Voyage of the Spammed - Part 8: "Carry On Postie!"

It was 61 years ago today that the one way trip from Liverpool to Montreal began; June 2, 1964.  (I had planned on doing a proper Diamond Anniversary post last year, but 2024 was not a good year...).  For previous posts on this subject, just click the label below!  

In amongst the photos, tickets, and other trip related paraphernalia already posted, I also found a few postcards which had been mailed by Mum's parents between the years of 1967 and 1968.  Sent while they were taking sea side trips around the UK, I was surprised by the subject matter.  Here is the first one for your perusal....

This is just one example of hundreds of innuendo-style postcards which circulated through the post for at least a few decades.  Tame by today's standards, but would you be able to send these 5.5" x 3.5" cards through the post these days?  Very "Carry On" style slogans and images; I saw my share of those films back in the 60's and 70's on family drive-in nights!  (If you want to know more about this subject, see the PS at the end of this post).

No. 2373 of the "COMIC" series published in England by Bamforth & Co. LTD., Holmfirth, Yorkshire.  (I'm not going to go into a history of the company; you can Google that if you are interested).  But basically they printed these 'saucy' postcards from the1950s to the 1970s, and were primarily sold at seaside resorts.  Hence why my Grandparents were sending them during their travels.  The second card is No. 2252.

Someone is getting an unpleasant draft up the jacksie!  Unfortunately there is not a print date on any of the postcards, so I have no idea of the cards age.  But they are in very good condition.  Still readable despite the fading of the ink, with the subject line being "Dear Jean and Mac.  Having a good time at Weston.  Love Mom & Dad".   The other cards all had the same lines, except the towns were different!  Knowing my Grandparents, I am quite surprised they sent these.  Thought they were a little more reserved and proper, but guess I was wrong!

The third card, No. 2255 is self explanatory.  Just more good ole knicker humour!  

The fourth and last card from Bamforth, No. 2417, might be a bit confusing for some of you younger types.  This poor chap obviously has to wee, but where is his chamber pot?  This refers to the days of outside toilets prevalent in the UK at the time.  I know my Grandparents had an outside loo back in the 60's.  The pot was to avoid the trek to the outhouse, and its the UK and most likely raining.

The final card, No. 6018, is from a different source.  D. Constance Limited, Littlehampton, Sussex.  Printing only postcards, this company only lasted about 50 years or so.  But of course got into the Saucy Seaside variety as they must have been quite popular.

I could only find five cards; I suspect there may have been more but so much gets lost over the years of cleaning house and moving several times.  If you want to find more, there are quite a lot of sites and references out there in the ether, even a real book or two.  

Hope you enjoyed this little post from the past.  Sure beats those landscapes and aerials of Niagara Falls!  Have a better one!

PS - Family Drive-In Adventures

Saturday evenings were movie nights at the drive-in, perhaps once or twice in a month.  It all depended on what was playing, parents work schedule, the budget, etc.  There was a drive-in just five minutes up the road, so that was the usual destination.  Back in the 60's Dad had a bloody great 1959 Pontiac StratoCruiser.  A land battleship you could live in!  And yes, it had fins!  Mum and Dad in the front and the three kids in the back.  Also packed in the back were pillows, blankets, and extra clothing, depending on the weather.  The good thing was the parents would pay admission but the kiddies got in free, all being under twelve for a few years anyway.  For treats Mum had control.  No trips to the confection stand, unless a washroom break was needed.  Instead we had rationed Pop Shoppe in Dixie cups and a small bag of crisps each.  

The scenario was usually the same.  It was a double feature with related films and would begin with a few cartoons, usually Warner Brothers or Pink Panther.  Would have to get there early as to get a choice spot, so while waiting for darkness, we kiddies went to the playground until the magic moment.  Suddenly the screen would come alive with the Canadian flag and the speakers all around the park playing "O Canada".  We'd all scurry off to the car, snuggle in the back and eagerly await our first ration of pop and chips; one serving per film.

It was here over several years I saw such films as the "Carry On" series, "James Bond", assorted disaster and sci fi films, "A Hard Days Night", other British comedies, and many more.  The last film would usually end close to midnight, so by then us kiddie winkies were all fast asleep in the back under pillows and blankets.  Just can't do things like that anymore.  

