Monday, November 10, 2008

and Now for Something Different

Here is something that goes. A Russian submarine. This was a Cobra class sub built in the mid 70's. NATO called it a Foxtrot. The Russians tried to make their subs sleek. This was about the last diesel class of boats they built.

The rear torpedo room. This tube was so rusty from a leaking outer door that it couldn't be used. Poor maintenance.

Captains small cabin. Enough room for Lenin.

Front torpedo room. Doing maintenance on one tube.

Engine room. Best shape of anyplace on the boat. You could almost eat off of them.

Diving controls. Hope it comes up as easy as it goes down.

Thursday, November 6, 2008

Dymaxion - Car of the Future

I live in a geodesic dome invented by Buckminster Fuller. When we built it my wife's father said that he had met him once when he was building his Dymaxion cars.My Father-in-law was a student at George Washington University in Washington DC studying Civil Engineering in 1935. He also had a part time job working for the Bureau of Public Roads who were working to develop smooth roads.
At the same time Fuller built 3 of his Dymaxion cars and needed someplace to test them and the BPR was one of the few places that had plenty of roads.

My father-in-law took these pictures the first day that Fuller showed up with his car. The drawings were taken from the patent application material.


Can you imagine how this car was looked upon when people like Ford had only quit making the Model T a few years earlier. Four seats, three wheels, mid engine and front wheel drive. We believe that Fuller is in the dark suit on the left.