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Like the predecessor, Arthur modified his new mode of transport with many hidden and extra features. This latest model features:
A flamethrower hidden in the grille setion
Stun blaster located on the left hand section of the chassis
Rotating gatling gun stored in the right hand compartment of the bonnet.
Lightweight, advanced winglets stored in the central chassis section.
Features:
UC - Cocktail Dress
UC - Main Store - maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Sounds%20Gravis%20Beach/10...
UC - Marketplace - marketplace.secondlife.com/en-US/stores/159240
Other Styling:
Hair - Magika - May Hair
Rings- Yummy - Celebration
💫My Socials💫
📌Primfeed www.primfeed.com/danity.mynx
📌Flickr www.flickr.com/photos/danity_mynx/
📌Facebook www.facebook.com/DanityMynx
The Great Lavra Belltower is one of the most notable features of the Kyiv skyline. 96.5 metres in height, it was built in 1731–45, and was designed in the neo-classical style by the architect Johann Gottfried Schädel.
The enormous and ancient Pechersk Lavra monastery complex in the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv is the crucible in which East Slavic Orthodoxy was formed and is arguably the third most important religious community in the history Christendom behind only Monte Cassino and Mount Athos.
Kyiv Pechersk Lavra (Ukrainian: Києво-Печерська лавра; Russian: Киeво-Печерская лавра), also known as the Kiev Monastery of the Caves, was founded as a cave monastery in 1051, since which time it has usually been a preeminent centre of Orthodox Christianity in Eastern Europe. Together with the Saint Sophia Cathedral a few kilometres away, it is inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Among others, the remains of Imperial Prime Minister Peter Stolypin, assassinated at the Opera in the city centre, lie at rest here.
While remaining a major cultural and tourist attraction, the monastery has been active again as a religious community since the 1980s, having been shut down by the Soviet authorities in 1928 and turned into a museum-park. Nowadays, there are now over 100 monks in residence.
According to the Primary Chronicle, in the early 11th century, Anthony, an Orthodox monk from Esphigmenon monastery on Mount Athos, originally from Liubech of the Principality of Chernihiv, returned to Rus' and settled in Kiev as a missionary of monastic tradition to Kievan Rus'. He chose a cave at the Berestov Mount that overlooked the River Dnipro and a community of disciples soon grew. Prince Iziaslav I of Kiev ceded the whole mount to the Anthonite monks who founded a monastery built by architects from Constantinople.
Currently, the jurisdiction over the site is divided between the state museum, National Kyiv-Pechersk Historic-Cultural Preserve, and the Ukrainian Orthodox Church-Moscow Patriarchate as the site of the chief monastery of that Church and the residence of its leader, Onufrius, Metropolitan of Kiev and All Ukraine.
This description incorporates text from the English Wikipedia.
Electric Boogaloo
Smoothbore 12 gauge pistol, features threaded lead pipe as a barrel.
Anarchy thing for no real raisin.
The design features Separatist ships, Petranaki Arena, and the Droid Factory.
Unfortunately, I had to cheat a little bit since some pieces have never been produced in the dark orange color - Geonosis just doesn't look right with bright orange!
See more of my work on Instagram at @BenBuildsLego
For Earth Day, here is this spectacular image showing the Moon’s shadow on Earth’s surface, which was acquired during a 20-second period starting at 2:59 p.m. EDT (18:59:19 UTC) on April 8, 2024, by NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter. Though taken by the LRO, Earth is our home and NASA studies it more than any other planet. NASA powers Earth and climate science!
Credit: NASA/Goddard/Arizona State University
#NASA #NASAMarshall #astronomy #eclipse #NASAGoddard #EarthDay
Blocks issue 69 features step by step instructions to build my classic van.
The little van has previously appeared in some of my creations decked out in different liveries, such as the Hamburger Stand, Life’s a beach and few others.
It's not the first time I provide building instructions for one of my build but it's always a pleasure spotting them on a magazine.
Many thanks to Blocks for featuring the little van!
Blocks is one of the most popular magazine about LEGO bricks. Each month it’s full of reviews, hints, how-to features, from LEGO experts. Blocks is available here.
Don’t miss it!
Norton74 | Facebook | Instagram | LEGO Ideas
This collection features photographic images generated with artificial intelligence using Midjourney V7, specifically designed to stand out on Flickr Explore. The series explores the most popular colors identified on the platform: red, green, blue, yellow, orange, monochrome and black and white.
Each image has been created with technically precise prompts that simulate professional photographic equipment (Canon, Nikon, Sony, Fujifilm, Leica) and specialized techniques such as macro, architecture, portrait, landscape and documentary photography. The collection spans from cinematic portraits to Mediterranean landscapes, contemporary architecture, nature, Andalusian culture and urban art.
All images use optimized parameters (--style raw --v 7) for maximum photographic realism, with 2:3 and 3:2 formats ideal for social media and digital gallery presentation. This series demonstrates the creative potential of generative AI applied to artistic and commercial photography.
Esta colección presenta imágenes fotográficas generadas con inteligencia artificial utilizando Midjourney V7, específicamente diseñadas para destacar en Flickr Explore. La serie explora los colores más populares identificados en la plataforma: rojo, verde, azul, amarillo, naranja, monocromo y blanco y negro.
Cada imagen ha sido creada con prompts técnicamente precisos que simulan equipamiento fotográfico profesional (Canon, Nikon, Sony, Fujifilm, Leica) y técnicas especializadas como macro, arquitectura, retrato, paisaje y fotografía documental. La colección abarca desde retratos cinematográficos hasta paisajes mediterráneos, arquitectura contemporánea, naturaleza, cultura andaluza y arte urbano.
