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Como eu também sou ~novidadeira~ como a Carol, já tive que usar esse recém chegado, rsss...
Eu tinha muuuuitas expectativas em relação a este esmalte. Como seria esmaltar e limpar o danadinho, se eu iria gostar do efeito nas minhas unhas...
Bom, quanto à esmaltação: eu tinha receio porque não estou acostumada a usar glitter, fiquei com medo de arrastar, de precisar de 3 camadas, de ficar manchado ou grosseiro... Foi bem mais tranquilo do que eu esperava!!! Só duas camadas resolveram pra mim. Usei TC (roxinho da impala) porque achei levemente arenoso, mas até que o brilho dele sozinho já é bom. Não arrastou, não manchou, não deixou a unha gorda... deu um pouco de trabalho limpar a pele porque na verdade eu sujo bastante em volta dos dedos, e esse microglitter gruda bem.
Estou adorando o efeito nas minhas unhas! Na verdade ele é bem delicado, só se percebe a presença do glitter bem de perto, ao longe é só mais um esmalte azul turquesa (gostei do tom em mim, aliás).
Só posso agradecer de novo a Carol por já ter esse bonito aqui comigo... bj, querida!!!
I am not expecting much attention for this dull underwing shot, but I wanted to upload it for my own benefit, to remind me of the wonderful day I spent in the company of these rare butterflies. In Catalan this butterfly is called "Nimfa Dorment", which translates as sleeping nymph. Large Tortoiseshells probably spend more of their adult lives sleeping than any other European butterfly. They go into hibernation in August, just a couple of weeks after emerging. Then they spend about 7 months sleeping in a woodpile, burrow or tree cavity. Then they emerge to find a mate the following March or April. But even then they don't become active until the afternoon. We watched dozens of Brimstones, Peacocks and Commas on the wing from about 8am, but the Large Tortoiseshells did not become active until about 2pm, despite sunny, warm conditions all day. I watched one Large Tortoiseshell at rest with wings closed on a tree trunk for about 15 minutes. It never moved, yet it was warm and sunny. Any butterfly that spends so much of its life resting needs to be cryptically coloured, just like Commas, Peacocks and Small Tortoiseshells, which also overwinter as adult butterflies. The Brimstone also hibernates, and is cryptic in its own way as it supposedly overwinters among Ivy, though I have never found one hibernating. For comparison here is the underwing of a Small Tortoiseshell, which resembles Large Tortoiseshell on both sides of its wings, yet is not that closely related: www.flickr.com/photos/timmelling/19527311995/in/photolist
This photo was taken at Orlestone Woods in Kent where a small colony of these rare butterflies has appeared. But I'm glad I seized the day because historically Large Tortoiseshell colonies have mysteriously vanished following several years of abundance. So they might not be around for long.
I expected to see red clay throughout the canyon area and here is evidence of that. The erosion however, reveals many layers of soil that display different colors in the canyon walls. Also, the soil of the canyon floor is sandy which is not at all like the normal sticky clay that you encounter in most of Georgia.
Providence Canyon State Park
8930 Canyon Road
Lumpkin, GA 31815
Wasn't expecting to see this in Dover today, and this vehicle was visiting from Earith near Dartford, and had brought School Groups from Medway to Dover Castle, and all kids faces are Blured out and Not Shown.
And be sure to check by my other acount: www.flickr.com/photos_user.gne?path=&nsid=77145939%40..., to see what else I saw this Year!!
"Expect Some Unicorns to Lose Their Horns, and It Won’t Be Pretty" by STEVEN DAVIDOFF SOLOMON via NYT t.co/Y4Ksyzhh8O (via Twitter twitter.com/felipemassone/status/689597401951256576)
Nestled in the Balkans and draped in a fine powder of snow, the sovereign nation of Modora has survived for nearly four hundred years. It survived the great ravages of a Vandal Savage on the warpath, stood strong through innumerable winters, and joined the resistance when it was taken by Nazi forces during World War Two.
And although it had seen better days, the small nation still managed to crawl along. It’s inhabitants were content, and its economy stabilizing.
It would be astounding however, it Modora survived what happened next.
The green light we’ve all come to expect tears through the atmosphere, and dissipates in the cobblestone Modora streets. In its wake stands six figures in outlandish costumes. Their presence causes confused glances from the passerby.
Sonar: Ah, what is the expression? Home is the sweetest home?
Answer, behind him, still struggles in the grips of the Multiplexes.
Answer: Sure, if you’re an invalid.
Sonar turns and smiles. He takes a few steps towards Answer.
Sonar: Ah, our delightful Mister Answer. Welcome to my home. What do you think?
Answer spits: Looks like every other stick-built pile of mud the Europeans are so well known for.
Angle-Man: Who’s being racist now, eh?
Sonar: Quiet please, Bend.
Answer: You may as well just kill me now metalfingers, otherwise I promise to you I’ll be nothing but hell in a handbasket.
Sonar laughs: No, no. For now you remain alive. It is not that I need you, it is that you shall serve as the first public execution under my new rule. Mister Black, please release him. He can do no harm here. However, If he tries anything, do tear him limb from limb.
At this he ascends, rising up into the air above the ancient, shingled rooves. Below, Angle-Man, Agent Orange, and Multiplex watch him rise. The Answer however, glances briefly at Hypnota, and strokes his chin once. Hypnota strokes her own false beard once in return.
Above the rooftops, Sonar takes in the crisp mountain air, extends his arms, smiles, then releases a resounding shriek from the devices in his fingertips. The sound rattles beams, shatters windows, and causes ears to bleed. Somewhere in the distance, an avalanche plummets down a cliffside and crushes an old man’s cabin, sweeping him into sharp rocks.