Space: 2022 - Buzzards and Condors

Part One: A Visit to the Breaker's Yard

A bit of back pedaling this time, primarily for Episodes 2 & 3.  (You can review the earlier post which better synopses those episodes but it really isn't necessary).  Tonight we focus on the Buzzard, or its demise, as they were all decommissioned in Episode One after the "Icarus Incident".  Just to remind you, here is what the Buzzard looked like, the hero model from "Space: 2019"...

It was OK I guess...  But I never felt it was complete or practical, and it now looks unfinished & simplistic next to the PHOENIX.  So rather than build a new model, I decided to live up to the name of this blog and do a complete refit/rebuild in 1/96 scale.  Nuclear waste was now going to be transported for solar disposal by the Condor, a heavy space tug (which will figure prominently in Season Three, but that's for another post in the future.  Before I go into the conversion process, here is the end result....

At least the stand is still original!  I began tearing down the model for a few evenings, keeping all the  bits for some future project (there were a lot of Kinder Eggs on that hull!).  I got rid of the rear drive unit, and replaced it with heavy engines on the main ship.  It's actually an idea I had had for some time, as some of you out there may see the influence, the Taiidan Resource Collector from the PC game "Homeworld".  Also the story brief called for increased waste capacity, so I added many varied sized cannisters the main cargo unit.  A few weeks later, the revised model was in its raw state.

The primary hull is essentially the same with new greeblies added, and an external airlock.  I used many of my new favourite greeble.  (At recent model show, I acquired a big box of "still in bag" individual tank treads sections, about six varieties.  I'll be using these for quite some time...)  It was also extended to accommodate the new engines and docking clamps.  (That blue bit is actually the neck off a water bottle; nice it had some textures and was the same diameter as the main hull).  The two clamps are salvaged from the PHOENIX, as they were left overs from that build.  For the drive engines, I had had the idea for quite a bit, the solution being some kiddee binoculars from the good old dollar store.  I glued textured lids at each end, plus other boosters, deflectors, more eggs, and greeblies.  I also found a solution to add extra cannisters to the cargo hull.

A total of 34 "bottles" of various sizes, meant to convey hurried exporting of waste from several sources.  It may be more than just nuclear waste this time.  (Further down is a more detailed description of the cannisters...).  The ten largest bottles (recycled vitamin bottles) will be attached to those dowel plugs on the side.  The other 24 random cannisters (made from assorted plastic containers) are to be secured to the new truss work on the curved portion of the cargo hull.  (In the series, these racks are built by the Thule Company of Sweden.  As these "roof racks" are now the largest and farthest travelled of any previous roof rack, they are known as the "Ultima Thule".  But Easter Eggs aside, it was now Prime Time...

This process took a lot more time than usual; several coats and many rattlers emptied.  The spray booth got quite the workout and clogged the filter nicely.  I wanted to keep an industrial look to the cargo unit, as it was designed for one way use, so why paint it unnecessarily?  But a little colour isn't bad either as I wanted to give it a container ship vibe.  I used various shades and brands of red oxide for subtle differences on the cannisters, and some muted colours for the some of the other smaller bottles.    

Each cannister has a snap fastener on the lid to indicate a safety valve.  That upper ring on the largest cannisters are actually industrial paper towel ends, which I have used many times.  

The tug and cargo basic painting is completed, so the next step being graphics and weathering.  Some of you out there may be curious about my colour choices, specifically for the Condor.  I was going to do the traditional greys or whites as in all space shows, but this being a utility vehicle, I had second thoughts.  The key was a few photos of the original Nostromo from "Alien" in the book, "Sir Martin Bower's World of Models".  It was a nice yellow-green, and would have been a nice change, but Ridley thought otherwise.   Some Sir Chris Foss illustrations helped with the decision too!  But before I got to the above, I wanted to tackle the containers.

Doing the weathering and graphics on these 34 parts took the longest.  I made up the graphics on the computer and printed them off.  Various types of checkerboard stripes and assorted warning labels were then applied, again keeping the cannisters a little more individualistic and varied.  Because of the different types of paints used, the water and/or alcohol washes did not work.  I had to return to my old fall back of shaved pastels and pigments.  The same thing happened on the tug and payload; had to resort to pigments too.  (I find it odd that Vallejo washes would not work on Vallejo paints?).  Finished off the tug and payload with graphics and did the final assembly.

The tug is secured to the payload by a brass rod, but it is not permanent as they can be separated for photos and future payloads for the Condor to haul about the solar system in Season Three as previously mentioned.