Todas las imágenes utilizan parámetros optimizados (--style raw --v 7) para máximo realismo fotográfico, con formatos 2:3 y 3:2 ideales para la presentación en redes sociales y galerías digitales. Esta serie demuestra el potencial creativo de la IA generativa aplicada a la fotografía artística y comercial.
Today’s ESA/Hubble Picture of the Week features the spiral galaxy NGC 4535, which is situated about 50 million light-years away in the constellation Virgo (The Maiden). This galaxy has been nicknamed the ‘Lost Galaxy’ because it’s extremely faint when viewed through a small telescope. With a mirror spanning 2.4 metres across, Hubble is well equipped to observe dim galaxies like NGC 4535 and pick out features like its massive spiral arms and central bar of stars.
On full display in this Hubble image are NGC 4535’s young star clusters, which dot the galaxy’s spiral arms. Many of the groupings of bright blue stars are enclosed by glowing pink clouds. These clouds, called H II (‘H-two’) regions, are a sign that the galaxy is home to especially young, hot, and massive stars that are blazing with high-energy radiation. By heating the clouds in which they were born, shooting out powerful stellar winds, and eventually exploding as supernovae, massive stars certainly shake up their surroundings.
This Hubble image incorporates data from an observing programme that will catalogue roughly 50 000 H II regions in nearby star-forming galaxies like NGC 4535. A previous image of NGC 4535 was released in 2021. Both the 2021 image and today’s image incorporate observations from the PHANGS programme, which seeks to understand the connections between young stars and cold gas. Today’s image adds a new dimension to our understanding of NGC 4535 by capturing the brilliant red glow of the nebulae that encircle massive stars in their first few million years of life.
[Image Description: A close-in view of a spiral galaxy that faces the viewer. Brightly lit spiral arms swing outwards through the galaxy’s disc, starting from an elliptical region in the centre. Thick strands of dark reddish dust are spread across the disc, mostly following the spiral arms. The arms also contain many glowing pink-red spots where stars form. The galaxy is a bit fainter beyond the arms, but speckled with blue stars.]
Credits: ESA/Hubble & NASA, F. Belfiore, J. Lee and the PHANGS-HST Team; CC BY 4.0
I'm honestly not sure why I built this, seeing as spaceships aren't something I usually do, but I enjoyed playing Jedi Fallen Order a few months ago and on a whim started working on this thing. The end result was better than I could have hoped!
Features rotating wings, opening hatches, and a full interior. I originally wanted to have working landing gear as well but that core drum section that the wings are attached to is a nightmare of engineering in-game and I don't think I can pull it off at this scale without seriously compromising its structural integrity.
Got another build coming up for you guys shortly, and I'll probably be more active for a bit thanks to quarantine. Hope everyone is doing well out there!
Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, Canada,
The Lunenburg Academy, built between 1893 en 1895, is an example of late 19th century Victorian architecture. It is a National Historic Site and still functions as a public school for the primary level, grades one to five. Each floor has six entrances, six classrooms and six staircases connecting up to the next level.
It is located at the top of Gallows Hill in Lunenburg.
Sited on a peninsula between two harbours, Lunenburg (pop. 2.800) is the prettiest and most colorful town in Nova Scotia. It features one of the best preserved examples of an 18th century British colonial town plan in North America, although most buildings standing today are from the 19th century, and some of the old wooden clapboards and shingles are replaced by plastic imitations.
Lunenburg's 'Old Town' is a 'UNESCO World Heritage Site' since 1995 (one of only two cities in North America to enjoy that status).
This jewel-bright image taken with the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope features the spiral galaxy NGC 2903. Hubble captured this image using the Advanced Camera for Surveys (ACS) and Wide Field Camera 3 (WFC3), installed in 2002 and 2009 respectively. Interestingly, Hubble observed this particular galaxy in 2001, before the ACS and the WFC3 were installed. The 2021 image boasts higher resolution, which means NGC 2903 is more finely detailed than in the 2001 image. The ACS and WFC3 collectively cover a wide range of ultraviolet, optical, and infrared wavelengths, so the 2021 image also has improved wavelength coverage to that of its 20-year-old predecessor. Hubble’s Wide Field Planetary Camera 2 (WFPC2) took the 2001 image. The WFPC2 was Hubble’s workhorse instrument from 1993 until 2009 when the WFC3 replaced it.
One of Hubble’s most remarkable features is its incredible longevity, made possible by its successful servicing missions that corrected imperfections in the observatory’s mirror, updated its technical systems, and removed old instruments and installed new ones. The juxtaposition of the 2001 and 2021 images of NGC 2903 – both remarkable images for their time – highlights the value of a stable, accessible platform in space that can reliably collect data, not only year after year, but decade after decade.
Text credit: European Space Agency (ESA)
Image credit: ESA/Hubble, NASA, and L. Ho, J. Lee and the PHANGS-HST Team
For more information: www.nasa.gov/image-feature/goddard/2021/hubble-gets-galac...
WestCanna features products ranging all the way from flower, concentrates, and cartridges, to topicals, and even cannabis-infused bottled water! These are people that look to every avenue to find products that their medical customers need. Not solely to get stoned, but also relax and relieve bodily pain via bath bombs or salves
The James A. Garfield Memorial is a monumental mausoleum dedicated to and the final resting place of assassinated President James A. Garfield. It stands in Lake View Cemetery on the east side of Cleveland. The cemetery was favored by Garfield and selected due to its proximity to his home in Mentor in nearby Lake County. The structure, built from 1885 to 1890, features a combination of Byzantine, Gothic, and Romanesque Revival styles. Garfield, his wife (former First Lady Lucretia Garfield), his daughter, and son-in-law are entombed in the crypt level of the monument. It was designed by George Keller and displays ornamentation from sculptor Caspar Buberl.
James Abram Garfield was the second American president to die as the result of an assassin's bullet, and this ornate tomb reflects the nation's expression of grief. Though Garfield is largely forgotten or overlooked by most Americans today as one of the handful of bewhiskered Gilded Age presidents, he was fairly popular at the time of his death.