In the throne room of the Modoran palace, a stained glass window, as old as the nation itself, depicting the great hero Sir Sheldrake slaying the great elder dragon shatters into infinitesimal pieces over Lord Fando’s head.
Fando brushes the glass from his hair. He knows exactly what this means. He’s been keeping up with American news. He knows exactly who’s here. And he does not want him living. Fando calls for his captain of the guard, and waits a full three minutes for him to clomp into the throne room. Madly, wildly, Fando begins to shout orders at him, until finally, the captain obliges and clomps back out. Steaming, Fando returns to his quarters and readies for battle.
On the streets, passerby have begun to flee in panic. Sonar descends again.
Sonar: Now, we are here to retake the throne of Modora. The throne that rightfully belongs to me. You will do as I say, and go where I point. Any disobedience, and you will be without head. And Mister Answer, do try and keep alive.
Answer grimaces under his mask, but uncharacteristically, says nothing. His silence throws Sonar off for a second, but the sounds of gunfire and the soft pat of bullets embedding themselves in the nearby building brings him back around.
Sonar: Please, for the sake of myself and your own health, try not to damage the buildings.
At that, Multiplex expands into six more of himself, three of which catch bullets. The Squad behind him bolts in all directions, and before he knows it, he’s diving into an alley. He knew he shouldn’t have tried to swipe those diamonds, he just couldn’t help himself, and now, thanks to Firestorm and his own lack of impulse control, he had an arm with a third degree burn, a bomb in his neck, and he was here in this random micro-town in the middle of nowhere. He hadn’t even checked to see if that permanent brand old hot-head had gave him extended to his dupes, and frankly, he was afraid to find out. Instead, he just sat in the corner, pumping out dupes after dupe as Sonar shouted overhead for more manpower. Danton Black’s life was one long string of regrets, and being here was certainly one of them. He shuddered every time another of him died.
Agent Orange’s eyes light up in fire. He watches has the thatch and bamboo huts go up in flame. Screaming children, thick little fists covering their eyes, roll in the steaming mud as women weep and bawl, and men shriek in pain, their limbs burned off by liquid heat. Behind him, the apaches strafe the tree line, causing the palm trees to go up in a molten ball of chemical death. He grins and clicks his flamethrower to life. Casually, he lights a wounded Vietcong on fire, and sighs contentedly as the man shrieks and his skin sizzles. Somewhere, someone is shouting for more water, more whiskey, more water, and another man wants to go surfing. Agent Orange does not miss California, and does not miss his friends. The coast life was never for him. But this stage, this theater of war, was everything he’d ever need.
Angle-Man ports forward, glad he at least brought a knife which rapidly finds itself embedded in the blue-uniformed chest of a Modoran solider. He ports just to the left so another is riddled with his own comrades’ bullets. He’s thrilled, honestly. Thrilled that he’s made it this long. That he never lost more than those two fingers. Thrilled that finally, finally his time served on this godforsaken outfit payed off. When Wladon had offered him this deal after that mess with that Witch woman, he was all too eager to accept. He expected it to happen sooner, but he understood why Wladon didn’t want Lawton or Harkness along. The bastards. Bend for one was glad to be rid of them. Two soldiers are sliced in half by his angle, and another gets the bullet treatment himself. It’s an old method, but tried and true. Yes, Bend was thrilled to be rid of Lawton and Harkness. Thrilled to be released from Waller’s iron grasp. Bend was looking forward to ruling this country.
The shells and bullets, and the one tank the Modoran Soldiers employed, were not unfamiliar to Hypnota. She was surprised that a nation of this size only had one tank, but she was also thankful. Another shell imploded to the right of her, and snapped her back to that crackling, resounding sound that took her brother. She touched her fingers to her head briefly, and sent a pulsating force through it quickly to move the memories past. She had to stop doing that, she noted, or the damage would be irreparable. Behind her, The Answer was cursing violently and creatively and nursing a bullet wound to the left shoulder. It was not the worst she had seen. As loud as he was, he would be all right. They nodded to each other, then Hypnota darted from her hiding place, blasting psychic waves towards a few nearby soldiers. She grimaced as the soldiers all turned and shot each other in the head. When oh when, she wondered, would all the violence end.
Sonar laughs aloud has he bursts the eardrums and shatters the brain matter of all the gunmen around him. He feels a hint of remorse, these were his subjects, his personal guard after all, and it was a shame to spill Modoran blood, but they were traitors, lapdogs of Fando, and thus, they had to be put down. Out of the corner of his eye, he catches Hypnota leap onto the army’s tank, and suggest the soldiers open the hatch, to which they oblige. To his left, Bend and Aparo burn and slash through the guards, and all around him, Multiplex surges through the streets. He breathes in the harsh smoke of battle, then rises towards the remains of a once magnificent stained-glass window. A hail of bullets explodes towards him, but he bats them away with pure sound. Gently, he lands on his tip-toes, then begins to strut forward, and with a horrid set of screeches, explodes the heads of Fando’s guards with pure shockwaves of sound.
Fando: не не! Познавам те, семейството ти е мъртво! немилост!
Sonar blasts the weapons from his hands, then grabs Fando’s head between his own.
Sonar: изглежда, че грешите
With one last resounding sound, Fando’s head is crushed by solid sound waves., his final terrified scream drowned out by Sonar’s exhausted apparatuses.
Sonar takes a deep, exhausted breath as Fando’s near-headless body crumples to the floor. He is Sonar no longer as he approaches the throne. He is Bito Wladon, ruler of Modora.
And now none would stand in the way of his rule.
