Green") would be better, if it wasn't too dark.

After some trials I settled for Humbrol 105 ("Army Green"). I think it is a sound compromise. It resembles FS 34096, but is (much) less grey-ish and offers that yellow hue I was looking for. Heavy weathering was done, esp. at the panel lines with dry-painted FS 34096 (Testors) and some panels "bleached" with Humbrol 86 ("Light live Green"). After deacls had been applied, some dry brushing with olive drab and light grey added to the worn and faded look, as well as flaked paint around the engine and the wings' leading egdes and soot stains at exhausts and guns. I wanted to emphasize the harsh climate conditions and duties of this fictional machine.

Only other colors are typical white quick recognition markings on tail and wings, painted with a mix of Humbrol 130 and 196 for a very light grey, with some white dry painting on th eleading edges.For a final clear coat, I used a matte varnish which still has a light gloss to it - “Foilage Green” and RAAF finishes were AFAIK supposed to be semi-matte and of higher quality that USAF paintjobs.

Markings come mostly from the scrap box. The RAAF insignia were taken from a Vultee Vengeance aftermarket sheet by Kanga Decals, which also provided the mid sea grey codes. The Australian registration numbers were improvised with single white letters from TL Modellbau decal sheets.

All in all I am happy with the result - a simple measure, a good story and even a very simple livery that allows room for imagination and painting effects. A nice lil' whif, the "Aussie'cane" Mk. VI.

Croome by Nathan Reading

8 11

The National Trust Property ,Croome has a landscaped park designed by Lancelot 'Capability' Brown. View towards church. Taken with 10-20mm

The Spanish Garden at Ugbrooke House by The Shaldives

3 1