ISD

I found this page by accident; it contains links to a series of enormous (3072 x 2048 pixels, 3.5MB) photographs of one of the original Imperial Star Destroyer (ISD) models. Although it doesn't show much in these small copies, the original photos show the stunning amount of surface detail on the model. One can see the light bulbs located in the ISD's engines* (...nacelles? exhaust pipes? What do you call those things?), as well as thousands of technological devices attached to the skin of the hull, most of unknown purpose.

When the photos are viewed at full size, there are small numbers visible over each bit of machinery; I believe that these are a reference to the different model kits "bashed" to create the ISD, but the key to the numbers in on some private page we are not allowed to see. Apparently the author has gone to a great deal of trouble to identify each and every panzer and battleship model piece that was incorporated into this movie prop, in case you want to devote a few months of your life to building a copy.

*Caution: you may not want to click on this link if you have a dial-up modem

Boisvert's Ephemeral Journal of Curiousities

[BEJoC doesn't appear to have a logo yet, so I've inserted this still from Porco Rosso as a placeholder]

Having just downed a cup of coffee after 5:00pm, it is with great pleasure that I greet Mr. Boisvert to the wretched hive of scum and villainy that is the Internet. As for topics, I'll vote for Current Reading, Buying a Car, and Best Chocolate, in that order. I'll also vote for a comments box of some sort, if logistics and liability allow.

Also, do you think you could do an article on wiring your house for stereo speakers in every room? I'm interested in how this is done...

The City Bicycle

[An ANT Light Roadster, handmade in Massachusetts]

James, who wrote the comment from the previous post, seems to share my obsessions with utilitarian bicycles, and has started a new blog about the subject, named The City Cycle. His first post is an excellent list "promoting the bicycle as utilitarian art"; one link which incited bicycle lust within my heart was Recycles Online, which has several examples of used Dutch Gazelle bicycles for sale. New Gazelle bicycles are only available in the US at exhorbitant shipping rates...

Swiss Army Bicycle Tires, Part 2

[The front brake of an MO 05 Condor, a design dating from the advent of the advent of the pneumatic tire]

Sometime back in May, James wrote:

"Do you have a MO 05? The company in arkansas that sells swiss army vehicles has spare tyres listed on their website. A while back I was obsessed with that bike and found a few sources for parts, unfortunately I would have had to have called the shops and I can't understand swiss german."

Sadly, no, I do not have an MO 05, I merely covet one. I decided that if I were to use one for everyday bicycling, I'd have to replace the wheels with some modern size that would fit (perhaps 26"). The tires are available from Swiss Army Vehicles, but they cost $73.33 a piece (!), and don't appear to have any of the advantages of modern touring tires costing a third as much, such as Kevlar-belted Paselas. I thought also of building up 26" wheels around the bicycle's original hubs (the rear hub, as I understand, contains a drum brake), but this started to seem like a lot of work...