The total model is 33" long (so at 1/96 that translates to 264' or 80m).  The width being 14" (112'/34m), and height at 6" (48'/15m).  (Problem with these things is where to put them after building; I never learn...).  The payload has a separate length of 22" (176'/54m).  The independent tug model is 12" long (96'/29m), x 7.5" (60'/18m) x 4.5" (36'/11m) high.  

The Condor now has a crew of four, up one from the three of the Buzzards.  Three pilots on rotational duty with a "spare" in the boot.  All personnel are currently military, armed and trained in space combat.  The tug is zero-G, and the round trip from lunar orbit to the drop off point in Mercury orbit is now two months.  The ship is also equipped with lasers both on the tug and payload.  Taking no chances this time....

The four yellow tanks at the end of the payload are thrusters to send the payload into the sun once the tug disengages from the payload in Mercury (or equal distance) orbit.  The same-sized grey tanks are, in fact, nuclear devices (classified, as to why they are not marked as such) in case the payload is threatened,  defective, or does not sun dive as planned.  Can't let this flying bomb fall into the wrong hands again...

The tug disengages from the payload by releasing the main two clamps and some smaller assorted magnetic clamps.  Unfortunately this leaves both ends open.  So I constructed two small "plugs" to fill the hole, held in place by friction.  

The small booster deflectors on the main engines have an interesting back story.  The four larger ones are just spoon ends, but I needed something smaller for the side boosters.  The solution presented itself in the cosmetic aisle of the good ole dollar store.  A pack of plastic fake finger nails!  You get ten in a pack, they are durable and come in 5 sizes.  For some reason the wife didn't accompany me to the check out that day...

As you have seen from other posts in this Blog, another one of my hobbies is 00 gauge British trains.  I decided to add some elements of that in the scenario of the show/concept.  The double red diamond is the graphic for Railfreight Distribution (I couldn't find one for radio active waste...).  And in keeping with British tradition, all Condors will have nice shiny nameplates.  Although this particular one is C-XV92 (XV being Experimental Vehicle), it will have a proper name.  This one is officially known as "The Town of Walsall".  (All Condor class tugs are named after cities and towns)

The payload is just basically a cluster of containers around a central tube (which itself is full of radio active rubbish.  It is accessed by that big rear door).  As I stated, I wanted that container ship feel, and if you are interested, here are the specs of the individual cannisters.

There are currently four types of cannister: A, B, C, and D.  Mostly used for radio active waste of various kinds, other harmful elements and chemicals are now being packaged and sent for that one way cruise to the sun.  The photo below shows the containers and capacity.  (Have I possibly over thought this ..?).  Dimensions of individual containers available upon request if you need to get rid of anything...

Oh well, I'll just make sure there are no holes in the plot!  If you look closely on the "roof" of the payload, you should be able to make out the two heavy lasers.  These remain with the cargo even after the tug has let it fly.  Once it is on course for the sun, it will defend against any potential threat.  If the lasers don't work, the bombs will!  So to all crews out there, make sure you haven't left any of your stuff behind!

So that is the Condor and how it came to be.  At least I'll be able to utilize it out for later scenarios when I get around to building new payloads and integrating them into Season Three.  (I already have a few made in virtual...).  We now move on to Part Two, how and when the Condor was used in the early episodes of "Space: 2022", Season Two!

Part Two: Shorts, Vignettes & Montages

S02-E02 - "Phoenix Ascending"

As you may remember, this episode dealt several topics over the three years after the BZ-14 crashed in Northern Minnesota.  The aftermath and cleanup of the crash, government edicts, decommissioning the Buzzards, the creation of the Condor fleet, and construction of the PHOENIX.  Despite the effort that went into the revised model, it's screen time was minimal with just a brief 30 second shot and voice over narration.  (FYI, Brian Blessed did all the narration for this episode as he was at Pinewood doing Episode 04 at the time...).  Here, the Condor is on its maiden voyage for the first of many dump runs.  The ship is presently passing Venus....

And then as it flies by, we segue into a reverse angle as it approaches Mercury, ready to dump the payload into the Sun.  (Ever wonder why when ships traverse the solar system they always pass the planets in order and in a straight line?  Just askin'....).

And that was the extent of the models' appearance for this episode.  Guess there was only 50 minutes to cover a lot of plot elements and history!  The next appearance, albeit brief again, are in the following episode.