The edifice was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973.
Information from: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_A._Garfield_Memorial
The photo features several lifeguard towers silhouetted against a gradient sky , taken at the Golden Hour, that transitions from warm orange and pink hues near the horizon to a soft blue above. The contrast between the dark towers and the vibrant sky draws attention to the structures, creating a sense of vigilance and quiet readiness.
The fading light of the sunset casts long shadows and emphasises the silhouettes of the towers, giving the scene a dramatic and slightly ominous feel. The gradient of colours in the sky adds depth and enhances the overall mood, suggesting the calmness of the end of the day while hinting at the potential dangers that lie beneath the ocean's surface.
The image can be seen as a visual metaphor for the unseen dangers that lurk in the waters off Cape Cod. The lifeguard towers stand as silent sentinels, symbolising human efforts to monitor and protect against the threats posed by seal hunting sharks. The peaceful beauty of the sunset contrasts with the underlying tension of the potential menace, creating a powerful narrative about the balance between nature's beauty and its dangers.
"Inspired by the McLaren F1 GTR ‘Longtail’, the 675LT features striking carbon fibre bodywork that increases downforce by an astonishing 40 percent over any other model in the Super Series.
Performance is similarly striking. The re-engineered M838TL V8 twin-turbocharged engine produces 675PS (666bhp) and 700Nm (516lb ft) – increases of 25PS (25bhp) and 22Nm (16lb ft) – and the seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox is now twice as fast.
The carbon fibre MonoCell provides the 675LT with an unrivalled combination of lightness, safety and stiffness, in common with all models in the McLaren Super Series. But an obsessive weight-saving strategy unlocks a further 100kg reduction compared with the 650S. From lightweight carbon fibre racing seats to a 1mm thinner windscreen, no opportunity to save weight has been overlooked.
Ultra lightweight forged alloy wheels and Pirelli P-ZERO™ Trofeo R tyres, carbon ceramic brakes and an uprated suspension system that embraces technology from the McLaren P1™ also contribute to the radical specification...."
~McLaren
Photographed driving around Monaco during Top Marques Monaco 2016.
________________________________________________
Features: Movable canards, folding wingtips, "retractable" slats and flaps, movable vertical stabilizers, functioning landing gear and pop-up missile bays.
The new Paramount Miami Worldcenter will rise over 600 feet in the air. The new tower will be 60 stories high and will include a variety of sports, including tennis courts, soccer field, running course, several swimming pools, boxing studio, fitness cetner, spa, and also the jam room, complete with drums, guitars, a piano and a recording studio, all located on the entire 9th floor of the building. In addition, there will be twelve Balinese-style, two-story villas surrounded by pools and other water features will also occupy the same floor.
Daniel Kodsi, developer of Paramount Miami Worldcenter and interior designers IDDI have designed a multi-story cruiseship-like resort amenity, to include an indoor lounge with 180-degree views. Above it will be an outdoor pool area with a yoga deck and firepit. Paramount Miami Worldcenters architects are Boston-based Elkus Manfredi, the firm that designed the retail portion of the Time Warner building in New York.
The towers residences will all have private elevator, third-floor access to the mall, which will be anchored by Bloomingdales and Macys. Among other condo features: private elevators that open directly into residences, 10-foot high ceilings, outdoor living rooms, laundry rooms and convertible dens. Units range from one-bedroom plus den with two bathrooms to three-bedrooms plus den and four bathrooms. Prices for the units, which range from 1,300 square feet to 2,300 square feet, start at $700,000 and go up to $1.5 million. Penthouses and villas will be priced up to $5 million.
Daniel Kodsi, developer of Paramount Miami Worldcenter and an interior designers IDDI have designed a multi-story cruiseship-like resort amenity, to include an indoor lounge with 180-degree views. Above it will be an outdoor pool area with a yoga deck and firepit. Paramount Miami Worldcenters architects are Boston-based Elkus Manfredi, the firm that designed the retail portion of the Time Warner building in New York.
Kodsi, who developed Paramount Bay on Biscayne Boulevard and 20th Street in Miami, is also in the midst of construction on Paramount Fort Lauderdale Beach. Previously, he built other condos and multi-family and single-family communities throughout Florida, after getting his start working construction on his fathers residential projects during summers, beginning at age 10.
The towers residences will all have private elevator, third-floor access to the mall, which will be anchored by Bloomingdales and Macys. Among other condo features: private elevators that open directly into residences, 10-foot high ceilings, outdoor living rooms, laundry rooms and convertible dens. Units range from one-bedroom plus den with two bathrooms to three-bedrooms plus den and four bathrooms. Prices for the units, which range from 1,300 square feet to 2,300 square feet, start at $700,000 and go up to $1.5 million. Penthouses and villas will be priced up to $5 million.
Credit for the data above is given to the following websites:
www.sunnyislesmiamirealestate.com/Downtown-Miami/Paramoun...
www.emporis.com/buildings/1349765/paramount-miami-worldce...
Architectural features: Head-stops and Label-stops:
www.flickr.com/photos/191876035@N02/albums/72177720324068...
Thirteenth century English gothic.
Parish church of St Thomas the Martyr in Winchelsea, East Sussex.
www.flickr.com/photos/191876035@N02/albums/72177720323931...
Churches of the Chichester Diocese:
www.flickr.com/photos/191876035@N02/albums/72177720319517...
- image © Phil Brandon Hunter - www.philbhu.com - image ref: P2180137a
Mass Production WR-02 Base Model
Medium reFrame (reverse joint)
Effective range: Long to short (dependent on armament)
Classification: Base model for modular assault units
Armaments: N/A
The finalised model of the WR-01 Prototype, this unit drops the experimental Quorus cannon in exchange for further augmented muscle strands at 19 horsepower each and up to 300 pounds extra force for its auxiliary thrusters. Designed to be modularly equipped to suit different needs, the WR-02 features removable armour which is detrimental to its tensile strength but allows for heavier armaments to be mounted.