Home Faff 11-03-2019ps
I had to find that tiny slot of time after dinner and before he gets sucked into the X-box to ask my youngest son to pose for this shot of him trapped in the Game Boy. Inspired by Tim Gamble and Mart Barras on the fibre optic silhouette and the double exposure placement respectively. 1st shot the Game Boy with Chinon 50mm f? with a macro extension tube. Diffused beauty dish with flash gelled blue on the left and paradise pink gelled flash with snoot on the right. Hands in place I used the remote in the Sony A7ii hot shoe to trigger the flashes then capped the lens. Swapped tripod and lens to pre -focused Soligor 28mm f2.8 at f8 looking through masking board to try and cut out any overlap and painted round Dan with the LightPainting Paradise black fibtes attached to home made rgb torch. He held still for 2 shots, which was more than expected!
Towards the end of 2000 and into early 2001 First attempted to rationalise its First Manchester and First Pennine operations. And, as might be expected, things went decidedly pear-shaped. It didn’t help that there seemed to be two totally different interpretations of what should have been going on from within different First management teams. And, if they had no idea, then what hope was there for the rest of us?
Now, First PMT in Stoke, who ran Pennine on their own licence, believed that First Manchester were loaning vehicles in to them to help out at Pennine, for which PMT were making internal payments, with a view to operations being fully transferred over to First Manchester control as of April 2001. However, this didn’t seem to be the view of the team at Walshaw Street, who straight away began absorbing the Pennine fleet by commencing repaints into First Manchester orange and renumbering the fleet by adding a random seven in front of the existing PMT three digit number.
What can only be described as chaos reigned for several months. Recording exactly which company was running what became virtually impossible, as both operators’ discs were passed around vehicles on an increasingly haphazard basis. In the end, the full takeover finally took place - with the PSV Circle recording the official date as 01/03/2001 to coincide with the final service registration transfers over from PMT to First Manchester. What had been happening in the interim could hardly be described as complying with the law.
Here we see First's one-off ex-Singapore Olympian, recently painted in orange and with interim fleet-number 7700. Sadly, she looks in a bit a state, with a missing destination blind and wayward wipers. Further identity crisis was also caused, as this particular vehicle retained Pennine branding under the driver's cab window at repaint.
Ashton, Wellington Road, 31/12/2000.
Ooh, I wasn't really expecting her today since her tracking had not updated to show she was in Atlanta this morning, but here she is and looking so much like spring - and it's very spring-like in Atlanta today. Thank you so much Lynne - I <3 her! She hasn't completely told me her name yet, but we think Blossom may figure into it :).
8/52 Weeks of Blythe 2011
My dear Master, to thee I pray. I do not expect more than you can give. Grant me only the comforts you can afford.
This I promise you my Master and friend; that I will never quarrel or argue with you; never say unkind things or point out your faults to you and,most of all, never be disloyal or unfaithful to you.
Though others may desert you and the cares of the world weigh heavily upon you; though you may have poverty or prosperity; though there be sickness or health; I shall remain your obedient servant and friend.
When danger is present I rush to be near you to protect you, sounding the alarm against unwelcome intruders at your door. And if need be, guard you and your possessions with my life.
Dear Master, because I am a domesticated creature, I need to be protected against the harsh elements of weather, and pray you will always give me a clean sheltered place where I can rest peacefully and feel secure.
Since I am no longer a predator and cannot hunt, I pray you to daily provide enough nutritious food and fresh water to sustain my well being.
Protect me, I pray, from humans who would do cruel and inhumane things to me. I cannot understand why some of your fellow creatures are so unkind, and thus so unlike you.
I pray you will take care of me if I am ill or wounded, for I also feel pain and have only you to depend to see that I am tended by loving and competent hands.
As I grow older and my senses fail me; When the infirmities of my later years become too great to bear, please be kind, and help me gently in my pain or passing for I have served you well. Hear this prayer my dear Master, my fate depends on you.
- Unknown
The iconic Crystal Mill near Marble, CO
I wasn't sure what to expect heading up there, but I'm certainly glad to drive a Subaru, as the only other vehicles I encountered were Jeeps and ATV's on a gnarly 4x4 access road. The journey was as fun as the destination!
Canon 70D
Tokina AT-X 11-20mm ƒ/2.8 Pro DX
Breakthrough Photography 3-stop ND, 6-stop ND, and CPL
Sirui K-20X and W-1204
6" ƒ/11 ISO 100
Teacher Melville Suggs goes over a brief summation of the University of Conspiracy Theories autumn curriculum and awaits the swarm of new students who are expected to enrol at this hallowed institution.
We're Here looks at Learning today.
If you wish to see more of my Misfits series please look at the album titled Misfits.
Not what I was expecting when I arrived at East Crowe’s for my journey to Newport, a MoreBus cast off. Pictured at Newport Bus Station
Eemnes, the Netherlands
After my exams Dutch, now again a few months ago. I saw the way home along a highway restaurant this car! Jesus, I never expected this! I shocked when I saw this machine there. Also I made alot of pictures of this monster. The owner of this Maserati has more cars like the Ferrari Enzo!
Comments are Welcome!
Don't use this image without my permission. © All rights reserved
Active 1888/1965
Motto ln Arduis Fidelis. Faithful in Adversity.
Role Supply and Transport.
March Wait for the Wagon.
Got the "Royal" prefix for its service in the First World War.
Would take recruits up to the age of 30 and if they were tradesman up to the age of 35. You would normally be expected to sign on for 6 years then 6 years reserve.
