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Retired military, ship model buff, former train nut.

You call-We haul! USCG 41' Utility Boat 1976

In retirement I've been catching up with building models of units I served on while on active duty. My latest build is a 1:16th scale model of a typical USCG 41' utility boat. Found at every Coast Guard station, the 41' UTB was state of [...]

UFO's--Serious Business!

At least they were to a young modeler in 1958. The Lindberg "Flying Saucer" was a big deal to me and was my first model I was allowed to build all by myself. Like many kids of the 1950's, I was a big fan of space [...]

The Mother of All Plastic Ship Models-Revell’s USS MISSOURI

As you work on your current plastic kit consider this; there was a time when these prototypical miniatures didn't exist. At least not in plastic form. How interested would you be in a hobby that offered little in the way of boxed kits, a [...]

U.S. Coast Guard Post War Aircraft

I apologise the quality of the photos; the planes are in a museum and I can't re-photograph them easily. One of my shortcomings as a modeler is my rush to build a model and the failure to take photos as I progress. And when complete, a [...]

Lockheed XF-90 Penetration Fighter 1949

The XF-90, a experimental aircraft, was an example of Kelly Johnson's Skunk Works. Designed as a long range escort fighter that could accompany the B-36 intercontinental bomber, changing technology had the jet redesigned as an interceptor. [...]

The Dromedary: 1953 Kenworth COE

The American Highway Safety Administration defines a dromedary ("drom") as a "box, deck, or plate mounted behind the cab and forward of the fifth wheel on the chassis of the power unit of a tractor/semi trailer [...]

11″ Dahlgren Naval Gun 1/16 Scale

The Dahlgren Cannon was chosen by ship designer John Ericsson to arm his breakthrough design of the ironclad USS MONITOR. The MONITOR's 29' revolving turret carried two of these huge rifled guns that were capable of firing a variety of [...]

General Aviation PJ-1 "FLYING LIFEBOAT" 1932

Known for many years by the US Coast Guard aviators as FLBs-Flying Life Boats-the five flying-boats manufactured specifically for the service marked the swan song of the American Fokker company(absorbed into the General Aviation company). [...]

US Air Force Brings down UFO

[Associated Press EST 1200] Today it was learned that a US Air Force jet, scrambled to intercept an object of unknown origin, crashed into the object in the skies over Maryland and forcing it down. Early reports are unclear but sources say [...]

Royal Air Force Rescue Launch, 1943

Built by the British Power Boat Company, the 67' Air Sea Rescue "Whaleback" boats were used by the RAF in WWII to rescue downed pilots. The design of these rescue craft was an adaptation of a motor gun boat developed by the Royal [...]