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Mount Everest and Everest Base Camp, 5159m elevation, Nepal
To climb higher up on Everest, people spend a couple of weeks in base camp to acclimatize to the altitude. They have then to cross the Khumbu Icefall from base camp. The glacier moves about 1m per day, so large crevasses open with little warning and large towers of ice collapse suddenly. Camp I is above the icefall at 6065m. The icefall is regarded as one of the most dangerous stages of the South Col route to Everest's summit.
From Camp I, climbers make their way up a gently rising glacial valley to the base of the Lhotse face, where Camp II is established at 6500m. From here, climbers ascend the Lhotse face on fixed ropes up to Camp III, located on a small ledge at 7470m. From there, it is another 500 meters to Camp IV on the South Col at 7920m.
From Camp IV, climbers will begin their summit push around midnight with hopes of reaching the summit within 10 to 12 hours. Climbers will first reach "The Balcony" at 8400m, a small platform where they can rest and gaze at peaks to the south and east in the early light of dawn. Continuing up the ridge, climbers are then faced with a series of imposing rock steps which usually forces them to the east into waist-deep snow, a serious avalanche hazard. At 8750m, a small table-sized dome of ice and snow marks the South Summit.
From the South Summit, climbers follow the knife-edge southeast ridge along what is known as the "Cornice traverse", where snow clings to intermittent rock. This is the most exposed section of the climb as a misstep to the left would send one 2,400m down the southwest face, while to the immediate right is the 3,050m Kangshung face. At the end of this traverse is an imposing 12m rock wall called the "Hillary Step" at 8,760m.
Hillary and Tenzing were the first climbers to ascend this step and they did it with primitive ice climbing equipment and ropes. Once above the step, it is a comparatively easy climb to the top on moderately angled snow slopes.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khumbu_Icefall
A childhood dream come true: This is the Moon Base I would have loved to have when I was a kid: 9×3 baseplates filled with stations, vehicles and spaceships.
20/20: Details (9/9)
That’s it, my Lego Classic Space Generation 1 Moon Base with 27 baseplates. It’s my biggest Lego project so far and really a childhood dream come true :-))
This hotrod is based on a 1959 English Ford Popular. Its got
3500cc Rover V8 Engine
Jaguar E-Type rear axle with inside rear disc brakes
V6 Ford Capri manual Gearbox (4 speed)
VW Beetle rear lights and rear fibre fenders.
MOT & Tax exempt
£200 fully comp insurance / year
Lots of fun
Backstory of this imperial base is a Dark Jedi idolizes Darth Vader, took control of an Imperial base, and added a temple where he/she could worship the Dark Lord of the Sith. Hence the giant statue of Vader.
I originally was going to use that large flashlight of Vader (That's where the idea came from in the first place) but then this guy came out.
The first of four F-15 Eagles of Israel's 106 squadron peels off to prepare for landing back at Waddington.
Waddington, Lincolnshire
12th September 2019
20190912 IMG_6342
General Dynamics F-16C Fighting Falcon of the Air National Guard Air Force Reserve Command Test Center (AATC) of the Arizona AIr National Guard from the Tucson ANG Base participating in Red Flag 16-1 exercises at Nellis AFB.
+++ DISCLAIMER +++
Nothing you see here is real, even though the conversion or the presented background story might be based on historical facts. BEWARE!
Some background:
Slovenian contact with military aviation began during World War I, when the army and navy air services of Austria-Hungary conscripted large numbers of personnel from throughout the Empire. As the Empire began to collapse during 1918, Slovenian aircrew and ground crew switched their allegiance to the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes. Aircraft found on Slovenian territory were taken over by the Slovenian authorities and formed into a fledgling air arm. The new air arm was soon involved in the conflict with Austria over the border provinces of Carinthia and south Styria. Later in 1919, the Slovenian air units were absorbed into the Royal Yugoslav Air Force.
In 1968 a reserve volunteer force, the Teritorialna Obramba (Territorial Defence of the Socialist Republic of Slovenia), was established to defend local key locations in time of crisis. The Slovenian Territorial Defence HQ had a small auxiliary aviation unit stationed at Ljubljana-Polje airfield by 1969, when Government Factories Type 522 advanced trainers were being operated. These aircraft were borrowed from the Yugoslav Air Force and not owned by Slovenia. Slovenian Territorial Defence ceased to be a part of the Yugoslavian auxiliary forces on 21 June 1991, (four days prior of the proclamation of independence), when the Yugoslav army seized 12 Soko J-20 Kraguj aircraft from them.
On 28 June 1991 a Yugoslav Air Force Gazelle defected to Slovenia, providing the first helicopter for the Territorial Defence Force. During the war, it also was equipped with three ex-Police Bell 412s and an Agusta A-109A. On 9 June 1992 the Air Force Unit of the Slovenian Army was renamed into 15 Brigada Vojaskega Letalstva. The 15 Brigada was divided into two squadrons, one fixed-wing and one helicopter squadron, flying from two bases, Brnik airport and Cerklje ob Krki.
Slovenia’s independence and the aftershock of the war in Yugoslavia soon led to a major expansion of the Slovenian Air Force’s capabilities through the acquisition of 18 former East German MiG 21M and MF fighters, which had recently been retired as a consequence of the re-unification of Germany and the dissolution of the NVA-LSK. As armament, Wympel R-60 (NATO reporting name AA-8 “Aphid") IR-guided short range AAMs were bought from German surplus stock, too.
The machines were disassembled and transported by train to Romania in 1995, where 12 of them were re-built and outfitted with modern avionics from Israel, bringing them more or less to the Romanian Air Force’s “Lancer C” standard and capable of carrying Western weapons like the AIM-9 Sidewinder or the Rafael Python (even though the Wympel R-60, also procured from ex-East German stocks, was the interceptor’s prime weapon. The rest of the airframes were kept as spares and for potential replacements.
In Slovenian service, the MiG-21 became, under the newly introduced military serial number system, designated “L21” (L for Letalska = Aircraft). The first machines were delivered in 1996 and exclusively operated as interceptors. In this role, they were allocated to the newly founded Slovenian Air Force’s interceptor squadron, which was at that time still part of the 15 Brigada. In 1997, this new unit made its first deployment outside of the country: two aircraft were sent to the Mildenhall Air Fete in the UK.
When Slovenia joined NATO in 2004, the country took over most of the responsibility for protecting Slovenian airspace from other NATO units, even though foreign forces’ deployments were still frequent. In order to prolong the L21’s service life and ensure interoperability with friendly, foreign forces, the Slovenian Fishbed fleet was overhauled and updated by Aerostar in Romania in 2003 with NATO-compatible avionics (primarily communication and IFF systems), similar to the Croatian Air Force’s MiG-21BisD/UMD standard.
On 8 November 2004 the 15 Brigada was officially disbanded, and four new units were formed in its place: the 15 Helicopter Battalion, the Air Force School, the Air Force Base and the Interceptor Squadron.
The 151st Rotary Wing Squadron is located at the Brnik air base and the unit is equipped with eight Bell 412 helicopters as well as four AS-532 Cougar helicopters. The unit’s duties are to organize training courses for pilots and technical staff, to organize search and rescue missions and operate within the System of Civil Protection, Help and Rescue, to secure cargo transportation to mountain areas, to extinguish fires, and to provide air support for SAF units.
The Air Force Military School is located at the Cerklje ob Krki air base. The school conducts the basic and advance training programs for future air force pilots in two Zlin 142L and eight Zlin 242L planes and four Bell 206 Jet Ranger helicopters, organizes practices for air force pilots, provides fire support, and carries out various tasks for other branches of the armed forces by using the two PC-9 and nine PC-9M planes. A part of the Air Force Military School is also the parachute squad, located at the Brnik air base, which organizes basic and advanced parachute training for SAF members.