+++ 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:
The OV-10 Bronco was initially conceived in the early 1960s through an informal collaboration between W. H. Beckett and Colonel K. P. Rice, U.S. Marine Corps, who met at Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake, California, and who also happened to live near each other. The original concept was for a rugged, simple, close air support aircraft integrated with forward ground operations. At the time, the U.S. Army was still experimenting with armed helicopters, and the U.S. Air Force was not interested in close air support.
The concept aircraft was to operate from expedient forward air bases using roads as runways. Speed was to be from very slow to medium subsonic, with much longer loiter times than a pure jet. Efficient turboprop engines would give better performance than piston engines. Weapons were to be mounted on the centerline to get efficient aiming. The inventors favored strafing weapons such as self-loading recoilless rifles, which could deliver aimed explosive shells with less recoil than cannons, and a lower per-round weight than rockets. The airframe was to be designed to avoid the back blast.
Beckett and Rice developed a basic platform meeting these requirements, then attempted to build a fiberglass prototype in a garage. The effort produced enthusiastic supporters and an informal pamphlet describing the concept. W. H. Beckett, who had retired from the Marine Corps, went to work at North American Aviation to sell the aircraft.
The aircraft's design supported effective operations from forward bases. The OV-10 had a central nacelle containing a crew of two in tandem and space for cargo, and twin booms containing twin turboprop engines. The visually distinctive feature of the aircraft is the combination of the twin booms, with the horizontal stabilizer that connected them at the fin tips. The OV-10 could perform short takeoffs and landings, including on aircraft carriers and large-deck amphibious assault ships without using catapults or arresting wires. Further, the OV-10 was designed to take off and land on unimproved sites. Repairs could be made with ordinary tools. No ground equipment was required to start the engines. And, if necessary, the engines would operate on high-octane automobile fuel with only a slight loss of power.
The aircraft had responsive handling and could fly for up to 5½ hours with external fuel tanks. The cockpit had extremely good visibility for both pilot and co-pilot, provided by a wrap-around "greenhouse" that was wider than the fuselage. North American Rockwell custom ejection seats were standard, with many successful ejections during service. With the second seat removed, the OV-10 could carry 3,200 pounds (1,500 kg) of cargo, five paratroopers, or two litter patients and an attendant. Empty weight was 6,969 pounds (3,161 kg). Normal operating fueled weight with two crew was 9,908 pounds (4,494 kg). Maximum takeoff weight was 14,446 pounds (6,553 kg).
The bottom of the fuselage bore sponsons or "stub wings" that improved flight performance by decreasing aerodynamic drag underneath the fuselage. Normally, four 7.62 mm (.308 in) M60C machine guns were carried on the sponsons, accessed through large forward-opening hatches. The sponsons also had four racks to carry bombs, pods, or fuel. The wings outboard of the engines contained two additional hardpoints, one per side. Racked armament in the Vietnam War was usually seven-shot 2.75 in (70 mm) rocket pods with white phosphorus marker rounds or high-explosive rockets, or 5" (127 mm) four-shot Zuni rocket pods. Bombs, ADSIDS air-delivered/para-dropped unattended seismic sensors, Mk-6 battlefield illumination flares, and other stores were also carried.
Operational experience showed some weaknesses in the OV-10's design. It was significantly underpowered, which contributed to crashes in Vietnam in sloping terrain because the pilots could not climb fast enough. While specifications stated that the aircraft could reach 26,000 feet (7,900 m), in Vietnam the aircraft could reach only 18,000 feet (5,500 m). Also, no OV-10 pilot survived ditching the aircraft.
The OV-10 served in the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Marine Corps, and U.S. Navy, as well as in the service of a number of other countries. In U.S. military service, the Bronco was operated until the early Nineties, and obsoleted USAF OV-10s were passed on to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms for anti-drug operations. A number of OV-10As furthermore ended up in the hands of the California Department of Forestry (CDF) and were used for spotting fires and directing fire bombers onto hot spots.
This was not the end of the OV-10 in American military service, though: In 2012, the type gained new attention because of its unique qualities. A $20 million budget was allocated to activate an experimental USAF unit of two airworthy OV-10Gs, acquired from NASA and the State Department. These machines were retrofitted with military equipment and were, starting in May 2015, deployed overseas to support Operation “Inherent Resolve”, flying more than 120 combat sorties over 82 days over Iraq and Syria. Their concrete missions remained unclear, and it is speculated they provided close air support for Special Forces missions, esp. in confined urban environments where the Broncos’ loitering time and high agility at low speed and altitude made them highly effective and less vulnerable than helicopters.
Furthermore, these Broncos reputedly performed strikes with the experimental AGR-20A “Advanced Precision Kill Weapons System (APKWS)”, a Hydra 70-millimeter rocket with a laser-seeking head as guidance - developed for precision strikes against small urban targets with little collateral damage. The experiment ended satisfactorily, but the machines were retired again, and the small unit was dissolved.
However, the machines had shown their worth in asymmetric warfare, and the U.S. Air Force decided to invest in reactivating the OV-10 on a regular basis, despite the overhead cost of operating an additional aircraft type in relatively small numbers – but development and production of a similar new type would have caused much higher costs, with an uncertain time until an operational aircraft would be ready for service. Re-activating a proven design and updating an existing airframe appeared more efficient.
The result became the MV-10H, suitably christened “Super Bronco” but also known as “Black Pony”, after the program's internal name. This aircraft was derived from the official OV-10X proposal by Boeing from 2009 for the USAF's Light Attack/Armed Reconnaissance requirement. Initially, Boeing proposed to re-start OV-10 manufacture, but this was deemed uneconomical, due to the expected small production number of new serial aircraft, so the “Black Pony” program became a modernization project. In consequence, all airframes for the "new" MV-10Hs were recovered OV-10s of various types from the "boneyard" at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Arizona.
