Hobby Thread - April 5, 2025 [TRex]

Welcome hobbyists! Pull up a chair and sit a spell with the Horde in this little corner of the interweb. This is the mighty, mighty officially sanctioned Ace of Spades Hobby Thread. The Ace of Spades Wheel of Hobbies(TM) received overdue service recently. We gave it a spin this week and wow, it was ready to go. It had a grand time spinning and spinning and spinning... Eventually it landed on drawing and sketching.

[Photo

rawing of the 1980 Zakspeed Ford Capri]

***

We have a special Horde Hobbying treat for you today.

The top photo was drawn by hand by long time lurker Yamabushi. It is 20x30.

Background:

The special touring cars category (Group 5) brought forth pure-bred racing cars that really had hardly anything in common with the term "touring car" any longer. These cars competed in the Manufacturers' World Championship between 1976 and 1982, as well as in the German Motorsports Championship.
In 1980, Zakspeed quite suddenly unleashed a Super Capri (with Klaus Ludwig at the wheel) against the Porsche 935 mob. Although its four-cylinder 1745 cc turbocharged engine delivered "only" 600 hp, it weighed 200 kg less than a Porsche 935 (800 hp). And the Capri excelled due to an extreme diffusor technique. Ford's designer Thomas Ammerschlager summed it up in one sentence: "We achieved so much downforce that in theory, at 280 km/h and above, the Super Capri could even have driven on a ceiling."
For 1982 and 1983, Jägermeister concluded a contract with Ford relating to entering a new Group C racing car. However, this car never really got off the ground. So in 1982, Zakspeed brought the Super Capri (now in Jägermeister livery) back out of the garage.

The car is still being actively vintage raced.

***

First of all, I'm stunned by the drawing. Well done, Yamabushi. May be a hobby, but certainly looks PROFESSIONAL to me.

Second, Yamabushi was kind enough to share photos of the work in progress.

i sketch on onion paper then do a chalk transfer. I do semi loose pencils before I start putting down ink. Then I just bounce around the piece wherever my pencil takes. For whatever reason, I do windows and wheels last. I will typically put in 10 to 12 hours a week which translates to about a piece a month.

Here we go:

20250404-IMG_20230508_190024_124 - drawing.jpg

20250404-IMG_20230508_190024_242 - drawing.jpg

20250404-IMG_20230510_171542_027 - drawing.jpg

20250404-IMG_20230511_183537_687 - drawing.jpg

20250404-IMG_20230512_183001_874 - drawing.jpg

20250404-IMG_20230515_181028_621 - drawing.jpg

20250404-IMG_20230516_173153_041 - drawing.jpg

20250404-IMG_20230517_173647_867 - drawing.jpg

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Finished product again:

Maybe we can talk Yamabushi into de-lurking long enough to say hello, tell us more, answer questions, and soak up some Horde love.

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Does anyone else draw or sketch for a hobby?

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The most recent Wednesday ONT featured Looney Tunes cartoons. (Yes, this is a quasi-semi-serious-military blog...)

Seemed appropriate to include a nod to Chuck Jones for his work as illustrator and animator for Looney Tunes. There were others involved, but he is probably the best known.

Seems appropriate to repost here since old school animation is all about drawing and sketching to tell a story.

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This has nothing to do with drawing or race cars, but Lego rockets are squarely within scope for Hobbying. The Space Shuttle piggy back transporter is quite something.

If you're more of a SpongeBob Squarepants fan, look for a Lego Krusty Burger sometime in 2025.

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This also has nothing to do with drawing or race cars, but 3-D printing small-scale roller coasters qualifies as hobbying. The Hobby Thread does not endorse roller coaster providers (at least has not done so yet), but Micro Coaster looks impressive.

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This also has nothing to do with drawing or race cars, but astronomy qualifies as hobbying. I saw this and it gave me pause. I KNEW Pluto was a long way and and that it took a long time to orbit the sun, but not sure I ever knew that "a long time to orbit the sun" meant 248 years.

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What are you hobbying these days? Does spring weather open up new options for your hobbying? As per usual Hobby Thread etiquette, keep this thread limited to hobbying. Your participation does not need to limited to the theme. All hobbying is welcome. However, politics, current events and religious debates can live in threads elsewhere. Play nice. Do not be a troll and do not feed the trolls. Pants, as always, are optional.

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Did you miss the Hobby Thread last week? We talked military care packages. The comments may be closed, but you can re-live the content.

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Notable comments from last week:

20250330-Screenshot 2025-03-29 204111.jpg

20250330-Screenshot 2025-03-29 204200.jpg

20250330-Screenshot 2025-03-29 210332.jpg

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Words of wisdom:

"Because despite all our troubles, when things are grim out in that wide round world of ours, that's when it's really important to have a good hobby." Posted by: tankascribe at June 22, 2024 07:41 PM (HWxAD).

***

If you have trouble finding something in the content or comments that resonates with you, hijack the thread for your hobbying as you see fit. We will feature a different theme next time. What are you hobbying? We love showing off Horde hobbying. Send thoughts, suggestions and photos of your hobbying to moronhobbies at protonmail dot com. Do mighty things.

Posted by: Open Blogger at 05:30 PM

Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 Welcome Hobbiests

Posted by: Skip at April 05, 2025 05:31 PM (ypFCm)

2 This week I discovered that there are weather balloons flying above my QTH twice a day. They transmit telemetry between 400 and 406MHz at about 100mW, which can be decoded with radiosonde_auto_rx software from GitHub.

Using an RTL-SDR Blog v3 rcvr dongle and indoor quarter-wave ground-plane vertical antenna, I am tracking them throughout their typical 3-hour flights. The auto_rx software forwards all the telemetry packets I receive up the internet to sondehub.org, which maps and archives it. I've very much enjoyed learning a whole bunch about the tech itself, and about the characteristics of the layers of the atmosphere.