The Air Force Base, located at the Cerklje ob Krki air base and designated 152nd Fixed Wing Squadron, carries out logistic support, such as fuel supply. The unit is equipped with two PC-6 planes and one L-410 plane. The Air Force Base unites the air supply squad and the technical support unit whose main tasks are to plan and conduct the second stage of aircraft maintenance, carry out technical personnel training, update aircraft documentation, etc.
Finally, Cerklje ob Krki also became the home of the country’s sole jet fighter squadron, officially the 154th Fixed Wing Squadron, but semi-officially and more commonly dubbed “Letalska Lovec Eskadrila” (= Interceptor Squadron). From Cerklje ob Krki, the Slovenian Air Force conducts airspace patrols in close collaboration with and support from Italian and Hungarian air forces, since the Slovenian fleet of twelve L21s is not big enough to ensure an independent 24/7 fulfillment of this task.
In 2014 the Slovenian MiG-21s were refurbished again, after two of the original machines had been lost in accidents. They were replaced with material from the mothballed airframe stock and the L21 fleet will probably remain in active use until 2019/2020, when they will be replaced by a new 4th generation fighter – candidates are F-16C/Ds, bought from US surplus stocks, or leased Saab Gripen (JAS 39C), similar to the Czech and Hungarian Air Force.
General characteristics:
Crew: 1
Length: 15.76 m (51 ft 7½ in) incl. pitot
Wingspan: 7.15 m (23 ft 6 in)
Height: 4.13 m (13 ft 6½ in)
Wing area: 23.0 m² (247.3 ft²)
Empty weight: 6,000 kg (13,215 lb)
Gross weight: 8,200 kg (18,060 lb)
Max. TOW: 9,400 kg (20,700 lb)
Powerplant:
1× Tumansky R-13-300 turbojet, rated at 40,30 kN (9,040 lbf) dry thrust
and 60,70 kN (13,650 lbf) with afterburner
Performance:
Maximum speed: 2,230 km/h (1,385 mph/1,205 kts) at 11.000 m
1,300 km/h (807 mph/702 kts) at sea level
Cruising speed: 1,200 km/h (745 mph/650 kts)
Landing speed: 350 km/h (217 mph/190 kts)
Range: (internal fuel) 1,210 km (751 miles)
Combat radius with two AAMs and three drop tanks: 465 ml (750 km)
Service ceiling: 19,000 m (62,200 ft)
Rate of climb: 180 m/s (35,375 ft/min)
Thrust-to-weight ration: 1.03 maximum
Armament:
1x internal 23 mm GSh-23 cannon with 200 rounds
5x hardpoints for a wide range of ordnance of up to 3.310 lb (1.500 kg);
Typically, the Slowenian L21 carried a pair of Wympel R-60 IR-guided short range AAMs
and 1-3 supersonic PTB-490 drop tanks.
The kit and its assembly:
A relatively simple project, just a cosmetic whif. It is actually based on a CG skin, created by user “Thor77” and posted at digitalcombatsimulator.com, upon which I came across when I was browsing for the Slovenian Air Force’s current paint scheme and information concerning its colors. Among several whiffy creations (including an A-10 and a Mirage 2000) there was a MiG-21MF, and it caught my attention because it appeared very plausible. Since I was curious about the “new” Kopro MiG-21 with modernized molds from the company’s era under the KP label, I used this inspiration for a build.
The vintage KP MiG-21MF was/is actually a very good model of the aircraft, even though the production finish has never been very good and the original kit came with raised surface details, (lots of) flash and sinkholes here and there.
In order to see how the modernized Kopro kit compares, it was built mostly OOB with just minor changes or additions (air scoops, antennae, canopy cut into two pieces for display).
The “new” kit is really nice – its sprues and parts are virtually identical with the old KP molds, and you still get raised panel lines, what might let certain people wrinkle their noses. But these details are very fine and crisp, no more sinkholes - but there’s still a lot of flash that calls for careful and thorough cleaning. And even though the fuselage halves did not match properly (one half turned out to be 0.5mm wider than the other), the Kopro kit is a noticeable step forward and IMHO the best of the many incarnations of this MiG-21MF kit that I have come across so far. It reminds me very much of a classic Heller kit! Just with flash, though.
The ordnance consists of a PTB-490 drop tank (OOB) on the ventral hardpoint, and I gave the Slovenian MiG-21, inspired by Croatian machines, an armament consisting of R-60 AAMs carried on the inner underwing pylons. As a personal twist, however, I increase the missile number to four (all of them taken from an ESCI Ka-34 “Hokum” kit) on double pylons, inspired by real world NVA-LSK equipment. The new launch rails were scratched from styrene profile material.
Painting and markings:
Well, the original reason for this build was the pretty unique paint scheme of Slovenian military aircraft: a rather murky three-tone camouflage, consisting of a deep red brown, forest green and a dull olive green, paired with light grey undersides. This does not sound spectacular, but, like the Austrian two-tone green scheme, it is pretty characteristic.
My build was inspired by a concrete flight simulator skin, but I did not adopt this CG pattern because it looked too “simple” for my personal taste, with only a few bands of different colors that were also extended at right angles from the fuselage onto the wings. Instead, the applied scheme is a personal, more sophisticated guesstimate, based primarily on Slovenian PC-6 transport aircraft and on PC-9 trainers.
My choice for the basic colors fell on Humbrol 170 (Brown Bess), 195 (Satin Dark Green, actually RAL 6020; Chromoxidgrün) and Modelmaster 2015 (Faded Olive Drab), plus Humbrol 129 (FS 36440) for the undersides. The Faded Olive Drab tone turned out to be too light, but I stuck with it since I found the bigger contrast between the upper colors to be quite attractive.
A black anti glare panel was added in front of the cockpit and, instead of the classic bright green, the air intake shock cone became black, too – inspired by the CG benchmark. Other dielectric panels were painted very dark grey, or in the case of the fin, in a slightly different brown tone, matching the surrounding camouflage.
The cockpit interior was painted in an individually mixed greenish-blue tone (great contrast to the murky exterior!), with some dashboards in medium grey.
The landing gear wells were painted in zinc chromate yellow (Humbrol 81), while the legs became light grey (Humbrol 167, Barley Grey) and the wheel discs bright green (Humbrol 2).
The markings come mostly from a very nice Blue Rider Publications sheet for various aircraft in Slovenian and Macedonian service. The booklet that comes with it yields some valuable information about other markings – e.g. the fact, that most Slovenian military aircraft carry city names and their respective crests. While I had to rely on the sheet’s material for this detail, I adopted it for my L21, and my choice fell on the town of Celje, primarily because of its blue and yellow crest.
Expecting and nursing mothers require social protection but workers in the informal economy are often not covered. Maternity protection has been a primary concern of the ILO since its creation in 1919. Workplace support for mothers who are breastfeeding has been a basic provision of maternity protection. The Philippines expanded maternity leave benefits in 2019 to align with international labour standards. The ILO also promoted exclusive breastfeeding in the workplace to advance women’s rights to maternity protection and to improve nutrition security for Filipino children.
Photo : E. Tuyay / ILO
Date : 2011/11
Country : Philippines
BOEING B-52H (61-0013) / BASE DE MORÓN (LEMO) SPAIN
A Bomber Task Force deployment of U.S. Air Force B-52H Stratofortress aircraft, Airmen and support equipment from the 2nd Bomb Wing, Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana, arrived in the U.S. European Command area of responsibility to train with U.S. allies and partners on May 17, 2021.
The mission highlights the U.S. military’s ability to conduct integration training with partners and allies. This deployment of strategic bombers to Moron Air Base, Spain, helps exercise U.S. Air Forces in Europe’s capability to operate bombers out of a variety of forward operating locations.
The deployment is scheduled to include joint and allied training in the U.S. European Command theater and U.S. Africa Command theater to improve bomber interoperability.
