
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Friday, October 30, 2009
Trio in Red

Bremen, Columbus and Europa
1930
More pictures and a couple of words @ Dieselpunks.org
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Gullwing Biplane
It saw its first combat the same year during the Soviet-Japanese Battle of Halhin Gol in Mongolia. The Japanese Army Air Forces' Type 97 Fighter Nate proved a formidable opponent for the I-15bis and I-16, but was more evenly matched with the I-153, which retained agility inherent to biplanes while featuring improved performance.
It fought against the Luftwaffe in 1941 and 1942. I-153 has a distinction of being one of the first warplanes armed with air-to-air missiles (unguided, of course).
From 1939 to 1941, 3,437 I-153s were built.
It fought against the Luftwaffe in 1941 and 1942. I-153 has a distinction of being one of the first warplanes armed with air-to-air missiles (unguided, of course).
From 1939 to 1941, 3,437 I-153s were built.
More WW2 biplanes @ Dieselpunks.org
Lab on Wheels

This racing car, designed in 1923 by André Lefebvre for Gabriel Voisin, has never won any competition. But it remains one of the most stunning creations of the Roaring Twenties.
More pictures @ my LJ
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Shells for the Republic

Czechoslovakia, 1937
Photo by Margaret Bourke-White
Source: LIFE
More Bourke-White's photos @ Dieselpunks.org
Civil Flagship
The SS Rex was an Italian ocean liner launched in 1931. She held the westbound Blue Riband between 1933 and 1935. Originally built for the Navigazione Generale Italiana (NGI) as the SS Guglielmo Marconi, its state-ordered merger with the Lloyd Sabaudo line meant that the ship sailed for the newly created Italian Line.
Rex operated transatlantic crossings from Italy with its running mate, Conte di Savoia. On 8 September 1944, off Koper, Rex was hit by 123 rockets launched by RAF aircraft, caught fire from stem to stern, rolled onto the port side, and sank in shallow water. The ship was broken up at the site beginning in 1947.

Monday, October 26, 2009
Unlucky One

Sunday, October 25, 2009
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Friday, October 23, 2009
1929 Majestic

Image by Paul d’Orleans
Source
Source
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
French Supertank
It was a specialized heavy break-through vehicle, originally conceived as a self-propelled gun with a 75 mm howitzer in the hull; later a 47 mm gun in a turret was added, to allow it to function also as a Char de Bataille, a "battle tank" fighting enemy armor, equipping the armored divisions of the Infantry Arm. Starting in the early twenties, its development and production were repeatedly delayed, resulting in a vehicle that was both technologically complex and expensive, as already obsolescent when real mass-production started in the late thirties of a derived version, the Char B1 bis. Of a second uparmored version, the Char B1 ter, only two prototypes were built. Among the most powerfully armed and armored tanks of its day, the type was very effective in direct confrontations with German armor in 1940 during the Battle of France, but a slow speed and high fuel consumption made it ill-adapted to the war of movement then fought. After the defeat of France captured Char B1 (bis) would be used by Germany, some rebuilt as flamethrowers or mechanized artillery.
Derby Diesel

10000 had its maiden run in November 1947, and after several weeks of proving trials entered service on the Midland route in February 1948. 10000 was outshopped only two months before nationalisation, and when 10001 appeared in July 1948 it had British Railways livery. They operated over a number of routes out of St Pancras or Euston but their low power outputs meant they were less than inspiring when used on heavily loaded or express services.
More (Wiki)
Photo: © Mike Morant
Photo: © Mike Morant
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Square Colosseum
The Palazzo della Civiltà Italiana, also known as the Colosseo Quadrato (Square Colosseum), is an icon of Fascist architecture. It lies in the district of Rome known as the Esposizione Universale Roma (a.k.a. 'E.42' and 'EUR').

Monday, October 19, 2009
Galloping Goose
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Czechoslovak Twin-Lens Reflex

Source
Photo by driesvandenelzen @ Flickr (Set)
Another photo
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Friday, October 16, 2009
B-17. Not a Fortress. Still Flying

For Friday Night
Johnny Hess sings, in person:
This time it's an adverisement for the Meva cigarettes (erroneously named 'Eva' in the clip)
This time it's an adverisement for the Meva cigarettes (erroneously named 'Eva' in the clip)
Numbers in Love

a prominent second-generation Italian Futurist
1920s
Could be a perfect cover for Zamyatin's 'We'
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Tatra T97