S02-E03 - "Journey to Where"

The PHOENIX was the star of this episode, so the Condors input was minimal.  Early in Act One, there is an impressive multiple composite effects shot of the PHOENIX being escorted to the launch point by an armada of Eagles, plus a loaded Condor and even an individual tug.  

Looks a bit like "Battlestar Galactica", but that show hasn't been made yet!  Anyway, that wraps it up for the Condors' involvement in Season Two.  You'll just have to wait for Season Three, a limited series just starting production about space truckers called "Cargo: 2023" (formerly "Star Lorries"; that title wouldn't have worked in the States...)

In closing, here is another ego boost shot of me cradling the model, thinking mostly of where am I going to put it after this...

Have a better one!

Rusty Rails Part Five - The Hiatus is Over!

Hard to believe it's been 28 months since the last post of the railway (October 20, 2022)!  "Space: 2022",  other subjects and unforseen life issues took over as well for some time. And then with the 3D printer and "Cargo: 2022" in development, it had become an unstoppable juggernaut and I had to pack it away for awhile.  So leaving behind that "space shit" (thnx Corey!),  I dusted off the layout and continued from where I had left off months ago.  (Unfortunately, when you resume a project after some time, you look at it differently and previous concepts and ideas are no longer relevant.  But first, some work done before the layout went into storage).

I continued to work on the layout a few months after that October post.  Mostly in "landscaping".  The junkyard area needed walls, so the first thing I did was get my cork together.  Yes cork...

I had been admiring this natural material for some time.  Not just as the stopper for my favourite drink, but as a scenery element.  I had been aware of it since the mid '80s when the wife started to grow orchids.  Used as a plaque to mount various epiphytic species, I saw immediately how much it resembled rock outcroppings.  It is a lightweight material and sustainable, so I just waited for the right diorama to come along, but wasn't expecting it to be a fourty year wait!  So here is the area to be turned into a rockery.

That suspended track will eventually be a trestle for wagons, but that's for later.  First was a few nights of cutting and shaping the wood, gluing it with liquid nails, and finally using wood filler for the gaps.

That small crescent shaped area on the right will be a small pond, with a few surprises lurking in the reeds!  The abutment is in place and the other blank walls are going to be retaining walls.  Unfortunately, I neglected to take any progress photos after this point.  But a few weeks later, operations on the railway ceased and the layout was put into storage.  It came out of retirement two weeks ago...

As you can see, a lot has changed already.  (By the way, those rusty retaining walls are recycled SLA parts from a bridge deck).  The first thing I did was remove the trestle from the open space.  I had actually built a 12" bridge but it took up so much space.  I then set about revamping the track plan; most of it was reconfigured.  The switch for the trestle was removed and I expanded the sizes of the sidings.  Since I was working on the track, I decided this was a good time to wire it up.  Luckily I used Peco Insulfrog points, so I only needed two feeder wires.  To enhance switching, I created a small isolated area I could keep an engine on standby.  This I control with an external vintage Leviton knife switch, just visible there on the lower left of the layout.  At least now I can operate trains.  The terrain was also altered somewhat, and I cut 1" foam for the backdrop, 18" high, which will be used for low relief structure and scenery.  

But something kept nagging at me in the back of my mind.  As much as I wanted that sci fi junkyard, I realized it was too limiting in what types of cargo would be on the layout.  With limited space available, I scrapped the junkyard (no pun intended...) and decided to turn that area into a dock.  This way I can bring in almost any kind of cargo and/or wagons I see fit.  Only problem was it was land locked, so I had to create a logical port entrance.  Best solution, a draw bridge.

You can also see the nice rock outcrop I made to replace the tunnel.  I 3D printed a curved bridge I found on Thingiverse, and carved away the foam underneath.  Some retaining walls, machinery and greeblies later:

Of course it is non functioning; I don't need that kind of realism!  I'll add some gates and other details later.  Now I can add boats in the dock area, one of which has already been started...

Currently in a raw state, this barge was of course 3D printed from bashing some more Thingiverse files.  I'll add details and greeblies later in the traditional method.  The barge will carry a variety of cargo, to be loaded/off loaded from the yet-to-be-built dock crane on the first siding.  The other sidings will be for more wagons, cranes, and structures.  Incidentally, the barge is 12" long.  It will get it's own post at a later date.  

So this is the state of the layout at present.  There is still so much to do, even for a project this small in only a 15" x 62" area.  But that is the beauty of model railroading; you just do what you want when you want.  

We'll see how long the train inspiration lasts this time!  Thanks for the visit and have a better one!