Training with joint partners, allied nations and other units enables us to build enduring and strategic relationships necessary to confront a broad range of global challenges.
Bomber Task Force missions demonstrate the U.S.’ commitment to the collective defense of NATO and contribute to stability in the European theater. Our ability to quickly respond and assure allies and partners rests upon the fact that we are here, in Europe, forward and ready.
+++ DISCLAIMER +++
Nothing you see here is real, even though the conversion or the presented background story might be based on authentic facts. BEWARE!
Some background:
The VF-1 was developed by Stonewell/Bellcom/Shinnakasu for the U.N. Spacy by using alien Overtechnology obtained from the SDF-1 Macross alien spaceship. Its production was preceded by an aerodynamic proving version of its airframe, the VF-X. Unlike all later VF vehicles, the VF-X was strictly a jet aircraft, built to demonstrate that a jet fighter with the features necessary to convert to Battroid mode was aerodynamically feasible. After the VF-X's testing was finished, an advanced concept atmospheric-only prototype, the VF-0 Phoenix, was flight-tested from 2005 to 2007 and briefly served as an active-duty fighter from 2007 to the VF-1's rollout in late 2008, while the bugs were being worked out of the full-up VF-1 prototype (VF-X-1).
The space-capable VF-1's combat debut was on February 7, 2009, during the Battle of South Ataria Island - the first battle of Space War I - and remained the mainstay fighter of the U.N. Spacy for the entire conflict. Introduced in 2008, the VF-1 would be out of frontline service just five years later, though.
The VF-1 proved to be an extremely capable craft, successfully combating a variety of Zentraedi mecha even in most sorties which saw UN Spacy forces significantly outnumbered. The versatility of the Valkyrie design enabled the variable fighter to act as both large-scale infantry and as air/space superiority fighter. The signature skills of U.N. Spacy ace pilot Maximilian Jenius exemplified the effectiveness of the variable systems as he near-constantly transformed the Valkyrie in battle to seize advantages of each mode as combat conditions changed from moment to moment.
The basic VF-1 was deployed in four minor variants (designated A, D, J, and S) and its success was increased by continued development of various enhancements including the GBP-1S "Armored" Valkyrie, FAST Pack "Super" Valkyrie and the additional RÖ-X2 heavy cannon pack weapon system for the VF-1S for additional firepower.
The FAST Pack system was designed to enhance the VF-1 Valkyrie variable fighter, and the initial V1.0 came in the form of conformal pallets that could be attached to the fighter’s leg flanks for additional fuel – primarily for Long Range Interdiction tasks in atmospheric environment. Later FAST Packs were designed for space operations.
The following FAST Pack 2.0 system featured two 120.000 kg class P&W+EF-2001 booster thrusters (mounted on the dorsal section of the VF-1) and two CTB-04 conformal propellant/coolant tanks (mounted on the leg/engines), since the VF-1's internal tanks could not carry enough propellant to achieve a stable orbit from Earth bases and needed the help of a booster pack to reach Low Earth Orbit. Anyway, the FAST Pack 2.0 wasn't adapted for atmospheric use, due to its impact on a Valkyrie's aerodynamics and its weight; as such, it needed to be discarded before atmospheric entry.
Included in the FAST Pack boosters and conformal tanks were six high-maneuverability vernier thrusters and two low-thrust vernier thrusters beneath multipurpose hook/handles in two dorsal-mounted NP-BP-01, as well as ten more high-maneuverability vernier thrusters and two low-thrust vernier thrusters beneath multipurpose hook/handles in the two leg/engine-mounted NP-FB-01 systems.
Granting the VF-1 a significantly increased weapons payload as well as greater fuel and thrust, Shinnakasu Heavy Industry's FAST Pack system 2.0 was in every way a major success in space combat. The first VF-1 equipped with FAST Packs was deployed in January 2010 for an interception mission.
Following first operational deployment and its effectiveness, the FAST Pack system was embraced enthusiastically by the U.N. Spacy and found wide use. By February 2010, there were already over 300+ so-called "Super Valkyries" stationed onboard the SDF-1 Macross alone.
The FAST Pack went through constant further development, including upgraded versions for late production and updated VF-1s (V3.0 and V4.0). Another addition to the early V2.0 variant of 2010 was the so-called “S-FAST Pack”. The S-FAST pack was originally developed at the Apollo lunar base, for the locally based VF-1 interceptor squadrons that were tasked with the defense of this important production and habitat site on the Moon, but it also found its way to other orbital stations and carriers.
Officially designated FAST Pack V2.1, the S-FAST Pack consisted of the standard pair of dorsal rocket boosters plus the pallets with additional maneuvering jets, sensors and weapons. The S-FAST pack added another pair of P&W+EF-2001 boosters under the inner wings, having the duty to give to fighter the power necessary to exit easily from the gravity of moons or little planets without atmosphere, and improve acceleration during combat situations. Range was also further extended, together with additional life support systems for prolonged deep space operations, or the case of emergency.
In order to accept the S-FAST pack and exploit its potential, the VF-1’s wings and inner wing attachment points had to be strengthened due to the additional load and propulsion. The use of the S-FAST pack also precluded the fighter from transforming into Battroid or Gerwalk mode – the underwing packs had to be jettisoned beforehand. The other standard FAST Pack 2.0 elements could still be carried, though.
The modfied Valkyries capable of accepting the S-FAST Pack received an additional “S” to their type designation – more than 100 VF-1s were converted or built in this deep space configuration until late 2011. Initial deployment of the S-FAST Pack was conducted through SVF-24 “Moon Shadows” in early 2010, a unit that was quickly disbanded, though, but re-formed as SVF-124 “Moon Shooters”, tasked with the defense of the lunar Apollo Base and several special missions.
After the end of Space War I, the VF-1 continued to be manufactured both in the Sol system and throughout the UNG space colonies. Although the VF-1 would eventually be replaced as the primary Variable Fighter of the U.N. Spacy by the more capable, but also much bigger, VF-4 Lightning III in 2020, a long service record and continued production after the war proved the lasting worth of the design.
The VF-1 was without doubt the most recognizable variable fighter of Space War I and was seen as a vibrant symbol of the U.N. Spacy even into the first year of the New Era 0001 in 2013. At the end of 2015 the final rollout of the VF-1 was celebrated at a special ceremony, commemorating this most famous of variable fighters. The VF-1 Valkryie was built from 2006 to 2013 with a total production of 5,459 VF-1 variable fighters with several variants (VF-1A = 5,093, VF-1D = 85, VF-1J = 49, VF-1S = 30, VF-1G = 12, VE-1 = 122, VT-1 = 68)
However, the fighter remained active in many second line units and continued to show its worthiness years later, e. g. through Milia Jenius who would use her old VF-1 fighter in defense of the colonization fleet - 35 years after the type's service introduction!
General characteristics:
All-environment variable fighter and tactical combat Battroid,
used by U.N. Spacy, U.N. Navy, U.N. Space Air Force
Accommodation:
Pilot only in Marty & Beck Mk-7 zero/zero ejection seat
Dimensions:
Fighter Mode:
Length 14.23 meters
Wingspan 14.78 meters (at 20° minimum sweep)
Height 3.84 meters
Battroid Mode:
Height 12.68 meters
Width 7.3 meters
Length 4.0 meters
Empty weight: 13.25 metric tons;
Standard T-O mass: 18.5 metric tons;
MTOW: 37.0 metric tons
Power Plant:
2x Shinnakasu Heavy Industry/P&W/Roice FF-2001 thermonuclear reaction turbine engines, output 650 MW each, rated at 11,500 kg in standard or in overboost (225.63 kN x 2)
4 x Shinnakasu Heavy Industry NBS-1 high-thrust vernier thrusters (1 x counter reverse vernier thruster nozzle mounted on the side of each leg nacelle/air intake, 1 x wing thruster roll control system on each wingtip);
18 x P&W LHP04 low-thrust vernier thrusters beneath multipurpose hook/handles
The S-FAST Pack added 4x P&W+EF-2001 booster thrusters with 120.000 kg each, plus a total of 28x P&W LHP04 low-thrust vernier thrusters
Performance:
Battroid Mode: maximum walking speed 160 km/h
Fighter Mode: at 10,000 m Mach 2.71; at 30,000+ m Mach 3.87
g limit: in space +7
Thrust-to-weight ratio: empty 3.47; standard T-O 2.49; maximum T-O 1.24
Design Features:
3-mode variable transformation; variable geometry wing; vertical take-off and landing; control-configurable vehicle; single-axis thrust vectoring; three "magic hand" manipulators for maintenance use; retractable canopy shield for Battroid mode and atmospheric reentry; option of GBP-1S system, atmospheric-escape booster, or FAST Pack system
Transformation:
Standard time from Fighter to Battroid (automated): under 5 sec.