Tonite I test out a mobile tracking setup. Tomorrow a radiosonde is forecast to land quite near my QTH, so I plan to be there where and when it lands! If I nab it, I am going to be super chuffed

Posted by: gp at April 05, 2025 05:32 PM (SPruE)

3 I used to do drawing on paper, now I do it digitally.

Posted by: BeckoningChasm at April 05, 2025 05:32 PM (CHHv1)

4 Well if it hasn't gotten around the sun since discovered, can it be a planet?

Posted by: Skip at April 05, 2025 05:33 PM (ypFCm)

5 We certainly have a few artists who can draw around here.

Posted by: Skip at April 05, 2025 05:34 PM (ypFCm)

6 Yamabushi

Very nice work, Yamabushi. Thanks for sharing.

Posted by: Notorious BFD at April 05, 2025 05:36 PM (mH6SG)

7 I can draw a bath. Ok, I’ll see myself out.

Posted by: HappyFun at April 05, 2025 05:36 PM (rELun)

8 We certainly have a few artists who can draw around here.

There came a point in my youth where I realized I would not get much past coloring books. Sigh.

Posted by: Notorious BFD at April 05, 2025 05:38 PM (mH6SG)

9 The drawing of the race car is amazing.

Years ago I had a buddy who was an amateur artist, drawing all sorts of fantasy and science fiction characters. Finally one year he got up the nerve to enter one of his charming-alien cartoon drawings in the Art Show at an SF con. The show was being judged by famous pro artist Frank Kelly Freas. Freas went out of his way to tell my friend, who'd won an award that day, that his work was superb.

I don't know if he ever persevered with trying to get paid for his work.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at April 05, 2025 05:38 PM (omVj0)

10 I couldn't draw a sled through a flat field of snow.

Posted by: gp at April 05, 2025 05:39 PM (SPruE)

11 2 This week I discovered that there are weather balloons flying above my QTH twice a day. They transmit telemetry between 400 and 406MHz at about 100mW, which can be decoded with radiosonde_auto_rx software from GitHub.

Posted by: gp at April 05, 2025 05:32 PM
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What weather metrics does it send? Temp and barometric pressure? Wind speed and direction?

Are the balloons a NOAA project?

Posted by: TRex at April 05, 2025 05:40 PM (IQ6Gq)

12 3 I used to do drawing on paper, now I do it digitally.

Posted by: BeckoningChasm at April 05, 2025 05:32 PM
***
Did you ever do animation drawing by hand?

Posted by: TRex at April 05, 2025 05:42 PM (IQ6Gq)

13 11 Here is one frame of telemetry from a flight near apogee:

timestamp: 2025-04-01T12:50:21.000Z
serial: DFM-24060980
frame: 1427547021
lat: 41.53852
lon: -89.73444
alt: 32463.0
vel_v: -7.5
vel_h: 15.9
heading: 82.8
temp: -40.0
humidity: -1.0
pressure: -1.0
type: DFM17
freq_mhz: 403.411
snr: 18.1
f_error_hz: 0
sats: 19
batt_v: 4.5
burst_timer: -1
aux_data: -1

Posted by: gp at April 05, 2025 05:43 PM (SPruE)

14 Well if it hasn't gotten around the sun since discovered, can it be a planet?
****************
So, this is why they have been picking on poor Pluto...

Posted by: Grateful - the range bag lady at April 05, 2025 05:44 PM (IQ6Gq)

15 Tattooists get a bad rap. A high percentage are highly skilled artists and self taught at that.

Posted by: Sebastian Melmoth at April 05, 2025 05:45 PM (VofaG)

16 I draw and sketch as a hobby which I've mentioned in the past. Starting with no talent or training I can now sketch something, usually animals or flowers, that are vaguely recognizable. A huge step forward. the results are mediocre but the journey has and continues to be fun, sometimes amusing.

Aside from the excellent drawing of the car, I really enjoyed seeing the different phases as he goes from concept to finished image. Learning that it is not a fast process is REALLY helpful and provides perspective. Thanks so much for including that part.

Posted by: JTB at April 05, 2025 05:45 PM (yTvNw)

17 11 Yes these are official WX balloons, launched from various sites throughout the USA every day at 0000 and 1200UTC. I just happen to live in a good spot about 100mi NW of one launch point, so I hear em all.

https://www.noaa.gov/jetstream/upperair/radiosondes

DOGE cut a few sites down to one flight per day recently. I assume for good reasons.

Posted by: gp at April 05, 2025 05:46 PM (SPruE)

18 Wow, Yamabushi, that’s amazing! Thank you for sharing!

Posted by: Disinterested FDA Director at April 05, 2025 05:46 PM (l3YAf)

19
Pluto has yet to complete one orbit since the signing of the Declaration of Independence. In fact, that is going to happen this year, in June.

Posted by: publius, Rascally Mr. Miley (w6EFb) at April 05, 2025 05:48 PM (w6EFb)

20 IMO ,drawing skill is all about getting the correct proportion. Even being slightly off can be off putting to the viewer though they may not know exactly why.

Posted by: Sebastian Melmoth at April 05, 2025 05:48 PM (VofaG)

21 Yamabushi, fun and impressive. Had to switch from phone to laptop to see it larger. Cool progression.
Thanks for the Hobby Thread, TRex.

Posted by: scampydog at April 05, 2025 05:48 PM (41CYW)

22 Yamabushi,
thank you so much for sharing your talents and the process. I never realized how many "stages" are involved before you have a finished product. Beyond impressive.

