Author Topic: Just some cool photos...nothing more, nothing less...  (Read 1192363 times)

Offline The Big Gimper

  • Any model will look better in RCAF, SEAC or FAA markings
  • Global Moderator
  • Cut. Cut. Cut. Measure. Cut. Cut. Crap. Toss.
    • Photobucket Modeling Album
Re: Just some cool photos...nothing more, nothing less...
« Reply #5300 on: February 24, 2023, 01:47:18 AM »
Here, hold my beer. I want to take a selfie of me and the balloon.



Text: So rays from the sun are “collimated” (parallel) meaning the U2’s shadow should ~match its actual size. Taking the 65’ length of the U2 and seeing it is about half the diameter of the balloon, you get ~130’. This matches the “3 school buses”
number given by the DoD (40-45’ each).

Also: The balloon is roughly 2 U-2's (1 U-4) long, equivalent to 3 school buses, 265 Standard Bananas or 1.4 blue whales. Hope this helps

Finally: Our Best Look Yet At The Chinese Spy Balloon’s Massive Payload
https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/our-best-look-yet-at-the-chinese-spy-balloons-massive-payload

From the above article: The bulbous shape of the front end of this shadow had raised a question about whether the aircraft from which the selfie was taken could actually have been a two-seat TU-2S trainer. DOD

Four eyes are better than two.






Work in progress ::

I am giving up listing them. They all end up on the shelf of procrastination anyways.

User and abuser of Bothans...

Offline Frank3k

  • Excession
  • Global Moderator
  • Formerly Frank2056. New upgrade!
    • My new webpage
Re: Just some cool photos...nothing more, nothing less...
« Reply #5301 on: February 24, 2023, 08:02:45 AM »
Also, those solar panels were putting out serious power. 16 panels - if each puts out 3kW, the array is putting out around 48kW. A typical house only uses 6-8kW a day.

Offline Old Wombat

  • "We'll see when I've finished whether I'm showing off or simply embarrassing myself."
  • "Define 'interesting'?"
Re: Just some cool photos...nothing more, nothing less...
« Reply #5302 on: February 24, 2023, 10:35:14 AM »
So, the payload is, basically, a sub-orbital satellite. ::)


The bulge at the front of the shadow is the starboard wing tip. The U-2 is banking around the balloon, so the wings are flexed "up", which means you can't see the shadow of the port wing but there is obvious sunlight on the tip of the starboard wing which would cause the "bulge" in the shadow.

That doesn't mean it's not a TU-2S trainer but the bulge in the shadow is not a product of the second canopy.
"This is the Captain. We have a little problem with our engine sequence, so we may experience some slight turbulence and, ah, explode."

Offline The Big Gimper

  • Any model will look better in RCAF, SEAC or FAA markings
  • Global Moderator
  • Cut. Cut. Cut. Measure. Cut. Cut. Crap. Toss.
    • Photobucket Modeling Album
Re: Just some cool photos...nothing more, nothing less...
« Reply #5303 on: February 24, 2023, 09:38:53 PM »
Also, those solar panels were putting out serious power. 16 panels - if each puts out 3kW, the array is putting out around 48kW. A typical house only uses 6-8kW a day.

They may have given up battery weight for payload hence the large solar panel array.

I'm very surprised given the extreme right-wing behaviour of a certain individual that they were not using a Tesla Powerwall. <<s**t emoji>>
« Last Edit: February 24, 2023, 10:45:47 PM by The Big Gimper »
Work in progress ::

I am giving up listing them. They all end up on the shelf of procrastination anyways.

User and abuser of Bothans...

Offline GTX_Admin

  • Evil Administrator bent on taking over the Universe!
  • Administrator - Yep, I'm the one to blame for this place.
  • Whiffing Demi-God!
    • Beyond the Sprues
Re: Just some cool photos...nothing more, nothing less...
« Reply #5304 on: February 25, 2023, 02:32:54 AM »
I'm very surprised given the extreme right-wing behaviour of a certain individual that they were not using a Tesla Powerwall. <<s**t emoji>>

 ;D
All hail the God of Frustration!!!

You can't outrun Death forever.
But you can make the Bastard work for it.