Min. time from Fighter to Battroid (manual): 0.9 sec.
Armament:
2x internal Mauler RÖV-20 anti-aircraft laser cannon, firing 6,000 pulses per minute
1x Howard GU-11 55 mm three-barrel Gatling gun pod with 200 RPG, fired at 1,200 rds/min
4x underwing hard points for a wide variety of ordnance, including
12x AMM-1 hybrid guided multipurpose missiles (3/point), or
12x MK-82 LDGB conventional bombs (3/point), or
6x RMS-1 large anti-ship reaction missiles (2/outboard point, 1/inboard point), or
4x UUM-7 micro-missile pods (1/point) each carrying 15 x Bifors HMM-01 micro-missiles,
or a combination of above load-outs
The optional Shinnakasu Heavy Industry S-FAST Pack 2.1 augmentative space weapon system added:
6x micro-missiles in two NP-AR-01 micro-missile launcher pods (mounted rear-ward under center ventral section in Fighter mode or on lower arm sections in GERWALK/Battroid mode)
4x12 micro missiles in four HMMP-02 micro-missile launchers, one inside each booster pod
The kit and its assembly:
This VF-1 is another contribution to the “Old Kit” Group Build at whatifmodelers.com, running in late 2016. I am not certain about the moulds’ inception date, but since it is an ARII incarnation of this type of kit and even moulded in the early pastel green styrene, I’d think that it was produced in 1982 or 83.
Anyway, I love the Macross VF-1, IMHO a design masterpiece created by Shoji Kawamori and one of my favorite mecha designs ever, because it was created as a late 70ies style jet fighter that could transform into a robot in a secondary role. As a simple, purposeful military vehicle. And not like a flashy robot toy.
Effectively, this Super Valkyrie is a highly modified OOB kit with many donation parts, and this kit is a bit special, for several reasons. There are several 1:100 OOB kits with FAST Packs from ARII/Bandai available (and still around today), but these are normally only Battroids or Gerwalks with additional parts for the FAST kit conversion. The kit I used here is different: it is, after maybe 25 years of searching and building these kits, the #70 from the original production run. It is (so far!) the only Fighter mode kit with the additional FAST Pack parts! Must be rare, and I have never seen it in catalogues?
Until today, I converted my Super or Strike Valkyries from Gerwalk kits, a task that needs some improvisation esp. around the folded arms between the legs, and there’s no OOB option for an extended landing gear. The latter made this Fighter mode kit very attractive, even though the actual kit is pretty disappointing, and AFAIK this kit variant is only available as a VF-1S.
With the Super Valkyrie fighter kit you receive basically a Gerwalk with a standard fighter cockpit (which includes a front wheel well and an extended front wheel leg), plus extra parts. The leg/engine-mounted NP-FB-01 systems are less bulbous than the parts on the Gerwalk or Battroid kit, and the OOB dorsally mounted NP-BP-01 boosters are TINY, maybe 1:120 or even 1:144! WTF?
Further confusion: the kit includes a set of lower arm parts with integrated rocket launchers, but these are not necessary at all for the Fighter build?! As a kind of compensation there’s a new and exclusive element that simulates the folded arms under the ‘fuselage’ and which, as an added value, properly holds the hand gun under the fuselage. As a quirky flaw, though, the hand gun itself comes in the extended form for the Battroid/Gerwalk mode. For the fighter in flight mode, it has to be modified, but that’s easily done.
Anyway, with the potential option to build a Super Valkyrie with an extended landing gear, this was my route to go with this vintage kit. The Super Valkyrie already looks bulky with the FAST Pack added, but then I recently found the S-FAST Pack option with two more boosters under the wings – total overkill, but unique. And I had a spare pair of booster bulks in the stash (w/o their nozzles, though), as well as a complete pair of additional bigger standard FAST boosters that could replace the ridiculous OOB parts…
Building such a Super/Strike Valkyrie means building separate components, with a marriage of parts as one of the final steps. Consequently, cockpit, central fuselage with the wings and the air intakes, the folded stabilizer pack, the folded arms element with the handgun, the two legs and the four boosters plus other ordnance had to be built and painted separately.
Here and there, details were changed or added, e. g. a different head (a ‘J’ head for the flight leader’s aircraft with two instead of the rare, OOB ‘S’ variant with four laser cannon), covers for the main landing gear (the latter does not come with wells at all, but I did not scratch them since they are hardly recognizable when the kit is sitting on the ground), the typical blade aerials under the cockpit and the feet had to be modified internally to become truly ‘open’ jet exhausts.
The wing-mounted boosters received new nozzles and their front end was re-sculpted with 2C putty into a square shape, according to reference sketches. Not 100% exact, but the rest of the VF-1 isn’t either.
This VF-1 was also supposed to carry external ordnance and my first choice were four wing-mounted RMS-1 Anti-Ship Reaction Warheads, scratched from four 1.000 lb NATO bombs. But, once finished, I was not happy with them. So I looked for another option, and in a source book I found several laser-guided bombs and missiles, also for orbital use, and from this inspiration comes the final ordnance: four rocket-propelled kinetic impact projectiles. These are actually 1:72 JASDF LGB’s from a Hasegawa weapon set, sans aerodynamic steering surfaces and with rocket boosters added to the tail. Also not perfect, but their white color and sleek shape is a good counterpart to the FAST elements.
Experience from many former builds of this mecha kit family helped a lot, since the #70 kit is very basic and nothing really fits well. Even though there are not many major seams or large elements, PSR work was considerable. This is not a pleasant build, rather a fight with a lot of compromises and semi-accuracies.
Seriously, if you want a decent 1:100 VF-1, I’d rather recommend the much more modern WAVE kits (including more realistic proportions).
Painting and markings:
The paint scheme for this Super Valkyrie was settled upon before I considered the S-FAST Pack addition: U.N. Spacy’s SVF-124 is authentic, as well as its unique camouflage paint scheme.
The latter is a special scheme for the lunar environment where the unit was originally formed and based, with all-black undersides, a high, wavy waterline and a light grey upper surface, plus some medium grey trim and a few colorful US Navy style markings and codes.
My core reference is a ‘naked’ bread-and-butter VF-1A of SVF-124 in Fighter mode, depicted as a profile in a VF-1 source book from SoftBank Publishing. The colors for the FAST Pack elements are guesstimates and personal interpretations, though, since I could not find any reference for their look in this unit.
As a side note, another, later SVF-124 aircraft in a similar design is included as an option in a limited edition 1:72 VF-22S kit from Hasegawa, which is backed by CG pics in a VF-22 source book from Softbank, too.
Furthermore, SVF-124 finds mention in a Japanese modeler magazine, where the aforementioned VF-22S kit was presented in 2008. So there must be something behind the ‘Moon Shooters’ squadron.
According to the Hasegawa VF-22S’s painting instructions, the underside becomes black and the upper surfaces are to be painted with FS36270 (with some darker fields on the VF-22, though, similar to the USAF F-15 counter-shaded air superiority scheme, just a tad darker).