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No change to the camera setup, still looking REAL shabby. Some will notice that the right arm is slightly different to the left, this is because i had to find alternatives to make a SNOT assembly for that arm since i don't have enough of them SNOT bricks
Another lovely short pleated skirt added to my collection. This one has 2 stand out features for me. Firstly it is pink which is always a nice colour to get a skirt in, but secondly it has 2 horizontal white stripes around it just above the hem. This gives it a bit of a cheerleader skirt look, which I love :-)
Apex Community Park.
Park Features:
160 acre Community Park
3 ball fields and 2 batting cages
2 soccer fields
3 sand volleyball courts
6 tennis courts
4 basketball courts (1 fenced for roller hockey)
Child’s playground and swings (ages 2-12)
Blocks September 2019 issue features my Pick-up truck instructions in "MOC this" column. You can build the little truck following the instructions. It has been funny taking "step by step" pictures and I love the outcome.
Alternatively you can see the instructions straight by clicking here.
Blocks is one of the most popular magazine about LEGO bricks. Each month it’s full of reviews, hints, how-to features, from LEGO experts. Honored to spot my MOCs on there!
Blocks is available here.
Don’t miss it!
Norton74 | Facebook | Instagram | LEGO Ideas
[777] Runabout
Features included:
️🌊 High quality PBR materials
🌊 Optional Accessories
️🌊 Drinks Dispenser with MyStory Compatible Drinks
🌊 Global Fuel System & MyStory plugins
️🌊 Natural Rocking Motion
🌊 Realistic Water Particles
🌟 Ultra smooth sim crossing!
Facebook: www.facebook.com/777MotorsSL
Flickr: www.flickr.com/photos/777motors
Primfeed: www.primfeed.com/jamesnguyen94.resident
Market piace: marketplace.secondlife.com/en-US/stores/200353
Mainstore: maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Highway%20Star/144/134/23
Fitted for SWALLOW Gauged XL
Features
-Materials Enabled
-Control Hud
-Left & Right Earrings
-Female Only
This image features the spiral galaxy NGC 691, imaged in fantastic detail using Hubble’s Wide Field Camera 3 (WFC3). This galaxy is a member of the NGC 691 galaxy group named after it, which features a group of gravitationally bound galaxies that lie about 120 million light-years from Earth.
Hubble observes objects such as NGC 691 using a range of filters. Each filter only allows certain wavelengths of light to reach Hubble’s WFC3. The resulting filtered images are colored by specialists who make informed choices about which color best corresponds to the wavelengths of light from the astronomical object that are transmitted by each filter. Combining the colored images from individual filters creates a full-color image. This detailed process provides us with remarkably good insight into the nature and appearance of these objects.
Text credit: European Space Agency (ESA)
Image credit: ESA/Hubble & NASA, A. Riess et al.; Acknowledgment: M. Zamani
For more information: www.nasa.gov/image-feature/goddard/2021/hubble-images-a-g...
One of the features of the grounds of the Palace at Versailles is a large man made, cross shaped lake known as Le Grande Canal.
Per Wikipedia: "With a length of 1,500 metres and a width of 62 metres, the Grand Canal, which was built between 1668 and 1671, physically and visually prolongs the east-west axis to the walls of the Grand Parc. During the Ancien Régime, the Grand Canal served as a venue for boating parties. In 1674, as a result of a series of diplomatic arrangements that benefited Louis XIV, the king ordered the construction of Petite Venise – Little Venice. Located at the junction of the Grand Canal and the junction of the northern transversal branch, Little Venice housed the caravels and yachts that were received from The Netherlands and the gondolas and gondoliers received as gifts from the Doge of Venice"
Here you are looking across to L'allée des Matelots.
Today you can rent a rowboat to navigate the Grand Canal as you please.
To see greater detail, click on the photo and/or the arrows in the upper right hand corner to expand.
Your views, favs and comments are greatly appreciated!
This Hubble Picture of the Week features the galaxy LEDA 857074, located in the constellation Eridanus. LEDA 857074 is a barred spiral galaxy, with partially broken spiral arms. It also has a particularly bright spot right in its bar: this is a supernova snapped by Hubble, named SN 2022ADQZ, and quite relevant to this Picture of the Week.
The NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope has observed a vast range of celestial objects, from galaxies, to nebulae, to star clusters, to planets in the Solar System and beyond. Observing programmes usually seek to gather data so that astronomers can answer a specific question. Naturally, this means most scheduled observations target an object that astronomers have already researched. Some are famous, like the Crab Nebula or the globular cluster Omega Centauri; others might not be so well known to the public, but still be featured in hundreds of scientific papers, such as the Spider Galaxy or NGC 4753. Not so with this galaxy: LEDA 857074 is named in fewer than five papers, one of which is the Lyon-Meudon Extragalactic Database itself. Virtually no data have been recorded about it, other than its position: since its discovery, it simply hasn’t been studied. So how did it attract the gaze of the legendary Hubble?
The supernova is the answer — SN 2022ADQZ was detected by an automated survey in late 2022, and led to Hubble being pointed at its host galaxy, LEDA 857074, in early 2023. Astronomers have catalogued millions of galaxies, so while today tens of thousands of supernovae are detected annually, the chance that one is spotted in any particular galaxy is slim. We also do not know how actively LEDA 857074 is forming stars, and therefore how often it might host a supernova. This galaxy is therefore an unlikely and lucky target of Hubble, thanks to this supernova shining a spotlight on it! It now joins the ranks of many more famous celestial objects, with its own Hubble image.
