Scale Equivalents

Since I am working with scales that I haven't had too much exposure to I wanted some type of reference to these scales. Magister Militum published a scale guide some time ago.

8mm Skjalos Guard Kystoja Flame Tank

Stock Photograph

The Skjalos Guard Kystoja Flame Tank is a highly detailed 8mm resin casting from Metal Oak Casting. It will be added to my arsenal of weaponry and brought into play in our next war-game meet. I look forward to painting and detailing this piece of micro armour.

8mm Skjalos Guard Odyssa Artillery Tank

Stock Photograph

The Skjalos Guard Odyssa Artillery Tank is a highly detailed 8mm resin casting from Metal Oak Casting. It will be added to my arsenal of weaponry and brought into play in our next war-game meet. I look forward to painting and detailing this piece of micro armour.

Technology Featured in the Minority Report

Parking in the city can still be found at a preminum. Vehicles are brought into the building parking area by a conveyor.

Data stacks allows the user to visualize the accumulated data on the whole population.

Data is collected and is indexed by using iris scans. Scans are done routinely when entering buildings of all sorts. In stores, personalized holograms are created with merchandise suggestions matching personal profiles.

This is a depiction of a newspaper that features other media content types. Here a short video clip is embedded in the body of the paper.

Vehicles are slick and totally aerodynamic. They seat two and truly "smart" cars.

Screenshots are from the Minority Report, staring Tom Cruise.

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MINORITY REPORT (2002) | Vehicles of the Future Featurette

The End of Eternity

“Due to circumstances within our control…Tomorrow will be canceled.

The Eternals, the ruling class of the Future, had the power of life and death not only over every human being but over the very centuries in which they were born. Past, Present, and Future could be created or destroyed at will.

Eternals weren’t supposed to have feelings. But Andrew Harlan could not deny the sensations that were struggling within him. Andrew knew he could not keep this secret forever. And so, he began to plan his escape…a plan that changed his own past…and threatened Eternity itself.”

The End of Eternity, Isaac Asimov, Fawcett Crest Publications © 1955

Murcheson's Eye

Image from Wikipedia Commons

"Murcheson's Eye was a tremendous ruby, brighter than a hundred full moons, and all alone on the black velvet of the coal sack."

The Mote in God's Eye, Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle.

The Greeble Patch

When the street cleaner was done with sweeping the streets of our community this season he stopped at a place outside of town and raised and locked the brushes in place, what ever was stuck up in the bristles came tumbling down. The debris included various coins, dirt, small bits of gravel, and loads of bits of plastic and metal parts.

Although I have up to this day I have retrieved nearly ten dollars in coin, some of most valuable finds are bits of plastic and metal. The image only shows a small sampling of what was picked out of the greeble patch.

I can’t say what will become of what I have found. Some of it might just hit the rubbish bin , but you never no what might become useful on some future project.

Bulletin #109699: New Caledonia

"New Caledonia: Star system behind the Coal Stack with a F8 primary star catalogued as Murchison A.

Murchison A has six planets in five orbits, with four inner planets, a relatively wide gap contains the debris of an unformed planet, and two outer planets in a Trojan relationship.

The four inner planets are named Conchobar, New Ireland, New Scotland, and Former in the order from the sum which is known locally as Cal, or Old Cal, or the Sun."

The Mote in God's Eye, Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle, 1974.

Hot Wheels Experimotors

Bubble Matic: HCW69

2018 Card

"Are you ready to go tur–blow? Jump into the Bubble Matic and prepare to pop some wheelies.......and bubbles! Never fizzing out, this speedy suds mobile takes car–bonation to a whole new level!"

THe Bubble Matic is in a very colorful livery: a tranparent aqua blue body and cockpit, a purple underside, pink and white wheels, and yellow highlights. In the rear it looks like it has a jets exhaust.

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Bricking Trails: HCW86

"Switch up parts, add different bricks and design a new look! With a detachable roll cage and spare tire bumper, this customizable off-road speeder is always ready to roll."

I might have to take this one out and try the few legos I have around here and see what I can come up with.

