Aircraft Moddeling

From the time I was born my father was already an avid RC aero modeller. He gave me the limit of not being able to get an RC plane until I was 5. in that time I developed a love for die cast cars, but also a Plastic modelling fettish.

My father owning a hobby shop fed this passion and hours of looking at model catalogs and deciding which were the best to make was painful. On trips to the Hobby Importer Warehouse, I'd usually return with something. Lucky~!

My fathers workshop was also a great place to build, paint, detail etc. As I got older I got better with the airbrush and cared more about detail and authenticity. but initially they were just for fun.

I covered all the armed forces. But mainly focussed on the US F-Series fighters.

I'd hang some of them in my room in flight position on many hooks so they were always flying around. You can just see the fishing line used to hang them.

I had F-4, F-6, F-14,15,18, 111 and many others in many sizes but mostly 1/72.

Larger models allowed for good results however. This 1/48 Monogram F15 is a favourite.

As is the 1/32 F-16 from Hasegawa. Probably my best effort, although nowadays it needs a refresh.

In the end I had too many, so they are now in a box, ready to one day return to display. some are a little worse for wear with small broken parts but most are still in good condition.

Usually displayed on full detail dioramas with trucks and weapons, pilots and workers, these pics don't do them justice. I need a large area for display, ... maybe one day I'll get all my collections together from childhood.

Believe me, these are just a few.

Russ.

Eco vs Echo

"WOW!!!!! I love this car. I am going to sell my V12 Supra and make one of these."

I can imagine the words of smokey nagata, owner of top secret that is now promoting this rubbish. It's up to me to redeem myself for using 12000000 litres of high octane and be punished drive a prius for the remainder of his natural life and never touch a R35 again.

Go and buy one. Right now! And then spend more making it more efficient than the manufacturer because even the purists believe it's not good.

The concept of eco tuning is wierd. He save 1.6kg of an exhaust and then added probably more than that in non- wind tunnel tested aero at $1600. Rays save 3.6 kg. WOW! Im sarchastically impressed. The guy up the street from me runs his prius with 20" chromies. Weight? He is saving the world.

Its just a waste of time. Knight Sports actually race their Demio. Tuning a smaller car for racing. Not just crappy lip spoiler. Come on TOP secret don't pass aero parts off as ECOlogically friendly. The chemicals you used to make the resin and the electricity used to make the carbon fibre destroyed more than the aero benefit.

Strip the interior and battery pack saving mega weight. Then stuff a t78 on the thing and rig up some and be true to top secret's philosophy. Run it on renewable fuel and you might get more points.

If the TOP SECRET company dies then so be it. But don't go for crap yet. Remember they used to put turbo's on the Vitz, where has that philosophy gone. I made my Toyota "Echo" (Australian Vitz) look cool but it was never an ecologically friendly car. Just a car to save money. I used to have my FOOT to the FLOOR every gear change to drive at the same speed as other cars.

Countries like China and india are just getting interested in cars. They'll be burning more oil in 10 seconds than you can save in 20 years with your prius.

The world is fucked anyway.

BTW I haven't driven my car for 6 months. Take that world. I've done my part.

Can I have a Aston Martin now?

Ranting ranting

My kind of Classical Music

Steve Vai, among others, composes some of the most amazing musical experiences.

This video shows ultimate control of his instrument of choice. The electic guitar.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mDZuNM3HmU4

And yes, "For the Love of God." It's live!

Where did he come from...
Remember David Lee Roth among others. Interview. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TjARr7UlvMs

He does his own thing and developed his own distinct command of the guitar's voice.

ps.
Remember the Ralph Machio movie Crossroads. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D0QKbnCDW94
HAHA!

Sounds of Then

GANGgajang created this legendary song that defines Australia sometimes. Almost every Australian knows it and gets that patriotic feeling when its on. When I get homesick, on it goes.

GANGgajang - Sounds Of Then (This Is Australia)

When the title of the song says "This is Australia" it had better mean it. The guys may not be the coolest but close your eyes and get the feeling.



Click and listen http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ML9h3I5Uktw

Coke ripped it off for TV commercials too. Funny how their commercial creates a better link to the lyrics of the song.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jqbJAIc9jSg


There are a few others that evoke emotions.

