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Post by mumbles on Jul 31, 2011 23:22:34 GMT 12
Also seen the trailer today, and wishing it had been directed by someone other than Lucas. He means well, but the trailer bears two of his trademarks: terrible dialogue, and misuse of CGI. He is so infatuated with the possibilities of CGI he doesn't seem to understand it is a tool not a toy. I'm immensely grateful for his contributions to film and culture, but gee he needs to figure out he is far more useful as a producer or ideas man than director. I went and saw this earlier in the year (as a long time and big Star Wars fan), and it was an excellent summation of just how someone who gave so much and had a lot of potential just seemed to get lost: www.wired.com/underwire/2010/02/people-vs-george-lucas/
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Post by mumbles on Jul 31, 2011 23:13:16 GMT 12
Great stuff, very impressive. I recall that Mumbles did the same thing a few years back at Wellington Airport with great results. Nothing like as good as these ;D What sort of settings are you using for these Stereoimage? The shot with the south celestial pole is awesome I've been meaning to revisit this now that I've had a bit more practice, but finding the time to get out there at the time of day required is a bit of an issue. In the meantime I got busy the other week taking pictures of the ISS and Space Shuttle Atlantis during the latter's final flight: ISS Atlantis on it's second to last pass ever over NZ: Both shots have the spacecraft moving into the Earth's shadow hence the fade-out. First attempt at photographing space vehicles, was an interesting exercise in trying to anticipate exactly where they were going to be in the sky, with not much room for error or adjustment if I got it wrong
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Post by mumbles on Jul 31, 2011 23:06:32 GMT 12
Probably as good a place to mention the upcoming Scale Models Expo/IPMS Nationals in Lower Hutt in a couple of weeks (Aug 20-21), which will be featuring some large train layouts as well as scale models. Not something I can see myself getting into actively, but I love the attention to detail, history and story that gets put into these.
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Post by mumbles on Jul 29, 2011 16:39:28 GMT 12
I remember the outcry when Spencer Flack restored his MK XIV Spitfire (G-FIRE) in his house colours of overall Red with a blue and white pin stripe. Too young to remember any gnashing of teeth over that, but have always thought it looked great in those colours. Grey/green Spitfires are a dime a dozen (kind of like how almost every P-51D served with the 8th AF judging by the colour schemes of those you see flying today).
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Post by mumbles on Jul 29, 2011 12:16:11 GMT 12
One of the fin flashes on 1053 is back to front also, annoys me somewhat 'Tis indeed: www.jetphotos.net/viewphoto.php?id=404101&nseq=2You can also see the back-to-the-wind roundel in that shot. Wonder if the owners know/care? ;D Tempted to model it as such now, just to annoy anyone who sees it on display and calls it inaccurate
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Post by mumbles on Jul 29, 2011 9:25:39 GMT 12
I would love to see however, an authentic rebuild to include a completely authentic paint job. I made a point on another thread about the RNZAF Historic Flight Harvard. That is surely is the worlds most loved and looked after T-6, but to see its markings as an inaccurate transfer makes me frown just a wee bit. Also noted this morning in magazine coverage of Omaka that Harvard NZ1053's underwing markings appear to be backwards; numbers and kiwis facing aft In addition to the other points you raised, I understand that D-Day stripes were often crudely and hurriedly applied, not quite the perfectly demarcated stripes you tend to see today. During the 1990's at least The Shuttleworth Collection tried to make their Spitfire V look as representative as possible. Matt paint, allowed to wear and peel naturally, and the airframe allowed to get dirty as an operational aircaft would have. It is quite a contrast to the more pristine warbirds.
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Post by mumbles on Jul 26, 2011 12:00:56 GMT 12
Can someone confirm for me that Andover NZ7624 is still at Whenuapai Fire Flight, please? Working on updating ADF serials and using the Andover as a test run Was still there in March 2009:
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Post by mumbles on Jul 24, 2011 20:51:12 GMT 12
Hugely influential 1930's blues performer, rumoured to have literally sold his soul to the devil in exchange for prodigious talent, depending on who was telling the story. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Johnson_%28musician%29Also the name of an 8th AF P-47 ace, but not the same guy
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Post by mumbles on Jul 24, 2011 20:46:21 GMT 12
What I meant was I discovered her music when she was pretty much still unknown to the world, and before she had become more well known simply because of her drug and drink binges. I also knew who she was well before the train-wreck left the station, and while never a big fan, still feel sad that things turned out this way. But ultimately it is the path she chose.
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Post by mumbles on Jul 24, 2011 20:31:15 GMT 12
Did you see the bit on the news about how many " troubled " celeberities die at age 27 ? ( like Amy ) . Seriously spooky ! The 27 club has been part of rock legend for the last couple of decades at least. Includes, Jimi Hendrix, Kurt Cobain, Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison, Brian Jones and Robert Johnson. I'd wager though that there are far more musicians in the 'Not 27 club', so think it more coincidence than spooky.
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Post by mumbles on Jul 24, 2011 20:26:37 GMT 12
I am sad to see on the news today that singer Amy Winehouse has been found dead in her flat, aged just 27. I discovered her music before she was turned into a "tragic celebrity" by the evil British press, and have always enjoyed her singing. Her father is also a very good singer in his own right. Amy was a forceful, strong woman who fought her own battles and did things her way, and the press didn't seem to like that so they turned her into a joke. It's hugely sad. I guess she'll now be seen as the Janis Joplin of our times. RIP Not sure I agree that the media is to blame here. I'd be pointing the finger at those who introduced her to hard drugs, and tacitly endorsed her using them, as well as Winehouse herself. She was a tragic figure before this weekend, but much of it was arguably her own doing. I don't recall hearing anything about her being forced to take the drugs she did. I hate that "rehab" was a massive hit, and now the one she will tragi-ironically be associated with. The content and attitude behind the lyrics speaks volumes about the mindset of the artist that wrote it.
