Thanks for that tip, Ed! I didn’t know anyone currently made the tie-down strips. I have some in my stash from someone who used to make them, in 1/72, but I always wanted to get them in 1/48, too.
For interested folks, here’s a link to the 1/48 USN tie-downs at Tom’s:
and you can browse from there for other things.
HooYah;
Is it true? Someone told me the cats on the Ford were like Rail-Guns?
Hi HooYah;
I live within driving of Corpus. But I can tell you, after setting up the Hornet in Alameda,Ca… The cat slots were covered to prevent foot injuries to tourists.
There is, or used to be, a ride at Magic Mountain (a ‘Six-Flags’ park in California) called Superman, the escape, that used the same basic electro-magnetic technology, actually its linear synchronous motor (LSM) technology. You started out down the track horizontal and then went vertical. at the top you were momentarily weightless and then experienced negative G’s as you started back down. It was pretty cool and the first part definately reminded me of a cat stroke.
The Ford’s catapult system (EMALS) uses linear induction motor (LIM) technology, a very similar concept.
Aboard carriers, there is a big, “T” shaped, rubber snake that they put in the cat track ‘slot’ when not in use to minimize the weather issues / excess water, and stuff falling down in there. It is also a trip hazard, but better than getting your foot caught.
From my understanding, the Ford’s still have a slot and shuttle, just that it’s electromagnetic rather than steam powered. Seems that they hopefully have the test bugs worked out.
Curious; has anyone ordered one of these dreammodel or even other DM kits? At $130 its a bit much to experiment with a brand and retailer Im not familiar with. The only retailer online I’ve found is daiyee.com. They legit? some links to some interesting diorama bases: https://daiyee.com/shop/index.php?route=product/product&path=20_61&product_id=924 https://daiyee.com/shop/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=969 I wasn’t interested in getting into a 1/72 build, bit with these bases, Id give it go.
I rode that Superman ride a couple times! The first time, it was just too exciting and novel to observe anything.
When I rode it the second time, I tried to note as much as I could. I loved the sound of the generator building up before release, noticed my vision slightly tunneled at start (the brochure claimed 3 G), and the backward fall after reaching the top was comfortable, unlike going downhill in a normal coaster.