Due to the 1:100 scale tininess of my VF-1, I alternatively went for Revell 75 (RAL 7039), which is lighter and also has a brownish hue, so that the resulting aircraft would not look too cold and murky, and not resemble an USAF aircraft.
All FAST Pack elements were painted in a uniform dark grey (Humbrol 32), while some subtle decorative trim on the upper surfaces, e.g. the canopy frame, an anti-glare panel and a stripe behind the cockpit and decoration trim on the wings’ upper surfaces, was added with Revell 77 (RAL 7012). Overall, colors are rather dull, but IMHO very effective in the “landscape” this machine is supposed to operate, and the few colorful markings stand out even more!
The cockpit interior was painted in a bluish grey, with reddish brown seat cushions (late 70ies style!), and the landing gear became all white. For some added detail I painted the wings’ leading edges in a mustard tone (Humbrol 225, Mid Stone).
The kit received some weathering (black ink wash, drybrushing on panels) and extra treatment of the panel lines – even though the FAST Pack elements hide a lot of surface or obscure view.
More color and individuality came with the markings. The standard decals like stencils or the U.N. Spacy insignia come from the kit’s and some other VF-1s’ OOB sheets.
Based on the SVF-124 VF-1 profile and taking the basic design a bit further, I used dull red USAF 45° digits for the 2nd flight leader’s “200” modex and the Apollo Base’s code “MA” on the dorsal boosters. Some discreet red trim was also applied to the FAST Packs – but only a little.
Since all of SVF-124’s aircraft are rumored to carry personal markings, including nose art and similar decorations, I tried to give this VF-1JS a personal note: the pin-up badges on the dorsal boosters come from a Peddinghouse decal sheet for Allied WWII tanks, placed on a silver roundel base. Unfortunately (and not visible before I applied them) the pin-up decal was not printed on a white basis, so that the contrast on the silver is not very strong, but I left it that way. Additionally, the tagline “You’re a$$ next, Jerry” (which IS printed in opaque white…?) was added next to the artwork – but it’s so tiny that you have to get really close to decipher it at all…
Finally, after some soot stains around the exhausts and some vernier nozzels with graphite, the kit received a coat of matt acrylic varnish.
Building this vintage VF-1 kit took a while and a lot of effort, but I like the result: with the S-FAST Pack, the elegant VF-1 turned into a massive space fighter hulk! The normal Super Valkyries already look very compact and purposeful, but this here is truly menacing. Especially when standing on its own feet/landing gear, with its nose-down stance and the small, original wheels, this thing reminds of a Space Shuttle that had just landed.
Good that I recently built a simple VF-1 fighter as a warm-up session. ARII’s kit #70 is not a pleasant build, rather a fight with the elements and coupled with a lot of compromises – if you want a Super Valkyrie Fighter in 1:100, the much more modern WAVE kit is IMHO the better option (and actually not much more pricey than this vintage collector’s item). But for the vintage feeling, this exotic model kit was just the right ticket, and it turned, despite many weaknesses and rather corny details, into an impressive fighter. Esp. the lunar camouflage scheme looks odd, but very unique and purposeful.
Anyway, with so many inherent flaws of the ARII kit, my former method of converting a pure (and much more common) Gerwalk kit into a space-capable VF-1 fighter is not less challenging and complicated than trying to fix this OOB option into a decent model. :-/
In communist times it was a place of radio monitoring, also used for the purposes of counterintelligence. All facilities were built in 1962, currently object lose the fight against time and nature. Most of the 'valuables' were robbed or taken after the liquidation of the object, it did immediately after the fall of communism in Poland. Interestingly the military facility was used by the Interior Ministry in the fight against Solidarity.
Ajijic, Jalisco, Mexico. Stick a table in your front doorway, add popcorn, corn chips, salsa and hot sauce and you are in business.
Go North East's Gateshead-based 6045 (NK12 GCV), Volvo B9TL/Wright Eclipse Gemini, carrying its "Tyne Tees Xpress" branding, and is pictured here at Eldon Square Bus Station, Newcastle upon Tyne, whilst unusually working "TEN" service 10A to Newcastle, which is usually operated by Winlaton and Hexham depot. 26/12/13
In Go North East's North Division - which operates services from five different depots in areas around Gateshead, North Tyneside, West Durham and Southern Northumberland - Sunderland Road (Gateshead) depot is the only depot which opens on Boxing Day. This means that Saltmeadows, Percy Main, Winlaton and Hexham depots are all closed on Boxing Day.
In Go North East's South Division - which operates services from five different depots in areas around Sunderland, County Durham and South Tyneside - Deptford and Chester-le-Street depots are the only depots which open on Boxing Day. This means that Washington, Stanley and Peterlee are all closed on Boxing Day.
As such, the most profitable and economical services are provided by other depots if their 'home depot' is closed. This results in a vast array of photographic opportunities and unusual workings which otherwise would not usually occur.
I have provided a list of 2013's "unusual Boxing Day allocations" below:
Deptford:
"Red Arrows" service X1 - "Prince Bishops" Solar - PVR 7
"Connections 4" service 4 - "Northern" Solar - PVR 3
Service 9 - "Fast Cats" Solar - PVR 3
Service 26 - "Drifter" Streetlite - PVR 2
"South Tyne" service 88 - "Laser" Citaro - PVR 3
Gateshead:
"TEN" services 10A/10B - "Tyne Tees Xpress" B9 or "Citylink" Versa - PVR 8
Arriva North East services 44/45 - "Orbit" Versa - PVR 3
"Blaydon Racers" services 49/49B - "Crusader" Citaro - PVR 6
"Cobalt Clipper" services 309/310 - "Loop" Solar or "Highwayman" Solar - PVR 8
Chester-le-Street:
"Diamond" services 43/44 - "Northern" Renown or "Lime" Renown - PVR 6
"Toon Link" service 47 - "Whey Aye Five 0" Solar, "Northern" Solar or "Waggonway" Solar - PVR 7
The Los Angeles Angels were a Minor League Baseball team based in Los Angeles that played in the "near-major league" Pacific Coast League from 1903 through 1957. From 1903 through 1957, the Los Angeles Angels, a PCL team, were one of the mainstays of the Pacific Coast League, winning the PCL pennant 12 times. From 1903 through 1925, the team played at 15,000-seat Washington Park (also known as Chutes Park), just south of downtown Los Angeles. Both the team and the park were founded by James Furlong "Jim" Morley (1869–1940). During this time, the Angels (or Looloos or Seraphs as they were sometimes called), won pennants in 1903, 1905, 1907, 1908, 1916, 1918, and 1921.
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Ivan Howard
Positions: Second Baseman, First Baseman and Third Baseman / Utility Infielder
Bats: Both • Throws: Right
5'-10", 170 lbs
Born: October 12, 1882 in Kenney, IL
Ivan Chester Howard (b. October 12, 1882 – d. March 30, 1967 at age 84) was a professional baseball infielder who played for four seasons in Major League Baseball. Howard was the younger brother of major leaguer Del Howard. He played for the St. Louis Browns during 1914 and 1915, primarily as a first baseman, after which he was replaced by George Sisler, then was purchased by the Cleveland Indians on February 20, 1916, for whom he played chiefly at second base in the 1916 campaign. His career came to an end with 27 games played in 1917.
He was later the manager of the Oakland Oaks minor league team in the Pacific Coast League from 1923 to 1929, leading the Oaks to one pennant in 1927.
MLB debut - April 25, 1914, for the St. Louis Browns
Last MLB appearance - September 29, 1917, for the Cleveland Indians
MLB statistics:
Batting average - .233
Home runs - 2
RBI - 86
Teams
St. Louis Browns (1914–1915)
Cleveland Indians (1916–1917)
Link to his minor league stats - www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=howard...