[Image Description: A close-in view of a barred spiral galaxy. The bright, glowing bar crosses the centre of the galaxy, with blurred spiral arms curving away from its ends and continuing out of view. It’s surrounded by bright points of light that indicate stars and galaxies. The galaxy also hosts a bright supernova in its central bar.]
Credits: ESA/Hubble & NASA, R. J. Foley; CC BY 4.0
This photo shows the interior of an upscale rooftop bar or restaurant in Pattaya, Thailand, captured during the evening hours. The scene features a sophisticated bar setup with two bartenders working behind an elegant curved bar counter. The bar is well-stocked with premium spirits displayed on illuminated shelving along the wall. A distinctive decorative lamp with a fringed shade sits prominently on the bar counter, adding to the venue's upscale ambiance. Through the large windows or open-air design, you can see the stunning nighttime cityscape of Pattaya with its glittering lights spread across the urban landscape below. The lighting creates a warm, inviting atmosphere typical of high-end cocktail establishments, while the panoramic city view suggests this is likely a rooftop venue that capitalizes on Pattaya's scenic skyline. The professional bar setup and city vista make this appear to be one of the premium drinking destinations that Pattaya is known for, offering both craft cocktails and spectacular views of the coastal city.
www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/r/rainhammarshes/index.aspx
www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/r/rainhammarshes/about.aspx
One of very few ancient landscapes remaining in London, these medieval marshes right next to the River Thames were closed to the public for over 100 years and used as a military firing range.
We managed to acquire the site in 2000 and set about transforming it into an important place for nature and a great place for people to visit. Now you can expect to see breeding wading birds in spring and summer, and large flocks of wild ducks in winter.
Birds of prey and rare birds are regularly seen too. There are also water voles in the ditches and rare dragonflies flit across the boardwalks.
There is an innovative visitor centre, with huge picture-windows that look out across the marshes. It is full of environmentally friendly features and already boasts a handful of prestigious architectural awards.
There is also a shop and café and a new wildlife garden and children's adventure play area too. A full events programme offers something for everyone, and while we still have several years to go to finish all the visitor features out on the reserve, it is already an incredible transformation. Boardwalks throughout the reserve give access for wheelchairs and pushchairs.
Opening times
From 1 November to 31 January, we're open from 9.30 am - 4.30 pm. From 1 February to 31 October, it's 9.30 am - 5 pm. We're closed on Christmas Day and Boxing Day.
Entrance charges
Car park: voluntary £1 donation. Reserve: Free to RSPB members and residents of Havering and Thurrock. Non-members: £3 adult, £1.50 child, £9 family (two adults and up to four children). There are extra costs for some events - please check when you book.
If you are new to birdwatching...
Birds are easy to see year round. The reserve runs a number of regular events for birdwatchers throughout the year, from novice to expert, including weekly Wednesday guided birding walk with Howard Vaughan, dawn chorus walks, winter spectacle birding event, a new birdwatching club for children, February's flock bird event and spring walks. There are also designated open days and weekends. Please see the events pages for further information.
Information for families
There is an evolving events and walks programme specially designed for families, with activities for all. All the reserve's paths and boardwalks are family and wheelchair friendly. There are also Adventure and Toddler's Playgrounds.
Information for dog owners
No dogs allowed, except registered assistance dogs. However, dogs are allowed on the Thames riverside path - a public footpath and cycleway running adjacent to the reserve.
Star species
Our star species are some of the most interesting birds you may see on your visit to the reserve.
Avocet
The delicate forms and and piping 'kluit' calls of avocets are becoming a more and more frequent site at Rainham throughout the year.
Lapwing
Lapwings from different places visit Rainham Marshes during the year. Wintering birds are replaced by breeding birds in spring and other birds that have bred further north pass through in summer and autumn.
Little egret
Little egrets can now be seen here in large numbers right throughout the year. Dispersing juvenile birds lead to a sudden rise in numbers in late summer and autumn.
Peregrine
The large concentrations of wildfowl and waders regularly attract hunting peregrines - especially in autumn and winter.
Ringed plover
These neatly banded waders can be seen performing their 'run and stop' feeding routine here.
Seasonal highlights
Each season brings a different experience at our nature reserves. In spring, the air is filled with birdsong as they compete to establish territories and attract a mate. In summer, look out for young birds making their first venture into the outside world. Autumn brings large movements of migrating birds - some heading south to a warmer climate, others seeking refuge in the UK from the cold Arctic winter. In winter, look out for large flocks of birds gathering to feed, or flying at dusk to form large roosts to keep warm.
Spring
Wheatears, stonechats, oystercatchers, hobbies, curlews, swifts, sand martins, house martins, warblers, marsh harriers, reed buntings, water and short-tailed voles, damselflies, marsh frogs, grass snakes, water shrews.
Summer
Black-tailed godwits, whimbrels, greenshanks, snipe, little egrets, dunlins, lapwings, teals, swifts, common sandpipers, ruffs, starlings, avocets, yellow wagtails, oystercatchers, yellow-legged gulls, bank and water voles, water shrews, marsh frogs, wasp spiders, red foxes.
Autumn
Marsh harriers, arctic terns, bearded tits, thrushes, finches, skylarks, meadow pipits, jackdaws, stonechats, hen harriers, goshawks, merlins, peregrines, short-eared owls, barn owls, avocets, black-tailed godwits, white fronted geese, pintails, wigeons, crickets, butterflies, dragonflies, damselflies, stoats, weasels, red foxes.
Winter
Bullfinches, ringed plovers, oystercatchers, golden plovers, water and rock pipits, little egrets, snipe, chiffchaffs, curlews, lapwings, dunlins, redshanks, shelducks, peregrines, kingfishers, short-eared owls, red foxes, stoats, weasels.