Production of the car was canceled after the Nazis annexed Czechoslovakia in 1938, possibly to avoid comparison with the KdF-Wagen (future VW Beetle). At that time, 508 cars were built.
In 1946, production resumed, but the new communist government quickly dropped the T97 in favor of the cheaper to build Tatraplan
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Dieselpunk Fighter

Here is a Dieselpunk version of this glorious craft,
drawn by Greg Manchess
Source
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Escort Aircraft Carrier
She was built at John Brown & Company shipyards in Clydebank, Scotland. When construction started in 1941 she was intended as a merchant ship, but was completed and launched as an escort carrier, entering service at the end of 1943.
Nairana operated escorting convoys and doing anti-submarine work in the Atlantic and Arctic theatres. She survived the war, and in 1946 was transferred to the Dutch Navy as the Karel Doorman (QH1), the first Dutch aircraft carrier. In 1948 she was replaced in the Dutch Navy by another Karel Doorman (R81), previously HMS Venerable. Nairana was returned to the Royal Navy, and immediately sold to Port Line, becoming the merchant ship Port Victor. In 1971 she was scrapped at Faslane.
Nairana operated escorting convoys and doing anti-submarine work in the Atlantic and Arctic theatres. She survived the war, and in 1946 was transferred to the Dutch Navy as the Karel Doorman (QH1), the first Dutch aircraft carrier. In 1948 she was replaced in the Dutch Navy by another Karel Doorman (R81), previously HMS Venerable. Nairana was returned to the Royal Navy, and immediately sold to Port Line, becoming the merchant ship Port Victor. In 1971 she was scrapped at Faslane.
Renault Streamlined Express

Monday, October 12, 2009
Big in Brazil
The Blériot 5190 was a French transatlantic mail plane of the 1930s, a large parasol-wing monoplane flying boat. It was of slightly unusual design, with a low-profile hull and the crew compartment housed in the thick pylon that supported the wing. The four engines were arranged with three along the leading edge of the wing, and the fourth on the centreline of the trailing edge. It was constructed for a French government contract to carry airmail to South America.
The first example, christened Santos-Dumont flew on 3 August 1933 and by the end of 1934 had completed two proving flights across the Atlantic Ocean. In February 1935 with Aéropostale's only other transatlantic mailplane, the Latécoère 300 la Croix du Sud, out of commission for maintenance, the Santos-Dumont entered service.
The first example, christened Santos-Dumont flew on 3 August 1933 and by the end of 1934 had completed two proving flights across the Atlantic Ocean. In February 1935 with Aéropostale's only other transatlantic mailplane, the Latécoère 300 la Croix du Sud, out of commission for maintenance, the Santos-Dumont entered service.
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Arches of Utopia

a Soviet 'paper architect' who left numerous 'cycles' of fantastic urban images
Source (EN)
Crossley Streamliner

1933/34
About 20 were made
Source
Tip: nicolya @Dieselpunk LJ community
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Flying Hamburger
When viewed from the front the train bears a remarkable resemblance to a grotesque face, as will be seen from the illustration below. It cannot be called a "Zeppelin on rails," since it lacks the propellers of the fast train, constructed by the engineer Kruckenberg of Hanover, which reached a maximum speed of 124.26 miles per hour ; but it certainly is appropriately called the "Flying Hamburger."
To travel on the "Flying Hamburger" type of train is an experience in itself, but one that must, in time, become a part of normal transport. The "Flying Hamburger" type takes the place of the "F.D." (long distance) trains. It carries 102 passengers and reaches a maximum speed of loo miles per hour, with an average speed of 77.4 miles per hour from Berlin to Hamburg and 76.3 miles per hour in the reverse direction, on the run of 178.1 miles. The fare on this train costs no more than that of a second-class journey on the "F.D." expresses.

Friday, October 9, 2009
For Friday night: Je suis swing!
Very expressive cover of Johnny Hess' 1940 hit, performed by a Belgian band in 1993.
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Half-Frame Wonder

Italy, 1938
Dubbed 'Italian Leica', this pretty little camera was very special. It accepted super-slim cassetes and produced only fifteen 18x24 mm frames per roll. Its controls were almost similar to Leica's, but the shutter release was placed on the front panel. Lenses were interchangeable, with a bayonet mount. Not less than seven lenses are known, from 19/6.3 collapsible wide-angle to 120/5.6 rigid telephoto.
The manufacturers, Ducati brothers, made a name in the motorcycle realm - just a bit later.
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Soviet Flying Tank

via tancist@LJ
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Monday, October 5, 2009
Woman in the Moon

See it on Google videos (1 h 20 min)
or take a peek @ YouTube
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