Posted by: Grateful - the range bag lady at April 05, 2025 05:49 PM (IQ6Gq)

23 Very impressive drawing.

Posted by: JackStraw at April 05, 2025 05:49 PM (LkLld)

24 Brought up.before drew a lot in my teens to earn 20s then stopped. Tried a few last couple years but not getting into it much.

Posted by: Skip at April 05, 2025 05:50 PM (ypFCm)

25 Did you ever do animation drawing by hand?

Nothing other than a flip book. I tried to do a stop-motion animation thing, and discovered that I lack the patience for that. Computer animation still requires patience, but it isn't mind-numbingly tedious like frame-by-frame.

Posted by: BeckoningChasm at April 05, 2025 05:56 PM (CHHv1)

26
Well, it's already happened. June 14, 2024. Flag day and Trump's birthday. I thought it was this year, but nope, 2024.

So, the United States is now 1 year old as far as Pluto is concerned.

Posted by: publius, Rascally Mr. Miley (w6EFb) at April 05, 2025 05:57 PM (w6EFb)

27 Yamabushi, that looks fantastic! Love the bold lines and minimal use of color, with the diagonals giving that great impression of speed. I'm wondering if it's executed in india ink with white acrylic paint, or gouache? Your transfer process is identical to mine, except for a painting I use black transfer paper beneath the tracing paper. Can't use the transfer paper for a drawing, though -- you can't erase the lines if need be (ask me how I know!).

Currently laboring on another portrait in oils. It's approx. 14 hours in and I figure it's three-quarters of the way done. Got maybe another four hours' worth of work to go, I think.

Hi, TRex! Thanks for another wonderful thread topic!

Posted by: tankascribe at April 05, 2025 05:57 PM (NtoJk)

28 Another new thing I tried this week was installing APRSdroid on my smartphone. The app is an APRS client. If you have mobile data service, you can do APRS stuff without a separate VHF radio, TNC, and GPS rcvr. Not a lot of APRS traffic around here, but the app was cheap at $3. Another geeky thing to play with.

Posted by: gp at April 05, 2025 05:58 PM (SPruE)

29 27 Hi, TRex! Thanks for another wonderful thread topic!

Posted by: tankascribe at April 05, 2025 05:57 PM
***
Good day! Share your latest painting when you're finished?

BTW, glad you got in on the Chuck Jones content last Wed. Great tor read your comments.

Posted by: TRex at April 05, 2025 06:00 PM (IQ6Gq)

30 For the pipe smokers in the group. I tried three blends new to me from Boswell's.

Honey Roast is an aromatic with several types of cavendish. The honey adds a gentle level of sweetness that is definite but not overwhelming the tobacco flavors.

Premium Burley is just burley but at its ripest point. The only burley blend I've that compares is the now discontinued Mac Baren HH Burley Flake.

Northwoods is an English blend, complex but not too strong. The latakia provides a base of depth and sweetness that enhances the Virginias. This may become my favorite English blend. It burns slow and cool, ideal for long reading sessions.

I'm really impressed with the quality of these blends. I'll definitely be ordering more in the future.

Posted by: JTB at April 05, 2025 06:00 PM (yTvNw)

31 I don't know if he ever persevered with trying to get paid for his work.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at April 05, 2025 05:38 PM (omVj0)

If a professional tells you your work is high quality, you owe it to yourself to pursue it. Who wants to spend forty years behind a register or in a cubicle and wonder what you could have done if only.

Posted by: OrangeEnt at April 05, 2025 06:01 PM (0eaVi)

32 I hesitated a LONG time before trying to set up a dual-boot config on my inherited Win 11 laptop. I was so damn scared I'd screw it up and brick the thing.

Yesterday I finally got the courage to try it. Sure enough, I screwed it up and bricked the thing.

UEFI and BitLocker and other sucky crap I don't even want to hassle with. I think I'll take it to Geek Squad.

Posted by: gp at April 05, 2025 06:02 PM (SPruE)

33 28 Another new thing I tried this week was installing APRSdroid on my smartphone.

Posted by: gp at April 05, 2025 05:58 PM
***
For those of us in the cheap seats in the back, say more words about APRS and what it does or how you use it.

Posted by: TRex at April 05, 2025 06:02 PM (IQ6Gq)

34 I find it fascinating that we know less about the area of the outer solar system/ Ort Cloud than parts of the Universe thousands of light years away.

No light that allows it to be observed.

Posted by: Sebastian Melmoth at April 05, 2025 06:02 PM (VofaG)

35 Nothing other than a flip book. I tried to do a stop-motion animation thing, and discovered that I lack the patience for that. Computer animation still requires patience, but it isn't mind-numbingly tedious like frame-by-frame.
Posted by: BeckoningChasm at April 05, 2025 05:56 PM (CHHv1)

Years ago I did stop motion Terry Gilliam style with a Super 8 camera. It had a frame button so I could expose three frames, then do it again. Wouldn't know how to do it with digital cams.

Posted by: OrangeEnt at April 05, 2025 06:04 PM (0eaVi)

36 15 Tattooists get a bad rap. A high percentage are highly skilled artists and self taught at that.

---------

I asked for a 13 but they drew a 31.

Posted by: A White Guy, But Pretty Fly at April 05, 2025 06:05 PM (3P1PE)

37 34 APRS is amateur packet radio. It allows radio hams to relay internet traffic over radio at the blazing speed of 9600BPS. It used to be hot sh!t. Not so much anymore. But hey, $3.

Posted by: gp at April 05, 2025 06:05 PM (SPruE)

38 34 -> 33

Posted by: gp at April 05, 2025 06:06 PM (SPruE)

39
Oh, and remember asteroid 2024 YR4, the one that briefly raised some hubbub about earth impact. Well, the odds of hitting the earth are zero now, but the odds of hitting the Moon have increased to just under 4%.