Facilities
Visitor centre
Car park
Toilets
Disabled toilets
Baby-changing facilities
Picnic area
Group bookings accepted
Guided walks available
Good for walking
Pushchair friendly
Viewing points
Currently two bird hides, family orientated Marshland Discovery Zone and several open viewing areas.
Nature trails
There are a network of nature trails currently in place, which are utilised for specific guided walks and events. There are approximately 2.5 miles plus of nature boardwalks, all designed for wheelchair and pushchair access.
Refreshments available
Hot drinks
Cold drinks
Sandwiches
Snacks
Shop
The shop stocks:
Binoculars and telescopes
Books
Bird food
Bird feeders
Nestboxes
Outdoor clothing
Educational facilities
The Education team offer a comprehensive and exciting array of curriculum linked field study visits for all school levels. We have Woodland, Reedbed and Marshland Discovery Zones, an Environment and Education centre, fully equipped classrooms, specific study areas, pond dipping areas and lots more. It's a safe and inspiring environment to get close to nature. A selection of lifelong learning courses on a variety of topics are run throughout the year, along with a range of children's activities, including holiday clubs. Please contact us for further details.
Cafe
Our cafe gives magnificent views not only over the ancient wildlife-filled grazing marsh, but also across Old Father Thames which flows majestically past the window. It is the perfect place to relax after exploring our nature trails or as a respite stop after the hustle and bustle of shopping nearby.
We serve our own exclusive coffee that is grown, imported and roasted by us. It's Fairtrade, organic and certified bird-friendly by the Smithsonian Institute, so now you can help save nature simply by enjoying a great cup of coffee!
Whether you are after a refreshing cuppa and a slice of our fabulous home-made cake, or a filling sandwich, panini or jacket potato, you will find something to tickle your taste buds. We look forward to seeing you soon!
Opening hours
From 1 November-31 March, we're open from 9.30 am to 4.30 pm. From 1 April-31 October it's 9.30 am to 5 pm. We're closed on Christmas Day and Boxing Day.
Highlights from our menu:-
Fabulous home-made cakes
Locally-made soup
Freshly-prepared jacket potatoes with a variety of fillings
Locally-baked pies and pasties
Made-to-order toasties, paninis and sandwiches
Lovely cafe with warming soup and fantastic cake. Yummy!
Access to the cafe
The cafe is fully wheelchair-friendly.
Children welcome
We're happy to serve smaller portions and we can also warm baby food in the microwave.
We use local ingredients
All produce is sourced locally where possible, including ham, bacon, sausages, soup and pies.
Dietary requirements
Jacket potatoes, sandwiches etc all have veggie options, as well as a veggie pastry. We have vegan meals. The soup and jacket potatoes are wheat-free; some gluten-free cakes are available.
Accessibility
8 August 2013
This is a Summary Access Statement. A full access statement is available to download from the webpage.
Before you visit
Clear print site leaflet available from our reserve reception
Free entry for RSPB members, residents of Havering and Thurrock. For other visitors admission charges apply. Carer or essential companion admitted free with disabled visitor
No dogs. Registered Assistance dogs only
Visitor Centre, car park and reserve trails are open 9.30 am to 4.30 pm from 1 November-31 March and 9.30 am to 5 pm from 1 April-31 October; closed on Christmas Day and Boxing Day
Check accessibility for events and activities.
How to get here
Purfleet Railway Station is a 15 minute walk to reserve
Bus stops near the reserve entrance.
Car parking
110 spaces and seven Blue Badge spaces
Gates locked at 5 pm
Surface is loose gravel
No formal drop-off point
No height restrictions.
Visitor centre and shop
Ground floor shop, slight slope to heavy door with 10 mm lip, normally open. Assistance bell. Non-slip tiles. Reasonable lighting. Some display units tall or deep. Pen and paper available. Bird seed bins are outside the shop.
The visitor centre and cafe are on first floor, accessed by a long ramp left of Blue Badge parking. Entry by two sets of double heavy doors opening outwards. No threshold. NOTE JUNE 2012, power assistance is out of order so an alternative bell is provided.
Step-free, level access throughout and non-slip tiles. Lowered counter section. Good lighting. Pen and paper available. Binocular hire. Staff available to assist.
Nature trails
Three signposted trails, a mix of flat gravel surface paths and boardwalks. Information boards in large print. Trails start at the visitor centre across a short section of non slip grill with a short steep section. You can leave the reserve part way round and along the River Thames. Use the one way turnstile or gate (Gate key code available from reception)
Viewing facilities
Four hides on the circular walk. None on the Woodland walk. All level entry either adapted for wheelchair spaces or designed for everyone to gain the same great views. Marshland Discovery Zone has touch interpretation. Shooting Butts Hide has 14 stairs and a lift.
Toilets and baby changing facilities
Accessible toilet on ground and first floors (Baby changing in first floor)
Catering
Café on first floor. Good lighting. Non slip tile flooring. Self-service. Menus are clear print. Staff available to assist.
Picnic area
Eleven tables with wheelchair spaces, on soft and hard surfaces, level ground behind visitor centre. Alternatively, a table in the adventure playground and toddler's play area. Visitors are welcome to consume their own food and drink here.
Education facilities
Education team offer a wide and exciting array of curriculum linked field study visits at our Environment and Education centre, fully equipped classrooms, specific study areas, pond dipping areas.
Help us improve accessibility by sending feedback to the Site Manager.
For more information
Rainham Marshes
E-mail: rainham.marshes@rspb.org.uk
Telephone:01708 899840
RM19 1SZ
How to get here
By train
The nearest railway station to this reserve is Purfleet. Purfleet train station is on the C2C line from Fenchurch Street. The reserve is a 15 minute walk from the station following the brown pedestrian signs along the riverside path. Turn right out of the station and then join the path at the Royal Pub. Follow the Riverside path and then cross the Mardyke Bridge to the Visitor Centre.