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Post by mumbles on Jul 22, 2011 10:24:53 GMT 12
At the end of Techs Course it was off to CIT (Central Institute of Technology) in Wellington for NZCE Stages 4 and 5 and the best time of my life! We didn't wear uniform and lived in the halls of residence for 6 months. Getting paid to be there was a bonus! Incidentally we were the last course to stay in the CIT halls of residence - the next year they were made to wear uniform and live at Trenham under Army rules! Might have been something to do with the trouble we regularly got into ;D I did my tertiary training at CIT in the 90's, and right up until the place closed in 2000/2001 it was still common to see uniformed personnel on site for the various trade courses, both NZDF and occasional overseas forces. Being a local I never lived in the halls, although some of those that did quite liked having an army base across the road, for various reasons . Personally I found the crackle of gunfire from the range quite comforting as I walked around campus.
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Post by mumbles on Jul 22, 2011 10:09:23 GMT 12
Why have they mentioned two unrelated incidents? To fill in the space I guess? Did you not get the memo from the media bible Dave? Every aviation incident or accident ever is intrinsically related to and has an influence or bearing on every other aviation incident or accident ever, because as everyone knows, aviation is highly dangrous and planes plummet, slam and induce terror at the slightest opportunity, and the public needs to know for their own safety, lest they accidentally find themselves within 100m of an aircraft.
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Post by mumbles on Jul 12, 2011 23:36:12 GMT 12
One thing that struck me was the time it took for those in officialdom (who obviously didn't see the accident) to react. The commentators never even knew there had been an accident and kept dribbling on as all the aircraft landed! "Oh look the Skyraider has lost part of its wing" was their first clue! The crash fire guys also took a long time to respond (maybe the lack of a fire to guide them to the crash site has something to do with it?). A good save by the Skyradier (another good Douglas product!) pilot but he has some explaining to do over what happened! There is also the airshow protocol of commentators underplaying or not commenting on accidents to calm the crowd to consider. They also may simply not have seen it. It was well off the end of the display line, and if there were more aircraft running in or approaching they naturally would have been focussed upon. Not sure about the emergency response. There has been some interesting to-and-froing about it on other forums.
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Post by mumbles on Jul 12, 2011 23:20:27 GMT 12
I agree over the explaining. There are several different angles on youtube already. The P51 disappears below the lower-right cowl of the Skyraider. Perhaps I should word it another way... the Skyraider put himself in a non-sited position in relation to the other craft... The big surprise was how long it takes to climb out of a P51 after the canopy has gone! Gotta love the modern Martin-Baker Awesome skills (in the end) from both pilots. I don't know if it took all that time. I think the canopy might have gone intially as a precaution (which turned out to be a wise one a few seconds later) while trying to assess the damage. I'm not basing that opinion on any particular expertise, but wartime accounts of fighter bailouts I have read give the impression that egress could be very quick once the decision was made. Either way it is one of the lowest non-assisted parachutings I have ever seen pictures of. It will all come out in the AAIB wash I expect. What is interesting is just how much force is apparent in the collision. The P-51 completely changes attitude, and the Skyraider goes into an uncommanded snap roll into the damaged wing. Speculation is rife on other forums, but one thing that has been pointed out is that the damaged area on the Mustang is right where the control runs to the tail are.
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Post by mumbles on Jul 12, 2011 20:19:47 GMT 12
I hope she isn't going to put it away until Christmas No, she is smarter than that, knowing such a move would result in inevitable redistribution of blue job household labour her way due to industrial action... In between dinner and wrangling the kids to bed I haven't had much more than a scan, but the word that comes to mind is 'definitive'. Well done Don, Nick and all involved. It is a really good looking work ;D.
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Post by mumbles on Jul 12, 2011 14:28:07 GMT 12
And whoever's getting '18' should check it for wrinkles... I heard a story that the powers that be at Townsville wanted to bulldoze '18 off the runway, but a certain RNZAF engineer (now Air NZ CEO) wouldn't let them. Any truth to it?
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Post by mumbles on Jul 12, 2011 14:25:42 GMT 12
Wife just phoned to say there is a suspiciously book shaped courier post package waiting for me to get home from work...
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Post by mumbles on Jul 12, 2011 12:18:48 GMT 12
Video of the incident here: www.flyingfilm.co.uk/archives/58Some very quick reactions and thinking by the Mustang pilot. The canopy goes very quickly after the hit.
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Post by mumbles on Jul 12, 2011 10:00:18 GMT 12
Was Big Beautiful Doll the aircraft that Ray Hanna famously flew in 'Empire of the Sun'? Yes it was. Registered as G-HAEC it was returned to flight circa 1984-1985, initially in RAAF markings to reflect it's origins as an Australian built CA-18 www.mrhaslam.plus.com/milborne/g-haec.htmlI remember a write up about it in Flypast at the time (and probably have the issue somewhere still if I can be bothered to dig it out). I prefer that scheme to the BBD markings to be honest, as P-51's marked as anything other than 8th AF aren't common.
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