Window of closest approach will be on Dec. 22, 2032, 15:18 Zulu, +/- 1.5 hours. Moon will be waning gibbous. Likely impact would be near the limb. If it hit on the near side of that, it would make a bright flash visible on the ground.

Posted by: publius, Rascally Mr. Miley (w6EFb) at April 05, 2025 06:06 PM (w6EFb)

40 I asked for a 13 but they drew a 31.
Posted by: A White Guy, But Pretty Fly at April 05, 2025 06:05 PM (3P1PE)

So, you're saying you have regerts about doing it?

Posted by: OrangeEnt at April 05, 2025 06:07 PM (0eaVi)

41 Thanks to all for the praise. it is humbly accepted and appreciated.
Hopefully ill be able to show off a few more pieces here sooner or later.

Posted by: Yamabushi at April 05, 2025 06:08 PM (m2qJm)

42 It would take approximately 13.7 years to view "Prometheus" over packet radio at 9600BPS. And at only 480p. Hardly worth even watching it at that crappy low resolution.

Posted by: gp at April 05, 2025 06:10 PM (SPruE)

43 29 Good day! Share your latest painting when you're finished?

BTW, glad you got in on the Chuck Jones content last Wed. Great to read your comments.
Posted by: TRex at April 05, 2025 06:00 PM (IQ6Gq)

Your wish is my command! You won't see it until the 2nd week of May, however. The portrait is a gift and the recipient will receive it as a surprise, so I can't post anything online until after that.

I was tickled pink about Chuck Jones and, after being out and about, that we got back home in time for me to be able to chime in on the thread before it closed! I'm often too late to catch the Mid-Morning Art thread, what with being out on the West (Messed) coast.

Posted by: tankascribe at April 05, 2025 06:11 PM (NtoJk)

44 Welcome Yamabushi! Would you share how you got started in this "hobby"? Do the race teams or drivers purchase your finished works?

Posted by: Grateful - the range bag lady at April 05, 2025 06:11 PM (IQ6Gq)

45 . . . Honey Roast is an aromatic with several types of cavendish. The honey adds a gentle level of sweetness that is definite but not overwhelming the tobacco flavors.

Premium Burley is just burley but at its ripest point. The only burley blend I've that compares is the now discontinued Mac Baren HH Burley Flake.

Northwoods is an English blend, complex but not too strong. The latakia provides a base of depth and sweetness that enhances the Virginias. This may become my favorite English blend. It burns slow and cool, ideal for long reading sessions. . . .

Posted by: JTB at April 05, 2025

***
JTB, I happened to buy a tin of HH Burley Flake a while ago. Haven't opened it yet. Who makes Premium Burley?

As a retirement gift to myself, I bought a vintage Sasieni Windsor Oom Paul pipe, and smoked it for the first time with Best Brown Flake last Tuesday. It took a little getting used to. Usually I smoke straight pipes. With this one, the light, and the bowl itself, are both pretty close to my nose.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at April 05, 2025 06:14 PM (omVj0)

46 I could draw like that. I just don't want to right now.

Posted by: Duke Lowell at April 05, 2025 06:14 PM (2UnvF)

47 41 ... "Thanks to all for the praise. it is humbly accepted and appreciated.
Hopefully ill be able to show off a few more pieces here sooner or later."

Yamabushi,

I hope you do. And please include the developing sketches if possible. Seeing how the final image came about adds to the enjoyment. I'm sure just some graphite sketches would be amazing.

Posted by: JTB at April 05, 2025 06:15 PM (yTvNw)

48 Please do show us more of your work if you can, Yamabushi! It's quite inspirational. There's nothing like viewing beautiful artwork and craftsmanship to get the creative juices fired up.

Posted by: tankascribe at April 05, 2025 06:18 PM (NtoJk)

49 I don't know if he ever persevered with trying to get paid for his work.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at April 05, 2025
*
If a professional tells you your work is high quality, you owe it to yourself to pursue it. Who wants to spend forty years behind a register or in a cubicle and wonder what you could have done if only.
Posted by: OrangeEnt at April 05, 2025

***
So I told him at the time.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at April 05, 2025 06:18 PM (omVj0)

50 I find it fascinating that we know less about the area of the outer solar system/ Ort Cloud than parts of the Universe thousands of light years away.

No light that allows it to be observed.
Posted by: Sebastian Melmoth at April 05, 2025

***
If we as a country had not turned our back on space and set about building a colossal welfare state instead, we'd have a Luna City on the Moon, a Mars colony, and maybe stations on the moons of Jupiter or Saturn. And possibly we'd have sent a robot or two to Pluto.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at April 05, 2025 06:21 PM (omVj0)

51 The title drawing would be awesome in a ad

Posted by: Skip at April 05, 2025 06:21 PM (ypFCm)

52 45 ... " I happened to buy a tin of HH Burley Flake a while ago. Haven't opened it yet. Who makes Premium Burley?"

All three blends are from JM Boswell in Pennsylvania. He and his son also make wonderful pipes.

I'm not a fan of the Oom Paul style. Like you said, too close to my nose. I prefer a gentler bend. Recently picked up a Peterson Dracula XL02 which has as much bend as I want. I haven't been too impressed with Peterson pipes lately but this one is a superb smoke and very comfortable.

Posted by: JTB at April 05, 2025 06:23 PM (yTvNw)

53 Oort Clooud.

Posted by: gp at April 05, 2025 06:23 PM (SPruE)

54 If we as a country had not turned our back on space and set about building a colossal welfare state instead, we'd have a Luna City on the Moon, a Mars colony, and maybe stations on the moons of Jupiter or Saturn. And possibly we'd have sent a robot or two to Pluto.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at April 05, 2025 06:21 PM (omVj0)

You can't control people if they're out of your reach, Wolfus. That's what the government wants.