Goanna's "Solid Rock" is awesome too. Standing on Common Sacred Ground refers to the Indiginous Aboriginal Australians.
IceHouse sang "Great Southern Land"

Men At Work's  "Man Down Under" is also a well known song but doesn't have a cool riff with it. It uses Flute!!

Car History

First. I can show my cool ass TA23 celica.. This was paid for with lottery winings.! yay! 

Larry the Laser. This car was a replacement for my Celica and it was my first near new car. I got a loan and everything! I couldn't afford the TX3 4wd version so I settled for the front wheel drive version. It had quite good torque and was faster than other more powerful cars.

I was really getting interested in Rally around 1994 so I sold it and bought a Datsun 1600 510.

It was a DOG parts car for a second rally car. However, the DOG car needed fixing so I never bought my rally car.

Next was this lemon NA 13b RX7. to me in 1995 it was no Series 6 fd3s but it would start my long appreciation of the rotary.

a few days after I took it off the road to install a turbo. It was stolen. Grrrrr. I had a front cut sitting in the driveway.

Anyway, I took the insurance money, and a loan and bought a WRX. Fast and superb.

But too much grip... no fun.

I just got 17" wheels and exhaust tune and it too was stolen.

I bought this MR2 turbo import. But I couldn't get insurance after the last two were stolen in entirely different cities and circumstances. I drove it for a while actually but I worried too much and had to let it go.

It was a nice car.

I bought this cheap and nasty FC turbo. It was quickish but never really went fast. The car was a rebirth as I found out later. I kept the car for a short time. It was loud and intoxicating but I wanted something I could run everyday and not upset my neighbours/girlfriend.

Fun and simple was the answer. NA mx5.... just make sure it's straight. I am the worlds worst car buyer. I must be an easy target cause I always buy lemons. This car had been in an accident and cowl shake was bad. In retrospect I could have tried harder to keep this one, but I didn't want any car hassles.

By the way the chromies were ditched in favour of the stock rims.

The Laser was the most reliable car to date.

So a return to practicality in the form of this EK4 1.6 civic. Very reliable and awesome car. I had a small accident while I was watching a girl get out of a pool! haha. Anyway it was serving me well in canberra but I decided to come to Japan. That meant I could sell it and get an FD3s RX7 !!!!! yeah!

Realise the dream!

Her it is. 1996 FD3s RX7. I got screwed by the buyer in Japan in the end. He bought a cheap car that turned out to need a new engine. I should have walked away from that guy there and then. But this one was good. It just had high Klms.

Eventually I transformed it into....

This...

But somehow I couldn't chose the colour I liked. I don;t know why. If I had painted it white. I probably still would have it. Anyway, with power increases came reliability problems.

So off it went to a new buyer.

And back to reality and reliability. Toyota Vitz is awesome! You can thrash them and they simply wont break.

I came back to Japan and had brain lapse and bought an accident repaired car because I wanted the body changed completely. I never learn.

Anyway. I spent a lot of money... The car became too good to thrash as was my initial intention. Gas rose to insane prices and many other things.

Sell it.

Practically reality is where I am now. But somehow. a New car with few mods. has cost me in reliability. The NC Roadster MX5 I have at the moment is an unreliable car for me. While all my friends are trouble free.

Anyway. It's time to sell it again and return to NO car.

For a while at least...

see what happens from here.

I think I need a new hobby.

Japan - Car Festivals

For some relaxation is a drive in the mountains. But in Japan it can turn into a festival at anytime.

Events on certain days celebrate certain cars. This is RX7 day on 7 July.

Celebrations of history and modern technology.

Creative expression is part of the Japanese car culture.

Some paint with tyres like my friend Andy.

While I like to blend cars and photography

Small events with friends often grow to mini festivals anywhere, anytime.

Japan - Festival

Japan loves a festival.

Hanami is the Sakura Cherry Blossom viewing festival

Hina Matsuri is the girls day festival of dolls.

Thousands are displayed, but all are unique and superb.

Bon Odori is the dance festival. Taiko drums and circular dance format.

Many endure the pain of their local festivals carrying the Omikoshi shrines around their area.

In other areas traditional dances replace this event.

Japan - Stereotypes

Japan - Land of the Rising Sun.