While the revamped aircraft would maintain much of its 1960s-vintage rugged external design, modernizations included a completely new, armored central fuselage with a highly modified cockpit section, ejection seats and a computerized glass cockpit. The “Black Pony” OV-10 had full dual controls, so that either crewmen could steer the aircraft while the other operated sensors and/or weapons. This feature would also improve survivability in case of incapacitation of a crew member as the result from a hit.
The cockpit armor protected the crew and many vital systems from 23mm shells and shrapnel (e. g. from MANPADS). The crew still sat in tandem under a common, generously glazed canopy with flat, bulletproof panels for reduced sun reflections, with the pilot in the front seat and an observer/WSO behind. The Bronco’s original cargo capacity and the rear door were retained, even though the extra armor and defensive measures like chaff/flare dispensers as well as an additional fuel cell in the central fuselage limited the capacity. However, it was still possible to carry and deploy personnel, e. g. small special ops teams of up to four when the aircraft flew in clean configuration.
Additional updates for the MV-10H included structural reinforcements for a higher AUW and higher g load maneuvers, similar to OV-10D+ standards. The landing gear was also reinforced, and the aircraft kept its ability to operate from short, improvised airstrips. A fixed refueling probe was added to improve range and loiter time.
Intelligence sensors and smart weapon capabilities included a FLIR sensor and a laser range finder/target designator, both mounted in a small turret on the aircraft’s nose. The MV-10H was also outfitted with a data link and the ability to carry an integrated targeting pod such as the Northrop Grumman LITENING or the Lockheed Martin Sniper Advanced Targeting Pod (ATP). Also included was the Remotely Operated Video Enhanced Receiver (ROVER) to provide live sensor data and video recordings to personnel on the ground.
To improve overall performance and to better cope with the higher empty weight of the modified aircraft as well as with operations under hot-and-high conditions, the engines were beefed up. The new General Electric CT7-9D turboprop engines improved the Bronco's performance considerably: top speed increased by 100 mph (160 km/h), the climb rate was tripled (a weak point of early OV-10s despite the type’s good STOL capability) and both take-off as well as landing run were almost halved. The new engines called for longer nacelles, and their circular diameter markedly differed from the former Garrett T76-G-420/421 turboprop engines. To better exploit the additional power and reduce the aircraft’s audio signature, reversible contraprops, each with eight fiberglass blades, were fitted. These allowed a reduced number of revolutions per minute, resulting in less noise from the blades and their tips, while the engine responsiveness was greatly improved. The CT7-9Ds’ exhausts were fitted with muzzlers/air mixers to further reduce the aircraft's noise and heat signature.
Another novel and striking feature was the addition of so-called “tip sails” to the wings: each wingtip was elongated with a small, cigar-shaped fairing, each carrying three staggered, small “feather blade” winglets. Reputedly, this installation contributed ~10% to the higher climb rate and improved lift/drag ratio by ~6%, improving range and loiter time, too.
Drawing from the Iraq experience as well as from the USMC’s NOGS test program with a converted OV-10D as a night/all-weather gunship/reconnaissance platform, the MV-10H received a heavier gun armament: the original four light machine guns that were only good for strafing unarmored targets were deleted and their space in the sponsons replaced by avionics. Instead, the aircraft was outfitted with a lightweight M197 three-barrel 20mm gatling gun in a chin turret. This could be fixed in a forward position at high speed or when carrying forward-firing ordnance under the stub wings, or it could be deployed to cover a wide field of fire under the aircraft when it was flying slower, being either slaved to the FLIR or to a helmet sighting auto targeting system.
The original seven hardpoints were retained (1x ventral, 2x under each sponson, and another pair under the outer wings), but the total ordnance load was slightly increased and an additional pair of launch rails for AIM-9 Sidewinders or other light AAMs under the wing tips were added – not only as a defensive measure, but also with an anti-helicopter role in mind; four more Sidewinders could be carried on twin launchers under the outer wings against aerial targets. Other guided weapons cleared for the MV-10H were the light laser-guided AGR-20A and AGM-119 Hellfire missiles, the Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System upgrade to the light Hydra 70 rockets, the new Laser Guided Zuni Rocket which had been cleared for service in 2010, TV-/IR-/laser-guided AGM-65 Maverick AGMs and AGM-122 Sidearm anti-radar missiles, plus a wide range of gun and missile pods, iron and cluster bombs, as well as ECM and flare/chaff pods, which were not only carried defensively, but also in order to disrupt enemy ground communication.
In this configuration, a contract for the conversion of twelve mothballed American Broncos to the new MV-10H standard was signed with Boeing in 2016, and the first MV-10H was handed over to the USAF in early 2018, with further deliveries lasting into early 2020. All machines were allocated to the newly founded 919th Special Operations Support Squadron at Duke Field (Florida). This unit was part of the 919th Special Operations Wing, an Air Reserve Component (ARC) of the United States Air Force. It was assigned to the Tenth Air Force of Air Force Reserve Command and an associate unit of the 1st Special Operations Wing, Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC). If mobilized the wing was gained by AFSOC (Air Force Special Operations Command) to support Special Tactics, the U.S. Air Force's special operations ground force. Similar in ability and employment to Marine Special Operations Command (MARSOC), U.S. Army Special Forces and U.S. Navy SEALs, Air Force Special Tactics personnel were typically the first to enter combat and often found themselves deep behind enemy lines in demanding, austere conditions, usually with little or no support.
The MV-10Hs are expected to provide support for these ground units in the form of all-weather reconnaissance and observation, close air support and also forward air control duties for supporting ground units. Precision ground strikes and protection from enemy helicopters and low-flying aircraft were other, secondary missions for the modernized Broncos, which are expected to serve well into the 2040s. Exports or conversions of foreign OV-10s to the Black Pony standard are not planned, though.