Posted by: OrangeEnt at April 05, 2025 06:24 PM (0eaVi)

55 The title drawing would be awesome in a ad
Posted by: Skip at April 05, 2025

***
It would. We had a Golden Age of Advertising Art in the Fifties and Sixties, before it became possible and (I guess) cheaper to use photographs to illustrate the products being sold. Earlier too, come to think of it; Rockwell's paintings for the The Saturday Evening Post went back much further. There is something intangible about a drawing or painting that is lost in a photograph, no matter how artfully arranged.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at April 05, 2025 06:25 PM (omVj0)

56 All three blends are from JM Boswell in Pennsylvania. He and his son also make wonderful pipes.

I'm not a fan of the Oom Paul style. Like you said, too close to my nose. I prefer a gentler bend. Recently picked up a Peterson Dracula XL02 which has as much bend as I want. I haven't been too impressed with Peterson pipes lately but this one is a superb smoke and very comfortable.
Posted by: JTB at April 05, 2025

***
I've heard of them and Watch City Cigar, too. Plus the Country Squire in Jackson, MS, makes some fine blends; I love their Cowboy Coffee.

Dunno why I wanted an Oom Paul. I already have one, a Lorenzo that was my first "good* pipe in the Eighties, and I smoke it only rarely. This Sasieni is longer and hangs lower than the Lorenzo.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at April 05, 2025 06:27 PM (omVj0)

57 billg released the source code to Altair Basic. It's better written than I expected. One of these days I'll send you guys my Altair pics from 50 years ago.

Late in 1975 I got a letter from billg that chewed me out for thieving Altair Basic. I didn't even own a copy, pirated or otherwise. Anyway, I wish I'd kept the letter. I wish I'd kept the Altairs.

Posted by: gp at April 05, 2025 06:31 PM (SPruE)

58 Welcome Yamabushi! Would you share how you got started in this "hobby"? Do the race teams or drivers purchase your finished works?

Posted by: Grateful - the range bag lady

I was a comicbook kid in my teens and always wanted to draw the superheros but could never get the hang of faces so i started drawing my 2nd love, race cars. I also studied drafting and architecture back when it was still lead holders and t-squares, so that has a big influence on me as well

Posted by: Yamabushi at April 05, 2025 06:31 PM (m2qJm)

59 The guy that did my tattoo also sold his artwork. The problem with tattoos as artists that they are drawn on skin. Would be like painting a picture on a canvas that stretches and flexes.

Posted by: Notsothoreau at April 05, 2025 06:32 PM (cvWHI)

60 Has anyone here had formal training to draw or paint? Is everyone self-taught or informally taught by a friend or mentor?

Separate but related thought - we've spent a little time in and around the Art Center of Design in Pasadena. It is one of the top design schools in the country (world?). In addition to print, industrial and residential design, etc., the school is known for producing some of the world's best automotive designers.

I've always been impressed that they start their students with pen and pencil before letting them near a computer. Need to ensure the foundations are strong to avoid letting the tech become a crutch.

Posted by: TRex at April 05, 2025 06:33 PM (IQ6Gq)

61 Waiting for Linda to show up so we can plan what to make for dinner. Probably we'll watch an episode or two of All Creatures Great and Small, the 2020s version. It is refreshingly free of woke or any sort of lecturing that Western people are colonizers or oppressors, and features attractive well-dressed people, including the senior vet (a pipe smoker, JTB!) who quotes Latin.

Svengoolie's movie tonight is Attack of the 50-Foot Woman, which is no Fellini film but features the young, sizzling hot Yvette Vickers (not in the title role, though).

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at April 05, 2025 06:33 PM (omVj0)

62 3D printing is useful for typewriter parts. New feet is the common one but some rubber parts can be reproduced

Posted by: Notsothoreau at April 05, 2025 06:33 PM (cvWHI)

63 >>I find it fascinating that we know less about the area of the outer solar system/ Ort Cloud than parts of the Universe thousands of light years away.

We don't even fully understand the oceans that cover most of our planet. Sadly, we don't seem all that interested in exploring them.

Posted by: JackStraw at April 05, 2025 06:33 PM (LkLld)

64 Thank you, TRex for another wonderful hobby thread.

Great work, Yamabushi.
So many talented Morons.

Posted by: TecumsehTea at April 05, 2025 06:35 PM (Eo96p)

65 Has anyone here had formal training to draw or paint? Is everyone self-taught or informally taught by a friend or mentor?

Posted by: TRex at April 05, 2025 06:33 PM (IQ6Gq)

Never had a formal class. All I learned was from in front of the TV watching Bob Ross.

Posted by: OrangeEnt at April 05, 2025 06:37 PM (0eaVi)

66 Looking at Yamabushi's interim drawings reminds me of what wonderful images can be made with the simplest (and least expensive) materials. Pencil, charcoal, ball point pen or dip pen and ink on the proper paper can be amazing. Pencil or a Bic Crystal pen and a flattened brown paper bag can produce interesting results. And you don't have to go deep into a cave in France to draw on the walls.

Posted by: JTB at April 05, 2025 06:37 PM (yTvNw)

67 Has anyone here had formal training to draw or paint?

Does bridge overpass graffiti count?