Offline The Big Gimper

  • Any model will look better in RCAF, SEAC or FAA markings
  • Global Moderator
  • Cut. Cut. Cut. Measure. Cut. Cut. Crap. Toss.
    • Photobucket Modeling Album
Re: Just some cool photos...nothing more, nothing less...
« Reply #5305 on: March 05, 2023, 07:40:57 PM »
Work in progress ::

I am giving up listing them. They all end up on the shelf of procrastination anyways.

User and abuser of Bothans...

Offline Ifor

  • Newly Joined - Welcome me!
Re: Just some cool photos...nothing more, nothing less...
« Reply #5306 on: March 05, 2023, 11:40:19 PM »
Must be one of the most, if not the most awesome aircraft of all time. When I was in the mob, it was said they ha to disable the ALS as it caused the breaking up of the runway at Scampton. Was that right?

Offline The Big Gimper

  • Any model will look better in RCAF, SEAC or FAA markings
  • Global Moderator
  • Cut. Cut. Cut. Measure. Cut. Cut. Crap. Toss.
    • Photobucket Modeling Album
Re: Just some cool photos...nothing more, nothing less...
« Reply #5307 on: March 06, 2023, 12:02:27 AM »
I wonder if these were the pilots?

Work in progress ::

I am giving up listing them. They all end up on the shelf of procrastination anyways.

User and abuser of Bothans...

Offline The Big Gimper

  • Any model will look better in RCAF, SEAC or FAA markings
  • Global Moderator
  • Cut. Cut. Cut. Measure. Cut. Cut. Crap. Toss.
    • Photobucket Modeling Album
Re: Just some cool photos...nothing more, nothing less...
« Reply #5308 on: March 09, 2023, 09:19:22 PM »
Work in progress ::

I am giving up listing them. They all end up on the shelf of procrastination anyways.

User and abuser of Bothans...

Offline GTX_Admin

  • Evil Administrator bent on taking over the Universe!
  • Administrator - Yep, I'm the one to blame for this place.
  • Whiffing Demi-God!
    • Beyond the Sprues
Re: Just some cool photos...nothing more, nothing less...
« Reply #5309 on: March 10, 2023, 12:48:44 AM »
All hail the God of Frustration!!!

You can't outrun Death forever.
But you can make the Bastard work for it.

Offline GTX_Admin

  • Evil Administrator bent on taking over the Universe!
  • Administrator - Yep, I'm the one to blame for this place.
  • Whiffing Demi-God!
    • Beyond the Sprues
Re: Just some cool photos...nothing more, nothing less...
« Reply #5310 on: March 14, 2023, 03:01:08 AM »


Image of the concorde taken during a total eclipse on June 30, 1973 flight AF001 immat F-WTSS. Flight carried out by scientists and led by pilot André Turcat.
All hail the God of Frustration!!!

You can't outrun Death forever.
But you can make the Bastard work for it.

Offline perttime

  • The man has produced a Finnish Napier Heston Fighter...need we say more?
Re: Just some cool photos...nothing more, nothing less...
« Reply #5311 on: March 15, 2023, 10:15:38 PM »
VL D.27 Haukka II, late 20s.


Offline GTX_Admin

  • Evil Administrator bent on taking over the Universe!
  • Administrator - Yep, I'm the one to blame for this place.
  • Whiffing Demi-God!
    • Beyond the Sprues
Re: Just some cool photos...nothing more, nothing less...
« Reply #5312 on: March 25, 2023, 12:45:43 AM »


CFBV
All hail the God of Frustration!!!

You can't outrun Death forever.
But you can make the Bastard work for it.

Offline M.A.D

  • Also likes a bit of arse...
  • Wrote a great story about a Christmas Air Battle
Re: Just some cool photos...nothing more, nothing less...
« Reply #5313 on: March 25, 2023, 03:37:23 PM »
A nice pic of PLAAF J-10C

MAD

Offline GTX_Admin

  • Evil Administrator bent on taking over the Universe!
  • Administrator - Yep, I'm the one to blame for this place.
  • Whiffing Demi-God!
    • Beyond the Sprues
Re: Just some cool photos...nothing more, nothing less...
« Reply #5314 on: April 06, 2023, 03:15:07 AM »


CFBV
All hail the God of Frustration!!!

You can't outrun Death forever.
But you can make the Bastard work for it.