General characteristics:
Crew: 2
Length: 42 ft 2½ in (12,88 m) incl. pitot
Wingspan: 45 ft 10½ in(14 m) incl. tip sails
Height: 15 ft 2 in (4.62 m)
Wing area: 290.95 sq ft (27.03 m²)
Airfoil: NACA 64A315
Empty weight: 9,090 lb (4,127 kg)
Gross weight: 13,068 lb (5,931 kg)
Max. takeoff weight: 17,318 lb (7,862 kg)
Powerplant:
2× General Electric CT7-9D turboprop engines, 1,305 kW (1,750 hp) each,
driving 8-bladed Hamilton Standard 8 ft 6 in (2.59 m) diameter constant-speed,
fully feathering, reversible contra-rotating propellers with metal hub and composite blades
Performance:
Maximum speed: 390 mph (340 kn, 625 km/h)
Combat range: 198 nmi (228 mi, 367 km)
Ferry range: 1,200 nmi (1,400 mi, 2,200 km) with auxiliary fuel
Maximum loiter time: 5.5 h with auxiliary fuel
Service ceiling: 32.750 ft (10,000 m)
13,500 ft (4.210 m) on one engine
Rate of climb: 17.400 ft/min (48 m/s) at sea level
Take-off run: 480 ft (150 m)
740 ft (227 m) to 50 ft (15 m)
1,870 ft (570 m) to 50 ft (15 m) at MTOW
Landing run: 490 ft (150 m)
785 ft (240 m) at MTOW
1,015 ft (310 m) from 50 ft (15 m)
Armament:
1x M197 3-barreled 20 mm Gatling cannon in a chin turret with 750 rounds ammo capacity
7x hardpoints for a total load of 5.000 lb (2,270 kg)
2x wingtip launch rails for AIM-9 Sidewinder AAMs
The kit and its assembly:
This fictional Bronco update/conversion was simply spawned by the idea: could it be possible to replace the original cockpit section with one from an AH-1 Cobra, for a kind of gunship version?
The basis is the Academy OV-10D kit, mated with the cockpit section from a Fujimi AH-1S TOW Cobra (Revell re-boxing, though), chosen because of its “boxy” cockpit section with flat glass panels – I think that it conveys the idea of an armored cockpit section best. Combining these parts was not easy, though, even though the plan sound simple. Initially, the Bronco’s twin booms, wings and stabilizer were built separately, because this made PSR on these sections easier than trying the same on a completed airframe. One of the initial challenges: the different engines. I wanted something uprated, and a different look, and I had a pair of (excellent!) 1:144 resin engines from the Russian company Kompakt Zip for a Tu-95 bomber at hand, which come together with movable(!) eight-blade contraprops that were an almost perfect size match for the original three-blade props. Biggest problem: the Tu-95 nacelles have a perfectly circular diameter, while the OV-10’s booms are square and rectangular. Combining these parts and shapes was already a messy PST affair, but it worked out quite well – even though the result rather reminds of some Chinese upgrade measure (anyone know the Tu-4 copies with turboprops? This here looks similar!). But while not pretty, I think that the beafier look works well and adds to the idea of a “revived” aircraft. And you can hardly beat the menacing look of contraprops on anything...
The exotic, so-called “tip sails” on the wings, mounted on short booms, are a detail borrowed from the Shijiazhuang Y-5B-100, an updated Chinese variant/copy of the Antonov An-2 biplane transporter. The booms are simple pieces of sprue from the Bronco kit, the winglets were cut from 0.5mm styrene sheet.
For the cockpit donor, the AH-1’s front section was roughly built, including the engine section (which is a separate module, so that the basic kit can be sold with different engine sections), and then the helicopter hull was cut and trimmed down to match the original Bronco pod and to fit under the wing. This became more complicated than expected, because a) the AH-1 cockpit and the nose are considerably shorter than the OV-10s, b) the AH-1 fuselage is markedly taller than the Bronco’s and c) the engine section, which would end up in the area of the wing, features major recesses, making the surface very uneven – calling for massive PSR to even this out. PSR was also necessary to hide the openings for the Fujimi AH-1’s stub wings. Other issues: the front landing gear (and its well) had to be added, as well as the OV-10 wing stubs. Furthermore, the new cockpit pod’s rear section needed an aerodynamical end/fairing, but I found a leftover Academy OV-10 section from a build/kitbashing many moons ago. Perfect match!
All these challenges could be tackled, even though the AH-1 cockpit looks surprisingly stout and massive on the Bronco’s airframe - the result looks stockier than expected, but it works well for the "Gunship" theme. Lots of PSR went into the new central fuselage section, though, even before it was mated with the OV-10 wing and the rest of the model.
Once cockpit and wing were finally mated, the seams had to disappear under even more PSR and a spinal extension of the canopy had to be sculpted across the upper wing surface, which would meld with the pod’s tail in a (more or less) harmonious shape. Not an easy task, and the fairing was eventually sculpted with 2C putty, plus even more PSR… Looks quite homogenous, though.
After this massive body work, other hardware challenges appeared like small distractions. The landing gear was another major issue because the deeper AH-1 section lowered the ground clearance, also because of the chin turret. To counter this, I raised the OV-10’s main landing gear by ~2mm – not much, but it was enough to create a credible stance, together with the front landing gear transplant under the cockpit, which received an internal console to match the main landing gear’s length. Due to the chin turret and the shorter nose, the front wheel retracts backwards now. But this looks quite plausible, thanks to the additional space under the cockpit tub, which also made a belt feed for the gun’s ammunition supply believable.