Posted by: Notorious BFD at April 05, 2025 06:39 PM (mH6SG)

68 I go now to test the BalloonMobile on the imminent launch. Wish me luck!

Posted by: gp at April 05, 2025 06:39 PM (SPruE)

69 It would. We had a Golden Age of Advertising Art in the Fifties and Sixties, before it became possible and (I guess) cheaper to use photographs to illustrate the products being sold. Earlier too, come to think of it; Rockwell's paintings for the The Saturday Evening Post went back much further. There is something intangible about a drawing or painting that is lost in a photograph, no matter how artfully arranged.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at April 05, 2025 06:25 PM (omVj0)

I think Lileks shows prints from early ads and things seem to change in the late 20s, early thirties to styles we see today.

Posted by: OrangeEnt at April 05, 2025 06:40 PM (0eaVi)

70 We don't even fully understand the oceans that cover most of our planet. Sadly, we don't seem all that interested in exploring them.
Posted by: JackStraw at April 05, 2025 06:33 PM (LkLld)

Why would the government spend money on things like that when they can traffic kids for their pleasure?

Posted by: OrangeEnt at April 05, 2025 06:41 PM (0eaVi)

71 Has anyone here had formal training to draw or paint?

Yes.. BA in Art studio

Posted by: It's me donna at April 05, 2025 06:41 PM (VE6XX)

72 In case I forget at the end of the thread. Thanks, TRex for another fun hobby thread.

Posted by: JTB at April 05, 2025 06:42 PM (yTvNw)

73 My theory is talents like drawing or any other can be learned, but certain people just have a knack for some things like art and just have to find if that's their gift.
By no means if you like doing anything no matter how good it is do it.

Posted by: Skip at April 05, 2025 06:42 PM (ypFCm)

74 Has anyone here had formal training to draw or paint?

Yes.. BA in Art studio

i took an art class while trying to get my associates degree in drafting. but thats it.

Posted by: Yamabushi at April 05, 2025 06:44 PM (m2qJm)

75 I had of the first Lego Space Shuttle set as a kid. Not super-detailed like the modern sets, but a basic kid-buildable version. Came with a launchpad and tower, with detachable solid and liquid tanks. Had room for one pilot, and the top of the shuttle would open up for an extending arm to launch/catch basic satellite. I'm sure I dropped the model a couple times, but I never actively played 'Challenger' or 'Columbia,' which is somewhat surprising given the time I lived through. My cities, however, they were often destroyed by rampaging giant robots or megazords...

The cities also frequently became racetracks. But for F-1 style cars, not the one pictured. Late 80's/early 90's Lego had some really cool F-1 style racecar sets. And their design for the cars was pretty simple--simple enough that even a kid could easily re-create the same model in whatever custom-color scheme looked cool.

Posted by: Castle Guy at April 05, 2025 06:45 PM (Lhaco)

76 I drew "Binky" but to no discernible effect.

Posted by: Cicero (@cicero43) at April 05, 2025 06:46 PM (3P1PE)

77 73 ... "if you like doing anything no matter how good it is do it."

Skip, Had to laugh. That one line perfectly describes my approach to many hobbies.

Posted by: JTB at April 05, 2025 06:46 PM (yTvNw)

78 >>Why would the government spend money on things like that when they can traffic kids for their pleasure?

Right across the bay from me is the University of Rhode Island Oceanography campus. One of the top professors is Dr. Robert Ballard, the guy who found the Titanic among other things.

They are constantly running expeditions to study various parts of the ocean and they post the videos on their website. Fascinating stuff.

Posted by: JackStraw at April 05, 2025 06:49 PM (LkLld)

79 Has anyone here had formal training to draw or paint?

Yes.. BA in Art studio

i took an art class while trying to get my associates degree in drafting. but thats it.
Posted by: Yamabushi at April 05, 2025 06:44 PM (m2qJm)

Depends. Do you count Spirograph?

Posted by: Hour of the Wolf at April 05, 2025 06:50 PM (VNX3d)

80 I used to do a lot of drawing, but kinda fell out of the habit. Most did figure drawing; fantasy characters in a comic book style (not a surprise to anyone who sees my comments the book thread). Alas, I never had the patience for backgrounds and anything regular/manufactured that the characters would have interacted with. So, even at my best, my skills were pretty limited. I couldn't even attempt to draw a car like the one in the main post...

Posted by: Castle Guy at April 05, 2025 06:50 PM (Lhaco)

81 They are constantly running expeditions to study various parts of the ocean and they post the videos on their website. Fascinating stuff.
Posted by: JackStraw at April 05, 2025 06:49 PM (LkLld)

So much more we could do if the politicians would get out of the way.

Thanks for the thread, T.

Posted by: OrangeEnt at April 05, 2025 06:53 PM (0eaVi)

82 I love watercolor art, got a couple books, watched some utubes, bought some supplies . . . I get easily discouraged. My goal was to make bookmarks as gifts, and cards, with birds and flowers and Scripture verses.
Time is always a factor, too. My days are broken up and I figure by the time I get everything set up and just start working, it's time to go do something. My dedicated craft/hobby space is pretty much taken up by the quilting, so anything else has to get done on the kitchen table.

Posted by: TecumsehTea at April 05, 2025 06:55 PM (Eo96p)

83 They are constantly running expeditions to study various parts of the ocean and they post the videos on their website. Fascinating stuff.
Posted by: JackStraw at April 05, 2025 06:49 PM
***
In an age of autonomous undersea drones, shouldn't mapping the ocean floor fully be just a matter of time?

Posted by: TRex at April 05, 2025 06:55 PM (IQ6Gq)

84 65 Has anyone here had formal training to draw or paint? Is everyone self-taught or informally taught by a friend or mentor?

Posted by: TRex at April 05, 2025 06:33 PM (IQ6Gq)

Been drawing all my life, won an art competition in 2nd grade, LOL! I took Art as an elective in high school, and have a B.A. in Studio Art from Sonoma State U. My skills didn't advance as much as I would have liked because all of the teachers there were big into Abstract Expressionism and had no use for Realism and Academic art. My painting ability really took off ten years back when I enrolled in a painting class with a fantastic teacher, the best one I've ever had. Been painting with him ever since and I'm still learning things about color and composition.

