Hobby Thread - October 18, 2025 [Astro Rex]

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, mighty officially sanctioned Ace of Spades Hobby Thread. A spin of the Ace of Spades Wheel of Hobbies (TM) landed on space shuttle air transport.

Are you thinking "That's an oddly specific hobby but I love space and modeling and I like history and traveling and engineering. There are so many aspects that make this more of an interest than a hobby. I can't wait to get into the content!" I knew it. Enjoy.

Going to be a slightly abbreviated thread this week...for reasons. TRex is in an undisclosed location doing undisclosed things.

What are you hobbying?

As per usual Hobby Thread etiquette, keep this thread limited to hobbying. All (legal) hobbying is welcome. However, politics, current events and religious debates can live in threads elsewhere. Pants are optional. Puns are welcome and encouraged.

Play nice. Don't be a troll and do not feed the trolls.

***

The inspiration for this post is the space shuttle carrier on display at the visitor center for NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. It is number 905 and the first of two shuttle carrier aircraft.

Can you imagine the conversation?

"We need to be able to test the shuttle's ability to glide home for a landing. We also need to transport the space shuttle around the country. How are we going to do that? We're all out of ideas. We can't fly it. We can't tow it behind a truck. We can't put it on a train."

Two guys from the back row: "How about flying it piggyback on top of a 747? We could build a model to try it out."

And they did...

John Kiker and Owen Morris built a 1/40-scale radio-controlled model of the Space Shuttle on top of a Boeing 747 to prove that the configuration was viable. The model is on display at the visitor center.

***

Never knew this:

Space Shuttle Carrying 747 Was Secretly Modified To Defend Itself From Heat-Seeking Missiles

In May 1983, what was then NASA's only Shuttle Carrier Aircraft, a highly-modified Boeing 747 airliner capable of carrying a Space Shuttle on the top of its fuselage, arrived at the Paris Air Show carrying the shuttle Enterprise. The international aviation spectacle, arguably Europe's highest-profile air show, had long been an arena for Cold War competition. While the visit was hugely publicized, what most don't know is that the plane had been modified for its European trip with an advanced countermeasures system to protect itself from heat-seeking missiles that was still highly classified at the time. The defensive additions to NASA's 747 were so sensitive that the plane's crew was told to keep it a secret no matter what.

***

This NASA photo is all kinds of awesome.

20251017-endeavour_after_sts-126_on_sca_over_mojave1.jpg

From the War Zone:

I was told that the photo, taken in December of 2008 as Endeavor made its voyage back to Kennedy Space Center in Florida, was one of the most beloved in at the installation and that it was shot by one of NASA's most acclaimed photographers, Carla Thomas. If I remember correctly, the photo was planned ahead of time and executed perfectly from the back seat of Armstrong's F/A-18B. The aircraft had rolled inverted-or near inverted-to capture the unique angle of the loaded-up SCA.

***

The MDD:

***

Horde Hobbying from PA Dutchman:

This is a Type 97 Chi-Ha medium tank that I just finished and mounted on a diorama base made of foam insulation. The tank represents the 34th Tank Regiment,which operated in northeast China from 1944 until the end of the war, when it was overrun by the Soviet invasion of Manchuria. I included a picture of the finished model and an AI image made with Google Gemini.

Outstanding! Thanks for sharing.

***

Been waiting for a while to show this diorama. Amazing.

***

Hobby humor:

***

Did you miss the Hobby Thread last week? We did a lumber theme. The comments may be closed, but you can re-live the content.

***

Notable comments from last week department:

***

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, contribute something from your personal hobbying. 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 October 18, 2025 05:32 PM (+qU29)

2 Went to Cape Canaveral shortly before the Apolo/ Soyez hook up mission, maybe 1974?

Posted by: Skip at October 18, 2025 05:33 PM (+qU29)

3 Pa Dutchman that's awesome

Posted by: Skip at October 18, 2025 05:35 PM (+qU29)

4 Not first

Posted by: Accomack at October 18, 2025 05:35 PM (FqNtp)

5 Watching Qualifying for US Grand Prix in Austin, 91 degrees and sunny

Posted by: Skip at October 18, 2025 05:36 PM (+qU29)

6 Not first
Posted by: Accomack at October 18, 2025 05:35 PM
But glad someone else is here

Posted by: Skip at October 18, 2025 05:36 PM (+qU29)

7 Good evening Skip. Thanks for getting the hobby thread comments started. Enjoy the GP qualy.

Posted by: TRex - slightly dented dino at October 18, 2025 05:36 PM (uBqkX)

8 Hobby thread! Happy Saturday all!

Posted by: PA Dutchman at October 18, 2025 05:39 PM (31p00)

9
I've flown many times. I'm still amazed that flying is possible.

Posted by: fourseasons at October 18, 2025 05:39 PM (3ek7K)

10 The Udvar- Hazy museum in Virginia is a good visit for Air and space

Posted by: Skip at October 18, 2025 05:40 PM (+qU29)

11 I've flown many times. I'm still amazed that flying is possible.

Posted by: fourseasons at October 18, 2025

***
The technology, or that our so-called "leaders" haven't made it too uncomfortable and expensive yet?

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at October 18, 2025 05:41 PM (omVj0)

12 I always wanted to build detailed dioramas but never had the patience. I love watching dioramas videos. The detail and designs are amazing.