(San Francisco Call, 1 September 1908) - Star Players Purchased for the Angels - Los Angeles of the Pacific Coast league, has purchased two more Three I league stars, giving $800 for each — Catcher Mike Simon and Second Baseman Ivan Howard, both of the Cedar Rapids team. Second Baseman Howard, is from Kenney a small town near Bloomington Ill. He is a brother of the Chicago club infielder. He first played professionally with Boone, Ia., in 1905, was given a trial by Omaha in 1906 and then went to Cedar Rapids. He is fast in fielding and a fine hitter, being regarded as the leading batsman with the Rabbits. Howard is ambitious to follow his brother into the majors and there is every reason to believe that he will do so. Both of the Rabbit stars will add great strength to the Los Angeles lineup.
(Los Angeles Herald, 16 September 1908) - W. R. Ashford, sporting editor of the Cedar Rapids, la.. Gazette, writes enthusiastically regarding Ivan Howard, the crack second baseman of that team, who will join the Angel band this week in San Francisco. Ashford says that Howard is a fast, consistent, dependable player, and is a heady baserunner. He ranked .280 in batting throughout the season of the Three-Eye league, and was a topnotcher in base running and stealing, as well as being a champion run getter.
(Los Angeles Herald, 13 October 1909) - Second baseman Ivan Howard will leave today for his home in Kenney, Ill., across lots from the home city of Elmer Thorsen, the big pitcher. Howard has a badly cut leg injured in a collision with McArdle's spikes three days ago, and will have to remain out of the game for the remainder of the season.
(Los Angeles Herald, 28 February 1910) - the Angel band will have the best first baseman and field captain in the league, none barred. Dillon ranked first among the Coast league first basemen last season, at that. Jud Smith also led the third basemen and will go back on the job this year. Ivan Howard, one of the best second basemen in the league, will hold down his old place, as will Bert Delmas at short. This makes a strong infield defense, with all of them good hitters, and as they have played together long enough to have their team work down pat, they should be even stronger this season than last.
(Los Angeles Herald, 30 October 1910) - Ivan Howard and Frank Murphy will try the climate of San Diego for the winter, and incidentally will be members of Bill Palmer's San Diego winter league club.
(Los Angeles Herald, 5 March 1911) - Metzger has arrived from his Connecticut home and will play at second base, while Ivan Howard, the peerless, will be shunted to the outfield.
(Los Angeles Herald, 28 June 1911) - Ivan Howard is a jewel of rare value. Whenever he gets on the paths the opposing team goes to pieces, because the players know that he is a daredevil and will take any sort of a chance to win, while his marvelous speed makes him a tough one to handle when he bows his neck and starts to run. When he started to steal second In that sixth round yesterday the fans gasped, but he not only got away with it, but just kept going until he got home, while the excited Seals were throwing the ball all over the lot. The fans stood up and gave Howard an ovation that no other player has received this season.
(Los Angeles Herald, 4 September 1911) - It passes all understanding how these big league scouts ever happened to let Ivan Howard slip their notice. Here Is the greatest second baseman in the minor leagues and when It comes to running the bases he has them all skinned to a frazzle. It is nothing for him to beat out a bunt and then steal his way round the circuit. When he gets on the paths the opposition goes all to pieces because It cannot hold him down.
(Los Angeles Herald, 29 March 1912) - IVAN HOWARD, WHO WILL HOLD DOWN SHORT FOR ANGELS, IS FASTEST BASE RUNNER IN THE PACIFIC COAST LEAGUE
(Sporting Life - 16 November 1912) - The Howard brothers, Ivan and Del, will leave after the close of the season for Southwestern Oregon on an extended hunting trip. They expect to be absent until after the first of January. The veteran Del Howard led the Pacific Coast league in hitting for the season with .389.
(Sporting Life - 31 May 1913) - Ivan Howard will continue to hold down first base, which he has been doing in an acceptable style.
(Sporting Life - 24 January 1914) - President R. L. Hedges, of the St. Louis Browns, announced yesterday that he had signed Ivan Howard, utility man with Los Angeles last season. Howard is a brother of Del Howard, a former Cub star, and lives in Kenney, Ills. Howard started his base ball career in Kenney and then, went to Cedar Rapids, of the Central Association. He remained in that league from 1907 until 1908, when he was purchased by Los Angeles. He was drafted from the Coast league team by the Browns.
(The World of Baseball - 3 July 1915) - Ivan Howard, first baseman of the St. Louis Browns, was spiked by shortstop Weaver In the Chicago - St. Louis game of June 27, and was found to be so seriously injured that it was decided to send him back to St. Louis. It was said he probably would not play for a month.
(Sporting Life - 4 March 1916) - First baseman Ivan Howard, the Coast first baseman transferred by St. Louis to Cleveland, is a big game hunter and every Winter goes after bear, deer and mountain lion on the coast. The exercise he gets in this way is the reason why Ivan always reports in good condition in the Spring. Cleveland critics say that although Ivan Howard, the outfield / first baseman has been secured by the Indians, for the waiver price, have not given up hope of obtaining Chick Gandil of Washington, in which event Howard will get an outfield berth.
(Sporting Life - 26 August 1916) - Manager McCredie, of Portland, agreed to let Guisto come on at once if Cleveland would furnish him with a man to fill the big Italian's shoes. Ivan Howard readily assented to go to the coast, saying, "I'll play my head off out there, but my heart will be with the Cleveland players. I'd do anything in the world to help them win the pennant and if my going and Guisto's coming will turn the trick, I don't want anybody to say that I was the means of preventing it.
The Scenic Sentiment word stamps and quotes can add a dynamic touch to a scene. It can become a focal point in a scene and enhance the emotional quality of whatever statement you want to make.
Original: Dye based and pigment ink on 4.25" x 11" glossy cardstock. Gel pens.
Stamps: "Earth Laughs in Flowers" saying from Scenic Sentiments sheet #4. Snowy Brook 358I, Sedge Filler 251C, Tree Cluster 244E, Tree Duo Lg 086B, Cloud Cumulus 018E, and Spiny Branches 330F.
For more information visit:
The Green Bay trail is built on the former right-of-way of the Chicago North Shore & Milwaukee RR's "Shore Line", which was abandoned in 1955.
This pedestal was likely a signal base. It also could have been a pedestal for the overhead catenary. (The CNSM's Shore Line used mostly trolley wire, however in a 1930s modernization, a portion of the line in Winnetka received overhead catenary).
Expecting and nursing mothers require social protection but workers in the informal economy are often not covered. Maternity protection has been a primary concern of the ILO since its creation in 1919. Workplace support for mothers who are breastfeeding has been a basic provision of maternity protection. The Philippines expanded maternity leave benefits in 2019 to align with international labour standards. The ILO also promoted exclusive breastfeeding in the workplace to advance women’s rights to maternity protection and to improve nutrition security for Filipino children.
Photo : E. Tuyay / ILO
Date : 2011/11
Country : Philippines
+++ DISCLAIMER +++
Nothing you see here is real, even though the model, the conversion or the presented background story might be based on historical facts. BEWARE!
Some background:
The Moroccan air force was formed on 14 May 1956 as the Sherifian Royal Aviation (Aviation Royale Chérifienne). Its modern installations and bases were inherited from France (Meknes, Rabat in tandem with the United States, Marrakech, Kenitra, Ben Guerir, Boulhault, Nouasseur, and Sidi Slimane), and later Spain (Laayoune). In the 1950s and 1960s, American aircraft were deployed in several of these bases, including nuclear bombers from the Strategic Air Command.