Posted by: tankascribe at April 05, 2025 06:56 PM (NtoJk)

85 JTB I observed that view from my grandmother, who played piano, took lessons often and never was that great at it to her dying day. But she loved to play. It wasn't bad, she got the keys right but just very slow.

Posted by: Skip at April 05, 2025 06:57 PM (ypFCm)

86 Pooh on Spirograph! The best art toy was Spin Art! LOL. Although I always yearned for the Lite Brite...

Posted by: tankascribe at April 05, 2025 06:57 PM (NtoJk)

87 I took some art classes at a community college. While I learned technique, it was dwarfed by the whole art critique bullshit. "What were you thinking when you created this piece?"

"Well, I thought charcoal would really help with the contrast, defining the main features of the horse."

"Yes, but what led you to have the desire to create this piece?"

*blinks* "Umm, I wanted to draw a horse."

My takeaway: I spent a lot of money to learn that I fucking hate the art world.

Posted by: Pug Mahon at April 05, 2025 06:59 PM (0aYVJ)

88 >>In an age of autonomous undersea drones, shouldn't mapping the ocean floor fully be just a matter of time?

That's a large part of what NOAA and URI along with other schools are doing. But it's a lot of ground to cover and they are still only getting a fraction of the data. There are creatures that live in the deep ocean they know very little about not to mention things like undersea volcanoes and other geological features that have a lot more to do with our climate than cow farts.

Just my little pet peeve. I'd like to learn more about our own planet before heading to Mars.

Posted by: JackStraw at April 05, 2025 07:01 PM (LkLld)

89 Tankascribe, your portraiture is fantastic.

We have a sister in law with a BA in Fine Art, and she is an incredible artist. She loves animals and she renders them so life-like that you almost expect them to step out of the frame. She's done some illustrations for a local author, too, a veterinarian who writes stories about his patients.

I only have 1 piece of her work, a pen and ink of a cat, that I dearly love. She doesn't like to sell or give away her work. She does do art shows, but prices her work so high that they don't sell. Which is why we don't have more than one piece of hers.

Posted by: TecumsehTea at April 05, 2025 07:01 PM (Eo96p)

90 Vintage sports cars.

https://limewire.com/d/3xyGB#UaDZneTqlG

Mine is the clone of the real racecar.

Posted by: Martini Farmer at April 05, 2025 07:04 PM (Q4IgG)

91 1980, back when college students thought doing shots of Jagermeister was a sign of sophistication.

Posted by: Chairman LMAO at April 05, 2025 07:06 PM (LPS7w)

92 90 Mine is the clone of the real racecar.

Posted by: Martini Farmer at April 05, 2025 07:04 PM
***
Very nice. I don't think I fit in any version of a 914 with a roof.

I know that that exact spot too.

Posted by: TRex at April 05, 2025 07:07 PM (IQ6Gq)

93 Oh, Pug Mahon, "critiques" are the worst! Other students were always envious about Art students not having finals. No, we had final critiques and they sucked, big time. As (usually) the only realist artist in the class, the other students would all chow down on me. Although they weren't permitted to be more critical than the teacher; not much restriction there because the teach would flay what little skin I had left by then. Fun times, fun times...

And thanks for the compliment, TecumsehTea!

Posted by: tankascribe at April 05, 2025 07:09 PM (NtoJk)

94 "Mine is the clone of the real racecar.
Posted by: Martini Farmer"

Very nice. Gulf colors?

My 914 was yellow and brown. The brown part was rust. The yellow part was fun.

Posted by: fd at April 05, 2025 07:10 PM (vFG9F)

95 The orange Jagermeister livery is famous in racing. Check out this tour of a private collection organized around that single theme.

https://tinyurl.com/yvzj3jhf

Posted by: TRex at April 05, 2025 07:11 PM (IQ6Gq)

96 > 92 90 Mine is the clone of the real racecar.

Posted by: Martini Farmer at April 05, 2025 07:04 PM
***
Very nice. I don't think I fit in any version of a 914 with a roof.

I know that that exact spot too.

Posted by: TRex at April 05, 2025 07:07 PM (IQ6Gq)
---------
I lived Seaside, CA within earshot of Laguna Seca for 10 years. Spent many a day there. Some on track. Many off. 🏎️

Posted by: Martini Farmer at April 05, 2025 07:12 PM (Q4IgG)

97 Oops, look at the time! Gotta go and get dinner going. Have crafty fun, fellow Morons, and thanks for sharing, everybody! I really look forward to hanging out here on Saturdays when we're not running about, everybody's so interesting.

Posted by: tankascribe at April 05, 2025 07:12 PM (NtoJk)

98 I like self taught artists because they develop a unique style . Good or bad I like when you can identify the artist of a painting almost immediately.

That's not to say that a lot of academically trained artists don't develop their own recognizable style.

Posted by: Sebastian Melmoth at April 05, 2025 07:13 PM (VofaG)

99 97 Oops, look at the time! Gotta go and get dinner going. Have crafty fun, fellow Morons, and thanks for sharing, everybody! I really look forward to hanging out here on Saturdays when we're not running about, everybody's so interesting.

Posted by: tankascribe at April 05, 2025 07:12 PM
***
Thank you for stopping by the Hobby Thread!

Posted by: TRex at April 05, 2025 07:14 PM (IQ6Gq)

100 >>My 914 was yellow and brown. The brown part was rust. The yellow part was fun.

Mine was silver. Great little car.