In Japan the sun is RED, not Yellow. This view from atop Mt. Fuji governs respect.

The view from afar is also quite spectacular. However, this is quite rare in Summer. The best time to see Fujisan is winter. Just after a windy day.

From Tokyo its clearly visible and dwarfs everything around. But most days you just can't see it at all. Summer smog and early cloud clover often blocks the view.

Geisha... you don't usually see them on the street. These two are Maiko. Training to be Geisha. You generally only see them in Kyoto where the traditional entertainment remains.

Temples like postcards. Sometimes it is true. Kinkakuji. The gold pavillion is a sight that covered in gold leaf. The grounds are manicured perfection. Other times temples exist under trainlines or feature a highway backdrop.

Yes, Japanese love sushi! This tuna was sold wholesale for 616000yen. thats about $6000.

True Sakura or cherry blossoms are viewed in late March or early April and they last a week or so. Thats it.

Shinkansen = Bullet train, but ask a Japanese person where the bullet train station is and they will have no idea because it isn't Japanese people. Learn some real japanese words before you come.

Japan is Busy! YES it is! Very! get used to it in the cities. But that number of people creates a safe environment. You are never far from help. In the countryside, you can find some nice spots, but someone usually comes along. Above is shibuya xing on a normal day. 33million in Tokyo area.

Wasabi is hot. Yes. But it is grown in the cold using the freshest mountain water.

I'll end this post... with this myth. Japan is Modern. Not all the time. This is aview of a down town concrete factory. Japan is old and new side by side. Perfect harmony.... you decide.

I'll be posting more photo's from my travels in the future. But for now. Tokyo is where I live.

Grumpert Apollo

Ever since I saw the Grumpert a few years ago in a magazine, I thought... WOW! This thing would be awesome to drive to the coffee shop.

No...Im not crazy. Really!

No your local, but the one 200klms away down the mountain and then along the motorway, lap the ring then have a coffee and return.

I can see the purpose for this car.

It's totally impractical for any other reason than driving fast on a mountain or highway or racetrack.

Love it.

Inline Skating

I got into Inline skating in Canberra. Australia. The area around Lake Burley Griffin is awesome for blading.

I taught myself but I need some lessons to take it further. I did it mainly for fitness. A good 40 minute session could cover vast distance.

I had some K2 skates that were very comfortable compared to others. http://www.k2skates.com/

Talking Heads

The Psyco Killer is David Byrne

The baggy suit is synonymous with the band. They are very creative and explored unusually melody and rhythm.

Are we really on a road to nowhere?

Simple Minds!

Simple Minds had a big impact on me. Just listen to this.

Up on the Catwalk was one of the first songs I heard.

I was hooked.

Waterfront is my favourite.!

I think Its also used in Underworld's Under the Radar. But that song is so cool it deserves its own post.

Speed your love to me. now is used in the intro to Austrlia's ABC music show RAGE.

I saw them live in 199X and they were awesome!

So many good songs.

All the things she said. shows Charlie's awesome guitar work along with Somewhere in Summertime.

Alive and Kicking was the most popular I guess.

Promised you a miracle. and Glittering Prize were a bit of the mod squad. Book of brilliant things was cool too.

Belfast child was also cool. I like how it goes off in the middle but I never got into Mandella day..

This is your land has some nice instrumental work at 3:42... fat bass and slide guitar

The other thing I love about Jimmy's voice is that.... I can sing these songs. Just the right key for me.

Basically just get all their albums.

Noiseworks

Take me back , it's been a long time.... since I heard this. 1987 ish album was great

But the best one is No lies. Awesome groove. There are many great songs from Noiseworks.

1988's Touch has an awesome video location and Burning Feeling is solid.

I love the awesome guitar work from Stuart Fraser. One of those guys that can rock a combined rhythm and lead track at the same time with a melodic solo. Awesome.

John stevens is a Kiwi but Aussies adopted him well.  The band lost direction and disbanded later. Early music still inspirational.

1927

Here is the start of a long journey through my favourite Australian bands. Some mainstream, some obscure.
But for those non aussies. The music is good, but it only goes so far. Promotion is important.

Band:1927 Album:Ish

If I could and That's when I think of you are soft rock at its best.

Re-union tour is on. http://www.nineteen27.com/

Russ.