Posted by: Beartooth at October 18, 2025 05:42 PM (kanec)

13 I've been watching a bunch of videos of guys making hats. I find the process fascinating.

Posted by: Northernlurker , Maple Syrup MAGA at October 18, 2025 05:44 PM (kTd/k)

14 My first time on a plane was in 1977. Mrs. Wolfus No. 1 and I flew to St. Louis to visit her uncle. I was all ready to go, to experience the closest thing to space travel an everyday person could. Then the plane began to taxi, and to move faster over the ground than I'd ever traveled . . . and then the ground dropped away.

I spent the rest of the flight looking frantically away from the window and gripping the seat arms every time the plane changed attitude. To this day, if I fly (and I haven't since 2014), I close my eyes at takeoff and don't open them until the plane levels off. And I don't look out the window.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at October 18, 2025 05:44 PM (omVj0)

15
Wolf's,

The technology. I'm old and back in the day only rich people could afford to fly.

Now it is available to the masses. It's uncomfortable but if you need to get somewhere quickly it beats driving.

I do like road trips though, if one has no time deadline.

Posted by: fourseasons at October 18, 2025 05:44 PM (3ek7K)

16 Dam, buster.

Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr. at October 18, 2025 05:45 PM (63Dwl)

17 Our only connection with the subject was to see shuttle Discovery flown in to Dulles airport to start its permanent place at the Udvar Hazy museum. Traffic stopped all over the area. Cars pulled over to the side of the road and people got out to see the transport. In almost 50 years in the DC area, I've never seen anything like that.

Posted by: JTB at October 18, 2025 05:45 PM (yTvNw)

18 Flown in small Cessna aircraft , military transport and commercial aircraft, never a bad. Doubt will ever get to fly again

Posted by: Skip at October 18, 2025 05:46 PM (+qU29)

19 I didn't have my camera with me that day in Ft. Bliss when I got to see the piggyback shuttle in flight. (This was back in the ancient times when I still had a flip phone.) Biggs Army Airfield attached to Ft. Bliss was one of the refuel stops for the 747.

Posted by: tankdemon at October 18, 2025 05:46 PM (am6Ar)

20 Scottst, the 1970 Mercedes coupe: Would this be one of the big coupes, the 111 or 112 chassis, a 280SE? A convertible one was used in the movie The Hangover. I had a chance to buy a dark green 250SE hardtop in the late '90s. No A/C and it had a manual, so I passed. But those big armchair-like seats . . . amazing.

They did offer a mid-sized coupe, the 114 with a more squarish roof, also with the 280 engine.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at October 18, 2025 05:49 PM (omVj0)

21 Saw the 747 transport of the space shuttle from Kelly AFB in San Antonio. Don't recall the year but it was spectacular! I was heading to my car to make the trek home, and heard a jet flying over downtown. Because a jet over downtown was such a rarity, I ran to the edge of the parking garage to catch a glimpse of what I thought was an errant passenger jet. At that moment, the 747 gently banked over my location and the afternoon sunlight shone on the shuttle.

It was an amazing sight and one I will never forget.

Posted by: Legally Sufficient at October 18, 2025 05:49 PM (kB9dk)

22 https://tinyurl.com/yz3cnpnu
Here you are JTB
Shuttle at the museum

Posted by: Skip at October 18, 2025 05:51 PM (+qU29)

23 My two biggest hobbies are breathing and waking up in the morning.
Thank you Jesus. However, the Guppy in flight I have witnessed.
Oddest thing in the air ever seen. Wings looked like the little flippers on the side of a fish. Tiniest wings you've ever seen.

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at October 18, 2025 05:52 PM (jTU7t)

24 Went to Cape Canaveral shortly before the Apolo/ Soyez hook up mission, maybe 1974?
Posted by: Skip at October 18, 2025 05:33 PM

I went to the KSC last year for work. I got to see a SpaceX launch. For launches, the NASA guys talk about places to watch a launch like fisherman talk favorite fishing spots.

Posted by: Cybersmythe at October 18, 2025 05:55 PM (nX0p0)

25 Twice my dad got him, sister and me a ride in a Cessna ( type or maybe it was) planes around my area as a young teenager, 1973 I think.

Posted by: Skip at October 18, 2025 05:55 PM (+qU29)

26
We lived in Columbia SC during the last presidential election. Trump was there and we lived near the airport. What a sight it was when Air Force One flew over the house. We stood in the backyard and it seemed We could almost reach up and touch it.

It's a great looking plane.

Posted by: fourseasons at October 18, 2025 05:55 PM (3ek7K)

27 That's fascinating background info, Berserker!

Posted by: Miley, okravangelist at October 18, 2025 05:57 PM (w6EFb)

28 A friend of mine was a pilot for AF-2. Basically any government plane touting our betters around.

Posted by: Martini Farmer at October 18, 2025 05:59 PM (Q4IgG)

29 I would like to take a class on picture framing, but the only comprehensive one I have found is many states eastward.

So I keep hoping the instructor doesn't retire-retire before I get the donkey in gear.