Posted by: JackStraw at April 05, 2025 07:14 PM (LkLld)

101 Yamabushi, thank you.

Posted by: AZ deplorable moron at April 05, 2025 07:14 PM (d0edJ)

102 Fellow amateur radio Morons: I am planning on attending the Yakima MoMee next month. It's being held at a qualifying POTA park, so I will be activating it. Most likely I'll be using CW on 20m, but depending on conditions I may try SSB and/or other bands. If you look on pota.app, I'll put something like "MoMee" or "AOSHQ" in the comment field so you can ID me. Hope to work some of you!

Posted by: PabloD at April 05, 2025 07:18 PM (bYWVt)

103 gp - you'll have to let us know if you snag the weather balloon. Double points if its loaded with Chinese spy ware!

Posted by: PabloD at April 05, 2025 07:23 PM (bYWVt)

104 "Mine was silver. Great little car.
Posted by: JackStraw"

Mine was too after I chucked the fuel injection and put a Holley on it.

I sold that car for what I bought it for. $1000.

Posted by: fd at April 05, 2025 07:24 PM (vFG9F)

105 > Mine was too after I chucked the fuel injection and put a Holley on it.

I sold that car for what I bought it for. $1000.
Posted by: fd at April 05, 2025 07:24 PM (vFG9F)
---------
Mine had been "doctored."

I put dual Webers on it. Lit a fire under it. Figuratively speaking.

Posted by: Martini Farmer at April 05, 2025 07:26 PM (Q4IgG)

106 Balloon 24061712 launched on sked, current alt 5000m, still over the horizon from me. One disadvantage of the BalloonMobile is that the antenna is only 5ft AGL, so my horizon is lower than for my base antenna at 20ft AGL.

Posted by: gp at April 05, 2025 07:27 PM (SPruE)

107 I used to be able to draw a VW Beetle. They would always end up Baja'd though. I could also draw a 356, but they usually ended up looking like a Beetle!

Posted by: fd at April 05, 2025 07:28 PM (vFG9F)

108 Time to say good night and thank you before the next act takes the Ace of Spades stage. Thanks for participating and reading. Special thanks to Yamabushi. Back next week!

See you in Club ONT later tonight.

Posted by: TRex at April 05, 2025 07:30 PM (IQ6Gq)

109 "I put dual Webers on it. Lit a fire under it. Figuratively speaking.
Posted by: Martini Farmer"

That was the proper fix for that crappy FI. The Holley solution was the low budget redneck solution.

Posted by: fd at April 05, 2025 07:31 PM (vFG9F)

110 Let me add to the chorus of praise for Yamabushi. That's excellent craftsmanship.

Posted by: BeckoningChasm at April 05, 2025 07:31 PM (CHHv1)

111
Tattooists get a bad rap. A high percentage are highly skilled artists and self taught at that.
Posted by: Sebastian Melmoth

How about the vandals who decorate railroad cars?

Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr. at April 05, 2025 07:32 PM (63Dwl)

112 110 Concur!

Posted by: gp at April 05, 2025 07:32 PM (SPruE)

113

The only touring car worthy of mention in this site involves Steed and Mrs Peel, all else is shite...

Posted by: Penguin at April 05, 2025 07:35 PM (AuztJ)

114 "Attack of the 50 Foot Woman" is on Svengoolie tonight. Her shoe closet must be enormous.

Posted by: fd at April 05, 2025 07:36 PM (vFG9F)

115 Really big shoes.

Posted by: Ed Sullivan at April 05, 2025 07:37 PM (63Dwl)

116 When my boy was off to who-knows-where in the Army, I sent him snickerdoodles weekly and always some gift for a fellow soldier who wasn't getting things from home. I couldn't be happier my boy is home safe and sound, but I miss helping those other boys.

Posted by: LASue at April 05, 2025 07:42 PM (lCppi)

117 At 10km alt, balloon is now over my horizon. I just now rcvd and decoded my first telemetry packet of the flight. BalloonMobile passes the shakedown test!

Posted by: gp at April 05, 2025 07:44 PM (SPruE)

118 noood Roger Corman

Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards, Buy ammo at April 05, 2025 07:44 PM (xcxpd)

119 64 Thank you, TRex for another wonderful hobby thread.

Great work, Yamabushi.
So many talented Morons.

Thank you Sir

Posted by: Yamabushi at April 05, 2025 07:45 PM (m2qJm)

120 Separate but related thought - we've spent a little time in and around the Art Center of Design in Pasadena. It is one of the top design schools in the country (world?). In addition to print, industrial and residential design, etc., the school is known for producing some of the world's best automotive designers.

I've always been impressed that they start their students with pen and pencil before letting them near a computer. Need to ensure the foundations are strong to avoid letting the tech become a crutch.
Posted by: TRex at April 05, 2025 06:33 PM (IQ6Gq)

My best friend from college went there after graduating from the UW with an art degree. It's an excellent small school and they teach talent AND business savvy. My friend went on to extremely big success at Nike and other top sportswear brands.

Posted by: LASue at April 05, 2025 07:45 PM (lCppi)

121 Thank you for sharing your work in progress, Yamabushi. I also like the canted angle of the car, it brings a feeling of movement to the piece.

Posted by: Gouverneur Morris at April 05, 2025 07:45 PM (J8OCH)

122 101 Yamabushi, thank you.

Posted by: AZ deplorable moron

Thank you Sir.
I too am a AZ moron

Posted by: Yamabushi at April 05, 2025 07:49 PM (m2qJm)

123 110 Let me add to the chorus of praise for Yamabushi. That's excellent craftsmanship.

Posted by: BeckoningChasm

Thanks friend
Hope no one minds the constant -thank yous-
I Feel obligated to reply

Posted by: Yamabushi at April 05, 2025 07:53 PM (m2qJm)

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