By bus
The ensignbus 44 bus route which runs between Lakeside and Orsett Hospital, Grays, stops near the reserve entrance on New Tank Hill Road. This bus runs every hour and up to 30 minutes during peak periods. The service is operated by Ensignbus (01708 865656).
By road
The reserve is located off New Tank Hill Road (A1090) in Purfleet which is just off the A1306 between Rainham and Lakeside. This is accessible from the Aveley, Wennington and Purfleet junction off the A13 and J30/31 of the M25.
Cycling at Rainham Marshes
RSPB Rainham Marshes is just a stone's throw from London, easily accessible by public transport, on foot and by bike. Located on ancient marshland nestled beside the river Thames, it really is a special place to enjoy the great outdoors.
The reserve itself offers a leisurely amble in a superb setting with fantastic facilities such as an award-winning, eco-friendly visitor centre with cafe and shop.
If cycling is your thing, a brand new cycle route links the villages of Purfleet and Rainham. This runs beside the reserve, following the Thames, looping round and passing the stone barges.
Both on the reserve and along the riverside path, you will see a variety of interesting, sometimes rare, birds, mammals, reptiles and amphibians as well as bugs and beasties of all kinds. You will also be able to learn so much of the history and importance of this area.
Our work here
Rainham Marshes protects an ancient, low-lying grazing marsh in the Thames Estuary. Its complex of wet grassland and ditches, together with rank grassland and scrub, supports many breeding and wintering birds.
Wildlife also includes scarce wetland plants and insects, and a key population of the nationally declining water vole.
The site has a history of neglect, but the RSPB is working to restore important habitats and improve their biodiversity. This will transform a former wasteland into an important natural asset, and help raise public awareness of local conservation issues.
Managing the marsh
Birdlife on the marsh includes breeding waders, such as lapwing, redshank and snipe, as well as important numbers of wintering wildfowl, waders, finches and birds of prey.
We plan to enhance the habitat for these birds by creating a mosaic of unflooded tussocky grassland, flooded short grassland and semi-permanent pools. This will also benefit important plant species, such as golden dock.
Meanwhile we will improve the ditch system for the benefit of water voles, reptiles and amphibians, invertebrates and breeding birds.
Leaving well alone
We will leave the areas of tall rank grass and scattered scrub unmanaged in order to retain their existing conservation value. Wildlife in these habitats includes small mammals, reptiles and invertebrates, and birds such as wintering short-eared owls and breeding stonechats.
We will also look after sandy areas for their specialist insect life.
Silt lagoons
Lagoons on the reserves are currently used for commercial silt dredging. We will work around this in order re-create and maintain a complex of brackish lagoons and reed-swamp for important wildlife, including breeding, wintering and passage waterfowl.
While some lagoons will remain operational, we will manage others rotationally and keep the rest permanently open.
Access for all
We aim to make the site accessible to everyone, without impinging on the dredging operation or compromising our conservation priorities. We will develop and promote the reserve as a major visitor attraction and centre for environmental education. We aim to encourage interest in local and general conservation, and create a broader understanding of the work of the RSPB.
Funding
Current work is being funded by the EU’s Interreg IVA Two Seas Cross-border Cooperation Programme 2007-2013, Homes and Communities Agency’s Parklands Funding administered by Essex County Council, and Biffa Award and Veolia Cleanaway Havering Riverside Trust, both through the Landfill Communities Fund.
Thanks to help on the reserve from employees of Goldman Sachs, Royal Bank of Scotland, HSBC, Earthwatch, Barclays, Royal Mail, Family Mosaic, Ipsos Media we have been able to deliver more for wildlife and people at Rainham Marshes.
Outstanding features of the myth of the Indian rope trick include a scarcity of active practitioners and the absence of reliable witnesses to its ever having been successfully performed, or indeed attempted. This is not completely surprising when its gravity defying claims are considered. For a piece of conjuring which has never actually been seen, there are a surprising number of variations. However they coalesce around the unlikely prospect of a piece of rope being flung in to the air whereupon it achieves sufficient properties of rigidity and stability to enable it to be ascended by the performer. If this were not sufficiently miraculous, the audience's credulity is tested by Scotland proceeding to win the World Cup on three consecutive occassions, having won every match contested by a margin of five goals to nil and conceding no corner kicks in the process.
This image features IC 3476, a dwarf galaxy that lies about 54 million light-years from Earth in the constellation Coma Berenices. Whilst this image does not look very dramatic — if we were to anthropomorphise the galaxy, we might say it looks almost serene — the actual physical events taking place in IC 3476 are highly energetic. In fact, the little galaxy is undergoing a process known as ram pressure stripping, which is driving unusually high levels of star formation within regions of the galaxy itself.
We tend to associate the letters ‘ram’ with the acronym RAM, which refers to Random Access Memory in computing. However, ram pressure has a totally distinct definition in physics: it is the pressure exerted on a body when it moves through some form of fluid, due to the overall resistance of the fluid. In the case of entire galaxies experiencing ram pressure, the galaxies are the ‘bodies’ and the intergalactic or intracluster medium (the dust and gas that permeates the space between galaxies, and for the latter the spaces between galaxies in clusters) is the ‘fluid’.
Ram pressure stripping occurs when the ram pressure results in gas being stripped from the galaxy. This stripping away of gas can lead to a reduction in the level of star formation, or even its complete cessation, as gas is absolutely key to the formation of stars. However, the ram pressure can also cause other parts of the galaxy to be compressed, which can actually boost star formation. This is what seems to be taking place in IC 3476: there seems to be absolutely no star formation going on at the edge of the galaxy bearing the brunt of the ram pressure stripping, but then star formation rates within deeper regions of the galaxy seem to be markedly above the average.