The first aircraft of this newly formed air force were 16 Morane-Saulnier Alcyons, five Max Holste MH.1521 Broussard transport aircraft, one Aérospatiale Alouette II, and one Bell H-13 Sioux. However, desperate for foreign support, Morocco was also open for offers from the Soviet Union and in 1961 it obtained 12 Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-17 fighters, two Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15UTI trainers and either two or four Ilyushin Il-28 bombers from the Soviet Union. Eight Fouga Magister training aircraft were also received from France, and 15 Harvard Mk 4s were also delivered in 1962. Around 1962, 10 Douglas C-47 Skytrain and six Fairchild C-119G transport aircraft were acquired. At that time, the helicopter fleet was composed of six Aerospatiale Alouette IIs and four Bell 47s. 12 North American T-6 Texans were used for pilot training; no less than eight T-6Gs and 56 SNJ-4s had been delivered by France, but most of them were in a very poor condition and written off soon after their delivery.
The RMAF soon went to war and participated in the Moroccan-Algerian border conflict in 1963 known as “Sand War”. It resulted largely from the Moroccan government's claim to portions of Algeria's Tindouf and Béchar provinces, and the Sand War led to heightened tensions between the two countries for several decades. It was also notable for a short-lived Cuban and Egyptian military intervention on behalf of Algeria, and for ushering in the first multinational peacekeeping mission carried out by the Organisation of African Unity.
Moroccan Fairchild C-119s and Douglas C-47s were used to resupply troops, North American T-6s for reconnaissance, and Morane-Saulnier Alcyons for ground attack. MiG-17s were only used sporadically, mostly due to their short range. To make matters worse, the Soviet Union sided in the conflict with Algeria so that spares, supplies and maintenance of these jets quickly ceased. The Frescos were quickly grounded and already retired by 1966.
After the Sand War’s end, on 1 February 1964, the Sherifian Royal Aviation changed its name to Royal Air Force (Force Aérienne Royale). The political rift with the Soviet Union pushed Morocco to seek a new ally in the United States, and an order for Northrop F-5 combat aircraft to modernize the air force was placed. As a stopgap solution to fill the operational gap in the RMAF’s line-up after the MiG-17’s quick demise, the USAF also delivered twenty North American F-86 fighters in late 1964, together with the first six brand new F-5s (4 single-seat F-5A and 2 two-seat F-5B).
The Sabres for the RMAF were F-86F-40s, actually revamped and upgraded former USAF overstock F-86Es that had originally been earmarked for transfer to Air National Guard units. They received uprated engines and larger "6–3" wings with a higher wingspan and improved leading-edge wing slats. These wings resulted in a slight decrease in top speed but offered much better agility at both high and low speeds and a reduced landing speed of 124 mph (200 km/h).
The refurbished machines arrived via ship in dismantled state and were re-built in Morocco with the help of American engineers, who also trained the Morocccan service staff on the new aircraft. The RMAF Sabres arrived already painted in the USAF’s ‘Minor Asia’ camouflage and were allocated to the “Boraq” fighter squadron, the RMAF’s only operational unit at that time, based at Meknès-Bassatine between Rabat and Fès in Northern Morocco. While they were classic dogfighters, armed with six 0.5” machine guns as primary weapons, the Sabres were frequently equipped with iron bombs and unguided 5” HVARs as attack aircraft. An upgrade with additional inboard pylons for a pair of AIM-9B Sidewinders was not carried out, since these weapons were reserved for the supersonic F-5s, which were to become the RMAF’s prime interceptors. Due to the gradual deliveries of the F-5s, however, the F-86s remained the RMAF’s backbone until 1971, when a full operational F-5 squadron was finally established.
Only 3 years later, from 1974 on, the RMAF Sabres became involved in the Western Sahara War, an armed struggle between the Sahrawi indigenous Polisario Front and Morocco. This conflict would linger for years (from 1975 to 1991 and with neighboring Mauritania from 1975 to 1979), being the most significant phase of the Western Sahara conflict. The conflict erupted after the withdrawal of Spain from the Spanish Sahara in accordance with the Madrid Accords, by which it transferred administrative control of the territory to Morocco and Mauritania, but not sovereignty.
In late 1975, the Moroccan government organized the so-called Green March of some 350,000 Moroccan citizens, escorted by around 20,000 troops, who entered Western Sahara, trying to establish a Moroccan presence. While at first met with just minor resistance by the Polisario Front, Morocco later engaged a long period of guerrilla warfare with the Sahrawi nationalists. During the late 1970s, the Polisario Front, desiring to establish an independent state in the territory, attempted to fight both Mauritania and Morocco.
In 1979, Mauritania withdrew from the conflict after signing a peace treaty with the Polisario Front. In the meantime, more F-5s had been acquired from the USA, and Iran had also supported Morocco with money and F-5s from its own stocks. It was around this period that the RMAF retired the F-86s. The war continued in low intensity throughout the 1980s, though Morocco made several attempts to take the upper hand in 1989–1991. A cease-fire agreement was finally reached between the Polisario Front and Morocco in September 1991. Some sources put the final death toll between 10,000 and 20,000 people.
General characteristics:
Crew: 1
Length: 37 ft 1 in (11.30 m)
Wingspan: 39 ft 1 in (11.91 m)
Height: 14 ft 1 in (4.29 m)
Wing area: 313.4 sq ft (29.12 m²)
Airfoil: root: NACA 0009-64 mod.; tip: NACA 0008.1-64 mod.
Empty weight: 11,125 lb (5,046 kg)
Gross weight: 15,198 lb (6,894 kg)
Max takeoff weight: 18,152 lb (8,234 kg)
Fuel capacity: 437 US gallons (364 imp gal; 1,650 L) internals
+ 2x 200 US gallons (170 imp gal; 760 L) drop tanks
Powerplant:
1× General Electric J47-GE-27 turbojet engine with 5,910 lbf (26.3 kN) thrust
Performance:
Maximum speed: 687 mph (1,106 km/h, 597 kn) at sea level at 14,212 lb (6,446 kg) combat weight
599 mph (521 kn; 964 km/h) at 35,000 ft (10,668 m) at 15,352 lb (6,964 kg)
597 mph (519 kn; 961 km/h) at 21,148 ft (6,446 m)
599 mph (521 kn; 964 km/h) at 22,835 ft (6,960 m)
Stall speed: 124 mph (200 km/h, 108 kn)
Range: 1,525 mi (2,454 km, 1,325 nmi)
Combat range: 414 mi (666 km, 360 nmi) with two 1,000 lb (454 kg) bombs
and 2x 200 US gallons (170 imp gal; 760 L) drop tanks
Service ceiling: 49,600 ft (15,100 m) at combat weight
Rate of climb: 9,000 ft/min (46 m/s) at sea level
Time to altitude: 30,000 ft (9,144 m) in 5 minutes 12 seconds
Lift-to-drag: 15
Thrust/weight: 0.42
Armament:
6× 0.50 in (12.7 mm) M3 Browning machine guns with 300 rpg
4× underwing hardpoints for a total ordnance of 5,300 lb (2,400 kg), including
two 200 US gallons (760 L) drop tanks on the inner pylons, bombs of up to 1.000 lb (454 kg)
caliber and unguided missiles (racks with up to sixteen 5” HVARs or Matra pods with eighteen
SNEB 68 mm rockets each)
The kit and its assembly:
Another relatively simple what-if project, inspired by leftover RMAF decals on several aftermarket sheets for various aircraft types. Wondering about an aircraft type which could carry such markings and a nice desert camouflage I stumbled upon a Hobby Boss F-86F-40 in The Stash™ without a plan yet, and the type would make perfect sense as a quick material support from the USA after the relations with the USSR had cooled off with the Algeria-Moroccan conflict.
As such the Sabre was built straight OOB – and the F-86 is one of the better Hobby Boss kits, because it comes with decent landing gear interior, a cockpit with a usable seat and side consoles and even a duct for the air intake. Fit is very good, too. Some modifications were made, though. I added a pair of pylons under the outer wings and a pair of Matra rocket pods (leftover from an Italeri Tornado, IIRC) as ground attack ordnance. The drop tanks were taken “as is”. The canopy was cut into two pieces for optional open display, and for this stunt I also had to reduce the thickness of the side walls around the cockpit opening and trim the cockpit opening with PSR.