Bulletin #109638: New Chicago

“New Chicago: Inhabited world, Trans-Coal-sack sector, approximately 20 parsecs from Sector Capitol. The primary us an F9 yellow star commonly referred to as Beta Horlensis.

The atmosphere is very nearly Earth-normal and breathable without aids or filters. Gravity is 1.08 standard. The planetary radius is 1.05, and mass is 1.21 Earth-standard, indicating a planet of greater than normal density.

New Chicago is inclined at 41 degrees with a semi-major axis of 1.06 AU, moderately eccentric. The resulting variations in seasonal temperatures have confined the inhabited areas in the south temperate zone.

There is one moon at normal distance, commonly called Evanston. The origin of the name is obscured.

New Chicago is 70% seas. Land area is mostly mountainous with continuing volcanic activity.”

The Mote in God's Eye, Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle, 1974.

Hot Wheels X-Raycer-Gas Lands Vehicle #2

This vehicle, a X-Raycer, has a transparent body, allowing you to see what it has “under the hood”. There was no packaging with this model so I cannot say what the manufacturer model number it is.

I have retooled this vehicle. It is fully automatous and is controlled by onboard AI. Through the use of “special materials and technologies that reduce the emission and reflection of radar signals” from the vehicle this vehicle can run quietly and stealthy.

The vehicle is powered with hydrogen fuel cells in association with solar cells. The solar panels are built into the body of the vehicle and power is stored in onboard batteries.

The power created from hyrogen fuel is typically used to power the laser. Enough energy is produced to allow the laser to make several short bursts and one or two sustained bursts before giving the energy cells time to recharge.

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Updated on 8/10/2022

11 Songs Inspired by J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings

Interesting article. So where do rock artists find the time to read?

Dramatis Personae

Roderick Harold, Lord Blaine, Commander, Imperial Space Navy

Arkley Kelly, Gunner, Imperial Marines, and Blain family retainer

Admiral Sir Vladimar Richard George Plekhanov, Vice Admiral Commanding Imperial Space Navy Forces, New Chicago, and Acting Governor General, New Chicago

Captain Bruno Cziller, Imperial Space Navy, Master INSS MacArthur

Commander John Cargill, ISSS, First Lieutenant of MacArthur

Commander Jock (Sandy) Sinclair, ISN, Chief Engineer of the MacArthur

Midshipmen Horst Staley, ISN, senior midshipman aboard the INSS MacArthur

Midshipmen Jonathon Whitbread, ISN

Kevin Renner, Sailing Master, Lieutenant, Imperial Space Navy Reserve

Lady Sandra Liddell Leonovna Bright Fowler, BA, M.S., doctoral candidate in Anthropology, Imperial University of Sparta

His Excellency Horace Hussein Bury, Trader and Magnet; Chairmen of the Board, Imperial Autonetics Company, Ltd.

Midshipmen, Gavin Potter, ISN

Fleet Admiral Howland Cranston, Commander and Chief, His Majesty’s Forces beyond the Hay Stack

His Imperial Highness, Richard Stefan Merrill, Viceroy for His Majesty Dominions beyond the Coal Sack

Dr. Anthony Horvath, Minister of Science for Trans-Coal-sack Sector

Dr. Jacob Buckman, Astrophysicist

Father David Hardy, Chaplain-Captain, Imperial Space Navy Reserve

Admiral Lavienti Kutuzov, Vice Admiral Commanding His Majesty’s Expedition beyond Murcheson’s Eye¹

Senator Benjamin’s Bright Fowler, Majority Leader and Member of Privy Council

Dr. Sigmund Horowitz, Professor of Xenobiology,² University of New Scotland.

Herbert Colvin, onetime captain of Space Forces of the Republic of Union, and one time master of Union cruiser Defiant

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^{1:The Mote in God's Eye- Wikipedia}

^{2: Xenobiology - Wikipedia}

"The Mote in God's Eye", Larry Niven & Jerry Pournelle

My Favorite Scene in the Ghost in the Shell

Major, Scarlett Johansson, walks across a street in this urban scene. The very common holograms, in this case fish, can be seen floating around and even through objects like Major. The color and complex layers of animation throughout this film are amazing.

Screenshot is from Ghost in the Shell, Paramount & Dream Works Pictures, 2017.