[Image Description: A dwarf spiral galaxy. The centre is not particularly bright and is covered by some dust, while the outer disc and halo wrap around as if swirling water. Across the face of the galaxy, an arc of brightly glowing spots marks areas where new stars are being formed. The galaxy is surrounded by tiny, distant galaxies on a dark background.]
Credits: ESA/Hubble & NASA, M. Sun; CC BY 4.0
Features:
-Custom painted Brick Affliction SCA Armor set.
-Custom sculpted pants pockets, knee pads, gloves, vambraces, and armored sleeves (done by me.)
I've been working on this guy on and off for a couple months now and finaly finished him! :)
Andrew (pecovam) put so much detail into these pieces and it was so much fun painting them! :D
I really like how this guy turned out and I hope you guys do too. :) (as usual, it looks sooooo much better in person :P)
Enjoy!
-John
Austrian Butterflies - Schmetterlinge Österreichs
This small set features the seventh species in a series of alpine butterfly photos taken in the Tyrol region of western Austria.
____________________________________________________
Swallowtail [Papilio machaon, ssp.gorganus]
Classification: LEPIDOPTERA > Papilionoidea (butterflies)
> Papilionidae (Swallowtails) > Papilioninae
Local common name: Schwalbenschwanz
A pristine, fresh Swallowtail is a spectacular butterfly for sure. Interestingly, the most intensely coloured and marked form of the species [ssp.britannicus] is only resident in Britain, although only found within specific areas of the Norfolk Broads where its larval foodplant Milk-parsley grows. I understand that they are relatively easy to see if you know where and, importantly, when to look for them. The European race [ssp.gorganus] are slightly larger and paler; migrants may occasionally be seen in the south.
Unlike in Britain, the Swallowtail is widely distributed across much of Europe where it can be found in a much broader range of habitats as the larvae feed on a variety of umbellifers and rues. I assumed we'd see them in Austria in the meadows, but it took a long trek down from one of the mountain cable car stations to find an area where there were a small group of males who spent virtually all their time in conflict whilst trying to defend a territory. It was a well-known spot adjacent to woodland, but strangely the area seemed to be devoid of any of the normal plants where you'd expect to see them, so when they did settle it was in the grass. Most of those that I managed to photograph were a bit tatty as a result of their aerial battles. Further down the mountain track there was another area that they frequent, but only one was seen. It was in slightly better condition with intact wing-tails, and in a better setting, but unfortunately the weather was rather breezy and it couldn't settle. I only managed to get a couple of shots before it was swept away in the wind. So, all in all, a bit disappointing, albeit I did see a few and was able to grab some record shots.
Features on J.B. Jackson and Howard Fogg, cover photograph by Jeff Brouws. More at: www.railphoto-art.org/railroad-heritage-47/
The Fiat 500 Abarth features a five-speed C510 transmission with a 1.4 L engine with an IHI RHF3-P turbocharger is rated at 133 BHP. It also sports low ride suspension, dualdrive electric power steering with SPORT setting, and aluminum alloy rims!
I revamped part of the Fiat 500 Abarth I made last year. The back was too low, and the exhausts weren't complimentary to the design.
Previously painted red-orange.
Signage removed with Photoshop AI to preserve historical context.
"Peter Bocquet the younger built this house shortly after the lot was given to him in July, 1770, by his father Peter Bocquet, senior, a Huguenot immigrant. The younger Bocquet became a major in the Revolutionary forces, a member of the General Assembly, a Privy Councilor and later State Treasurer and Commissioner of Sequestrated Estates. He planted in St. Paul's Parish. The superbly handsome Georgian decoration of the interior is notably like that of Col. John Stuart's house, c. 1772, at 106 Tradd St. Other notable features are the handsome Regency style front door frame, done in stucco, and the second floor balcony."
-The Preservation Society of Charleston
PLEASE, NO GRAPHICS, BADGES, OR AWARDS IN COMMENTS. They will be deleted.
+++ 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.
*Features:
- 100% Mesh structure
- 100% seamlessly tillable, several buildings next to each other - sideways
- 100% original mesh and design made by myself
- Fully rendered textures with light and shadows for a realistic effect
- Exterior textures come with NORMAL MAPS.
- Contains 7 Template Textures with full perms (see details below). These textures are for personal use only and can't be shared.
Floor.
Ceiling.
Wall right side (Interior).
Wall left side (Interior).
Wall Middle (Interior).
Awning cloth (Both sides).
- The prefabs buildings come in four different exterior textures which are sold separately and also as a Fatpack.
Each pack contains six different building shapes.
See details bellow:
Size 11x11x10
Prim count 14
Size 11x11x15
Prim count 14
Size 11x11x20
Prim count 16
Size 11x11x10 With Awning
Prim count 20
Size 11x11x15 With Awning
Prim count 20
Size 11x11x20 With Awning
Prim count 22
- Footprint: 11x11 Without Awning
- Footprint: 11x14 With Awning
- Minimum Parcel Size Required: 512sq. meters
- Permissions
Copy / Modify / No Transfer
maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Antares/138/96/2003
marketplace.secondlife.com/p/The-Village-Shops-Fatpack-Bo...
Some more of the larger lunar features captured just before the full Moon of January 31st, this time from the south western region. The large, dark crater on the terminator (on the left) is Crater Darwin. Below that is Crater Byrgius. Above Crater Byrgius is a row of three crater, these are (from left to right) Crater Fréres, Crater Henry, and Crater Cavendish. On the right of the image is Crater Mersenius and at the bottom is Crater Vieta.
Created from 2 x 1000 frame videos with the best 1000 frames selected.
Captured with FireCapture
Processed in AutoStakkert, Registax and Photoshop
Equipment:
Sky-Watcher Explorer-150PDS
Skywatcher EQ5 Mount
ZWO ASI1600 MC Pro camera
x2 Barlow with extension tubes