Offline GTX_Admin

  • Evil Administrator bent on taking over the Universe!
  • Administrator - Yep, I'm the one to blame for this place.
  • Whiffing Demi-God!
    • Beyond the Sprues
Re: Just some cool photos...nothing more, nothing less...
« Reply #5315 on: April 08, 2023, 01:39:43 AM »
All hail the God of Frustration!!!

You can't outrun Death forever.
But you can make the Bastard work for it.

Offline M.A.D

  • Also likes a bit of arse...
  • Wrote a great story about a Christmas Air Battle
Re: Just some cool photos...nothing more, nothing less...
« Reply #5316 on: April 09, 2023, 08:46:11 AM »
There is irrufutably a popular trend of performing flare launching for wow factors in photos in Western air forces.
A question if I may, what's the effect of ingesting a flare through the air intake?

MAD

Offline Old Wombat

  • "We'll see when I've finished whether I'm showing off or simply embarrassing myself."
  • "Define 'interesting'?"
Re: Just some cool photos...nothing more, nothing less...
« Reply #5317 on: April 09, 2023, 09:38:07 AM »
Instant grounding & demotion of the pilot stupid enough to fly outside the planned routine, & possible dismissal. ;)
"This is the Captain. We have a little problem with our engine sequence, so we may experience some slight turbulence and, ah, explode."

Offline Kerick

  • Reportedly finished with a stripper...
Re: Just some cool photos...nothing more, nothing less...
« Reply #5318 on: April 09, 2023, 01:41:14 PM »
A magnesium flare into the engine I suspect would be very bad.

Offline GTX_Admin

  • Evil Administrator bent on taking over the Universe!
  • Administrator - Yep, I'm the one to blame for this place.
  • Whiffing Demi-God!
    • Beyond the Sprues
Re: Just some cool photos...nothing more, nothing less...
« Reply #5319 on: April 10, 2023, 02:55:43 AM »
Instant grounding & demotion of the pilot stupid enough to fly outside the planned routine, & possible dismissal. ;)

 :smiley:
All hail the God of Frustration!!!

You can't outrun Death forever.
But you can make the Bastard work for it.

Offline GTX_Admin

  • Evil Administrator bent on taking over the Universe!
  • Administrator - Yep, I'm the one to blame for this place.
  • Whiffing Demi-God!
    • Beyond the Sprues
Re: Just some cool photos...nothing more, nothing less...
« Reply #5320 on: April 11, 2023, 02:51:42 AM »
All hail the God of Frustration!!!

You can't outrun Death forever.
But you can make the Bastard work for it.

Re: Just some cool photos...nothing more, nothing less...
« Reply #5321 on: April 11, 2023, 08:41:09 AM »
I so love this thread. I spend hours looking at the wonderful images and it really feels like I go down a rabbit-hole not knowing when I will appear again!

Keep up the great work - even if it does lessen the amount of time I have for actual modelling!

Dave

DaveCov - Creator of The Airfix Tribute Forum.

"Have no fear of perfection - you'll never reach it." - Salvador Dali

Offline GTX_Admin

  • Evil Administrator bent on taking over the Universe!
  • Administrator - Yep, I'm the one to blame for this place.
  • Whiffing Demi-God!
    • Beyond the Sprues
Re: Just some cool photos...nothing more, nothing less...
« Reply #5322 on: April 12, 2023, 01:02:24 AM »
 :smiley:
All hail the God of Frustration!!!

You can't outrun Death forever.
But you can make the Bastard work for it.

Offline GTX_Admin

  • Evil Administrator bent on taking over the Universe!
  • Administrator - Yep, I'm the one to blame for this place.
  • Whiffing Demi-God!
    • Beyond the Sprues
Re: Just some cool photos...nothing more, nothing less...
« Reply #5323 on: April 13, 2023, 03:09:41 AM »


« Last Edit: April 13, 2023, 03:15:22 AM by GTX_Admin »
All hail the God of Frustration!!!

You can't outrun Death forever.
But you can make the Bastard work for it.

Offline GTX_Admin

  • Evil Administrator bent on taking over the Universe!
  • Administrator - Yep, I'm the one to blame for this place.
  • Whiffing Demi-God!
    • Beyond the Sprues
Re: Just some cool photos...nothing more, nothing less...
« Reply #5324 on: April 13, 2023, 03:53:57 AM »
A time sequence of a total solar eclipse.

All hail the God of Frustration!!!

You can't outrun Death forever.
But you can make the Bastard work for it.