As a general warning: Lots of weight was necessary to keep the model on its three legs! The massive overall material strength makes the model literally “solid” and quite tail-heavy, and the space in the front end is very limited due to the intake duct and the cockpit tub. Lead beads were stuffed under the cockpit floor, but this was not enough, so that I also had to partly fill the intake, too!
Painting and markings:
A real-world RMAF F-86 would certainly have been delivered in NMF – an attractive option, but I wanted a camouflaged aircraft for a more exotic look. Initially I favored a simple two-tone scheme in sand and earth brown like the contemporary RMAF F-16s but found this a bit dull and too modern. Searching for alternatives I came across Spanish F-5s which carried the so-called “Minor Asia” scheme and remembered that the Iran had also operated F-86s in this camouflage. Since it would also work well over North Africa, I simply adapted the standardized IIAF livery for the RMAF model, just with different markings.
the paint scheme consists of three tones from above: FS 30400, “Special Tan” (I’d rather call it “Custard”!)a yellowish, pale sand tone, FS 30140, “Earth”, a reddish brown, and 24079, classic USAF “Forest Green”. The undersides were FS 36622 (USAF Camouflage Grey).
FS 30400 had to be mixed, and I used Humbrol 7 and 103 in a 1:1 ratio – Special Tan has a really yellow hue! For FS 30140 I simply used Humbrol 29 (RAF Dark Earth), even though the real tone might be a tad lighter (Humbrol 142 would be the correct paint but it’s OOP), and Humbrol 163 as a slightly less rich alternative for the otherwise authentic 116. The undersides were painted with Humbrol 40 (Gloss Light Gull Grey) – darker than Camouflage Grey, but a better basis for later post-panel shading with a lighter grey.
The cockpit interior and the landing gear wells became Humbrol 80 (as zinc chromate primer), while the interior of the covers, the landing gear struts, and the inside of the air intake duct became aluminum. For some contrast, the drop tanks were painted with aluminum (Revell 99).
As usual, the kit received a light black ink washing to emphasize the fine panel lines, and some panel post-shading was done, rather for a dramatic effect than for true weathering.
The decals came from various sources; the roundels belong to a RMAF MiG-17, the fin flashes came from an F-5. The serial number on the fin was lent from an A-37, while the tactical codes on wings and fuselage were created with single “45°” digits. Most stencils came from the Hobby Boss OOB sheet, just the warning triangles for the ejection seat had to be procured from the scrap box (from an Italeri Tornado sheet).
Everything was then sealed with matt acrylic varnish and some soot stains added around the gun ports and on the bare metal tailpipe section.
Another relatively simple project, a model built almost OOB just with fictional markings. The “Minor Asia” scheme suits the Sabre well, though, and the Moroccan national markings blend well into the overall desert look – a credible whif that fits well into its intended timeframe. And the Hobby Boss F-86 is really not a bad model at all, it’s just a very simple and robust kit. But it goes together well and quickly, and the result is a quite good representation of the Sabre.
25/05/2025, Fodico Marine base, Gladstone, Queensland, Australia.
Left to right:
1) Shackleton - Built in 2012, Multicat.
2) Pacific Tiger - Built in 1990, tug/utility vessel.
3) Cape Gloucester - Built in 2022, landing craft.
Data:
Shackelton:
A twin-screw multicat designed for anchor handling, pusher tug, and marine construction duties.
LOA: 15m, Beam: 6m, Operating Draft: 1.5m, Clear Working Deck: 50 sqm.
Main Engines: 2x 405hp Yanmar.
Aux Engines: 1x 40kva Yanmar.
Deck Equipment: 15ton winch 2x3to coupling winch, 8mt HS marine crane.
Pacific Tiger, IMO 9040209:
Built by Southern Ocean Shipyard, Singapore (180).
158 g.t. & 119 dwt.
LOA: 23.5m, Beam: 7.8m, Operating Draft: 2.4m, Clear Working Deck: 48sqm.
Main Engines: 2x 600hp Yanmar.
Aux Engines: 2x 50kva Cummins.
Bow Thruster: nil.
Deck Equipment: 2x 8ton, 1x 5ton deck winches, 1x PK 14000 crane. 1x 28ton fixed davit.
Cape Gloucester - IMO 9816385:
See: flic.kr/p/2r6hdUm
well, some new tessellations. they share the same basic pattern, which isn't exactly the usual square grid...
the first one designed is the blue one (it's even the last folded). it didn't work how i wanted, but it's nice. btw i should fold it again avoiding some unnecessary creases.
the 2nd one (the light green one) tends to curve, but has a nice back side.
the 3rd (the dark green one) is the one closest to my initial idea.
Alessandro Beber, January 2001
Abandoned military base somewhere in Hungary.
cam: Rolleiflex 75/3.5 MX EVS
film: Ilford HP5+
developer: Rodinal 1+25
The 'Eagle' has landed.
Blending in nicely with the Birkenhead and District liveried Fleetline behind
The colonization of the Moon is the proposed establishment of permanent human communities on the Moon. Advocates of space exploration have seen settlement of the Moon as a logical step in the expansion of humanity beyond the Earth. Recent indication that water might be present in noteworthy quantities at the Lunar poles has increased interest in the Moon. Polar colonies could also avoid the problem of long Lunar nights (about 354 hours, a little more than two weeks) and take advantage of the sun continuously.
Permanent human habitation on a planetary body other than the Earth is one of science fiction's most prevalent themes. As technology has advanced, and concerns about the future of humanity on Earth have increased, the argument that space colonization is an achievable and worthwhile goal has gained momentum. Because of its proximity to Earth, the Moon has been seen as a prime candidate for the location of humanity's first permanently occupied extraterrestrial base.
A lunar outpost was an element of the George W. Bush era Vision for Space Exploration, which has been replaced with President Barack Obama's space policy. The outpost would have been an inhabited facility on the surface of the Moon. At the time it was proposed, NASA was to construct the outpost over the five years between 2019 and 2024. The United States Congress directed that the U.S. portion, "shall be designated the Neil A. Armstrong Lunar Outpost".
On December 4, 2006, NASA announced the conclusion of its Global Exploration Strategy and Lunar Architecture Study. The Lunar Architecture Study's purpose was to "define a series of lunar missions constituting NASA's Lunar campaign to fulfill the Lunar Exploration elements" of the Vision for Space Exploration. What resulted was a basic plan for a lunar outpost near one of the poles of the Moon, which would permanently house astronauts in six-month shifts. These studies were made before the discovery of water ice (5.6 ± 2.9% by mass) in a polar crater, which may substantially affect plans.
End of day 3. New fence panels and posts fitted. Shuttering in place. More stone will be put in place before concrete
437th AIRLIFT WING (437 AW) BOEING C-17A GLOBEMASTER III (MSN 50258/F257) USAF/AMC (10-0222) BASE AÉREA DE MORÓN (LEMO) SPAIN
The colonization of the Moon is the proposed establishment of permanent human communities on the Moon. Advocates of space exploration have seen settlement of the Moon as a logical step in the expansion of humanity beyond the Earth. Recent indication that water might be present in noteworthy quantities at the Lunar poles has increased interest in the Moon. Polar colonies could also avoid the problem of long Lunar nights (about 354 hours, a little more than two weeks) and take advantage of the sun continuously.
Permanent human habitation on a planetary body other than the Earth is one of science fiction's most prevalent themes. As technology has advanced, and concerns about the future of humanity on Earth have increased, the argument that space colonization is an achievable and worthwhile goal has gained momentum. Because of its proximity to Earth, the Moon has been seen as a prime candidate for the location of humanity's first permanently occupied extraterrestrial base.