To enhance the menacing look I gave the model a fixed refueling boom, made from 1mm steel wire and a receptor adapter sculpted with white glue. The latter stuff was also used add some antenna fairings around the hull. Some antennae, chaff dispensers and an IR decoy were taken from the Academy kit.
The ordnance came from various sources. The Sidewinders under the wing tips were taken from an Italeri F-16C/D kit, they look better than the missiles from the Academy Bronco kit. Their launch rails came from an Italeri Bae Hawk 200. The quadruple Hellfire launchers on the underwing hardpoints were left over from an Italeri AH-1W, and they are a perfect load for this aircraft and its role. The LAU-10 and -19 missile pods on the stub wings were taken from the OV-10 kit.
Painting and markings:
Finding a suitable and somewhat interesting – but still plausible – paint scheme was not easy. Taking the A-10 as benchmark, an overall light grey livery (with focus on low contrast against the sky as protection against ground fire) would have been a likely choice – and in fact the last operational American OV-10s were painted in this fashion. But in order to provide a different look I used the contemporary USAF V-22Bs and Special Operations MC-130s as benchmark, which typically carry a darker paint scheme consisting of FS 36118 (suitably “Gunship Gray” :D) from above, FS 36375 underneath, with a low, wavy waterline, plus low-viz markings. Not spectacular, but plausible – and very similar to the late r/w Colombian OV-10s.
The cockpit tub became Dark Gull Grey (FS 36231, Humbrol 140) and the landing gear white (Revell 301).
The model received an overall black ink washing and some post-panel-shading, to liven up the dull all-grey livery. The decals were gathered from various sources, and I settled for black USAF low-viz markings. The “stars and bars” come from a late USAF F-4, the “IP” tail code was tailored from F-16 markings and the shark mouth was taken from an Academy AH-64. Most stencils came from another Academy OV-10 sheet and some other sources.
Decals were also used to create the trim on the propeller blades and markings on the ordnance.
Finally, the model was sealed with a coat of matt acrylic varnish (Italeri) and some exhaust soot stains were added with graphite along the tail boom flanks.
A successful transplantation – but is this still a modified Bronco or already a kitbashing? The result looks quite plausible and menacing, even though the TOW Cobra front section appears relatively massive. But thanks to the bigger engines and extended wing tips the proportions still work. The large low-pressure tires look a bit goofy under the aircraft, but they are original. The grey livery works IMHO well, too – a more colorful or garish scheme would certainly have distracted from the modified technical basis.
A window with birds from Sporon Hungary for Window Wednesdays.
Captured in the main old city square, late in the afternoon Oct. 2014 with an Olympus EM10 and edited this morning.
Big Creek is an unincorporated locality and former post office in the Chilcotin District of British Columbia, Canada, located south of Hanceville on the creek of the same name. The Post Office at Big Creek was established - 1 February 1907 and closed - 20 November 1975. (Closed to Hanceville)
- from 1908 "Lovell's Gazetteer of the Dominion of Canada" - BIG CREEK, a post settlement in Yale Caribou District, B.C., on Big Creek, a branch of the Chilcoten River, 155 miles from Ashcroft, on the C.P.R. It is expected, that the projected railway connecting Vancouver with the main line of the G.T.R., will run about five miles from this place. Dairying and stock raising are the principal Industries. The population in 1908 was 40.
Link to a photo of the Post Office (photo taken in 1969) at Big Creek, B.C. - search-bcarchives.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/uploads/r/null/6/6/...
LINK to a list of the Postmasters who served at the BIG CREEK Post Office - www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/postal-heritage-philately/...
Message on postcard reads: Big Creek P.O. / B.C. / Oct 15th 1907 - Dear Sirs, When shipping my order - if you cannot arrange to have it brought right here, please have it put off at (1) Mr. Scallon's, Big Creek Bridge. I may be able to make arrangements with an Indian & myself, but as it is doubtful don't fail to ship, by first team available. H. E. Church (he was also the Postmaster at Big Creek, B.C. serving from - 1 February 1907 until his death - 22 July 1933)
Herbert Edmond Church
(b. 1868 in Middlesex, London, England - d. 22 July 1933 at age 65 in Big Creek, British Columbia) - he was an early Millarville, Alberta rancher before moving to British Columbia in 1899. At Big Creek, B.C. he was a dairyman & Postmaster.
His wife - Gertrude Anna Isobel (nee Nixon) Church
(b. 14 Oct 1870 in Sutton, Suffolk, England - d. 20 August 1949 at age 78 in New Westminster, B.C. / Haney, British Columbia) - they were married in 1894 - arrived in British Columbia in 1899 - LINK to her death certificate - search-collections.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Image/Genealogy/f4...
The (1) Mr. Scallon mentioned in the message was - Felix Scallon Sr. (b. 1846 in Leeds, Quebec, Canada - d. 14 September 1928 at age 82 in Big Creek, British Columbia) - his wife was Kathleen (nee O'Hearn) Scallon (she was also born in Leeds, Quebec). LINK to articles about Felix Scallon - books.google.ca/books?id=JVcp5NfXaj8C&pg=PA211&lp... and - books.google.ca/books?id=0gxAwtfA7FcC&pg=PA76&lpg...
- via - / CHILCOTEN / OC 16 / 07 / B.C. / - split ring transit - this split ring hammer (A1-1) was proofed - 9 June 1886 - (RF D).
- from 1908 "Lovell's Gazetteer of the Dominion of Canada" - CHILCOTEN, a post settlement in Cariboo District, B.C.; 40 miles from Soda Creek and 220 miles from Ashcroft Station. It contains flour and saw mills, 2 stores and 1 hotel, and is situated in a good hunting district. The population in 1908 was 110.
The CHILCOTEN Post Office was established - 1 May 1886 - the name changed to CHILCOTIN - 1 May 1911 and to RISKE CREEK - 1 November 1912.
LINK to a list of the Postmasters who served at the CHILCOTEN / CHILCOTIN Post Office - www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/postal-heritage-philately/... and the RISKE CREEK Post Office - www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/postal-heritage-philately/...
Addressed to: Masters Harvey, Bailey & Co. / General Merchants / Ashcroft
- arrived at - / ASHCROFT / OC 22 / 07 / B.C. / - cds arrival backstamp
Harvey, Bailey and Company was a general merchandise company and forwarding agent in Ashcroft, B.C. The company was established in 1886 by William B. Bailey and Oliver Harvey. Bailey also acted as postmaster in the "store" post office and operated William B. Bailey and Company, a storage and forwarding agency serving the Cariboo. A Harvey, Bailey and Company operation was also established in Enderby, B.C. In 1909, the two founders of the company retired and the business was carried on by members of the Bailey family.
We are expecting a storm on Christmas Day. I have stocked up on a must have, chocolate covered pretzels.
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Southwestern Railroads two ex-CN SD40-2s, 6997 and 6998, take the Deming-Whitewater local Northbound just outside of Deming, NM.
With a bit of knowledge and a bit of luck on a Monday morning, we arrived in Deming just as these 2 SD40s were getting ready to head North. Previously, I had thought the Rincon local would be heading out around this time but there was no action besides these 2 former CN EMDs working around the yard, I’ve yet to figure out the Rincon local operations. Another reason I was expecting to catch the Rincon local was because I know the morning light for Whitewater bound train would be horrible, and that’s exactly what happened. So I ended up doing a shot down a road and then highballing my way up the road to this bridge where I attempted a wider shot of the SD40s crossing this bridge. Turned out pretty good for what I was working with although I do wish I could’ve got some better lighting, hopefully next time.
10/18/21
Winnipeg's Assiniboine Park sunset Nov 23/09. Always expect the unexpected and carry your camera with you at all times.
I had about 45 minutes to kill this evening before I had to pick up my wife. I decided to head over to Hazel Dell and get a shot of Amtrak #306. As I was making my way east, ATCS Monitor came to life and a pair of northbound UP signal requests at Hazel Dell and Iles, perfectly timed for #306, lit up the display.
However, as I arrived on scene, the hotbox detector at milepost 191 spit out some speed and axle count information much more in line with a UP freight than #306. Sure enough it was a northbound UP intermodal train racing to get as far north as possible before the train dispatcher was forced to let #306 run around them.
UP 7723
UP 4401
Really wasn't expecting to see this in Dover today!, and this vehicle had brought School Groups to Dover Castle, which in winter still opens on Tuesdays and Thursdays for School Groups, and a thank you to Regents Coaches Bus Driver Mark Smith for the tip off that this was up here.
And be sure to check by my other acount: www.flickr.com/photos_user.gne?path=&nsid=77145939%40..., to see what else I saw Last Week!
Yes I'm back again.
However due to my main computer on which I edit my work being struck down with a big bad virus, this picture and all the others I am uploading, were Unedited but have now been replaced with Edited versions. So enjoy and Thanks for your patience and understanding.
I do still hate everything about this shit that is new Flickr and always will, but an inability to find another outlet for my work that is as easy for me to use as the Old BETTER Flickr was, has forced me back to Flickr, even though it goes against everything I believe in.
I don't generally have an opinion on my own work, I prefer to leave that to other people and so based on the positive responses to my work from the various friends I had made on Flickr prior to the changes I have decided to upload some more of my work as an experiment and to see what happens.
So make the most of me before they delete my acount: www.flickr.com/photos/69558134@N05/?details=1, to stop me complaining!!
After P7 speeder did not perform as well as expected in the Unlim class, team AstroTech turned their eyes to the B+ class of the Galactic Speeder League with their new P8 racing speeder. Being as nimble as the team's previous project, it's currently the most compact speeder in class. With a large protonic engine and sleek aerodynamics it is expected to be almost unbeatable at twisty tracks with smooth surface like those on planet Exo or Mauna-Effa.
It looks like the new Bratz art style may be "the norm" very soon! I was expecting them to wait until the fall since the current style is being used for the spring lines :P Could this be why the commercials are taking so long? As of the 17th, the SP12 commercials (or at least one of them) were in their final editing stages according to MGA. Shooting for another Bratz commercial starts next month. :)
Photo from the Film Independent Spirit Awards gift lounge. While it's a step down from the days of OOAK Bratz celebrity auctions and Bratz parties at the Grammys, I am happy to see MGA actively promoting the Bratz at "big"(ish) events again ^_^ Pix here: www.zimbio(dot)com/pictures/VJ0CXvtwLBf/Official+Presenter+Gift+Lounge+2012+Film+Independent/browse (Replace "(dot)" with a period ;))
Setup shot for this image.
Lighting was a single Profoto Acute2 head on an Acute2 1200 pack with a 40-degree grid. Check the notes!
Record-breaking temperatures are expected to top 37C, 😱😱😱
☀️nudging nearly 100F ☀️, in some parts of over-baked Britain today. That's my neck of the woods. It could even be the hottest day ever recorded, warn weathermen. But it is all set to end with a big 💥bang💥 tonight, amid warnings of heavy thunderstorms, lashings of ☔️rain☔️ and widespread flooding🏊🏊🏊.
Nothing else for it but... 🍦🍦🍦
Hopefully, I'll still be here come Saturday 🙏🙏🙏