Ah well.

Happy Saturday to all ...

Posted by: Adriane the Not Cynical Enough Critic . . . at October 18, 2025 06:01 PM (3ZUWJ)

30 Sure the video of the first Dam Buster practice is on YouTube can be found

Posted by: Skip at October 18, 2025 06:05 PM (+qU29)

31 I've done a lot of commercial flying and my first flight when I was 6. I can remember getting a cup of hot chocolate from the stewardess on that first flight.

Flown twice in a Cessna type plane. We'd fly to a local airstrip have lunch and fly back. Had the opportunity to fly in a B-17 a couple times but was too expensive for my blood.

Posted by: Beartooth at October 18, 2025 06:05 PM (kanec)

32
I know the attendees at the Tenth Meet up are having a great time.

Ben Had said someone from Germany flew in for it. I don't know if NZ flew in. Flying is amazing.

Posted by: fourseasons at October 18, 2025 06:06 PM (3ek7K)

33 sorry, back to the hobby at hand ...

Many years ago was documenting at a certain facility at Boca Raton; when everybody yelled 'Break time' and ran outside.

Shuttle launch. Night time.

I had never seen one, so every something in the sky with a light, I'd ask 'Is that it?'

Finally one of the senior writers said 'If you have to ask, it's NOT it!' Ah.

She was absolutely right.
: -)

A thing of beauty it was.

Posted by: Adriane the Not Cynical Enough Critic . . . at October 18, 2025 06:06 PM (3ZUWJ)

34 My interest in the space program began with the earliest Mercury launches and continues now. (I was bummed when I realized I was outgrowing the astronauts and room in the capsules.) And while I've flown plenty of times and wasn't afraid, it was just a quick way to get somewhere that could drop out of the sky and kill everyone on board. I haven't flown since 1985 and don't miss it.

The joke is we have three accomplished pilots in the family.

Posted by: JTB at October 18, 2025 06:07 PM (yTvNw)

35
I recall that in 1980 or so, it was announced that the 747 carrier with shuttle attached would fly a demonstration flight around the Capital Beltway (I-495). At the appointed time for my location, I went out in the back yard, and the enormous combination flew overhead several hundred feet up. Morning on a humid summer day. Man that thing was big.

Posted by: Semi-Literate Thug at October 18, 2025 06:08 PM (azNOR)

36 Heh...flour arranging. I think I might re-watch Scarface.

Posted by: Orson at October 18, 2025 06:11 PM (dIske)

37 Laughed at the flour arrangement. BTW, those containers work great for storage.

Posted by: JTB at October 18, 2025 06:13 PM (yTvNw)

38 There was a hobby shop here in toontown that had a flying balsa wood R/C model of the 747 with the shuttle on top. Like a $200 kit not including the engines. They also had a huge 4 engine B-17 kit. I've always wanted to do R/C planes but crashed the first one I got on the first flight and have never tried it since.

Posted by: Reforger at October 18, 2025 06:14 PM (SG6eL)

39 I usually take one round-trip flight per year. It's a shame that flying is now something to be endured rather than enjoyed.

Posted by: PabloD at October 18, 2025 06:19 PM (reK6L)

40 Reformer would have loved getting a RC plane, fear of crashing a few hundred dollars immediately was what stopped me.
Have looked at RC tanks, at least can't crash them

Posted by: Skip at October 18, 2025 06:20 PM (+qU29)

41 I wonder how many years it will take to flush out the DEI pilots?

Posted by: Eromero at October 18, 2025 06:23 PM (T5nJQ)

42 I've been toying with the idea of small indoor gardens. I've always liked indoor plants but haven't kept up with it consistently. I'm considering combining two hobbies: indoor gardening and whittling. Get the things set up and include small figures (gnomes, mice) and small structures like a bridge or a Hobbit hole entrance. Still in the planning stage.

Posted by: JTB at October 18, 2025 06:25 PM (yTvNw)

43 Going to go visit my dad in the hospital, be back later

Posted by: Skip at October 18, 2025 06:29 PM (+qU29)

44 The 747was outfitted with the ALQ-157V, which was top secret at the time - i used to fix them for Marine 1, although the ALQ-144 remained on VH3D until the later 80s.

Posted by: Jeff E at October 18, 2025 06:33 PM (xhmeb)

45 I have been roped into two hobbies that I am actually enjoying. One is crochet, as part of my parish's prayer shawl ministry. The other is playing the ukelele, also parish related-our leader wanted to form a group. When I retired from teaching, I wanted to learn new skills. God in his wisdom thought these would be useful.

Posted by: Mrs. Leggy at October 18, 2025 06:35 PM (dyL4B)

46 Hope your dad is feeling better Skip. You are a good son.

Posted by: Mrs. Leggy at October 18, 2025 06:39 PM (dyL4B)

47 I fly commercial 3 to 4 times a year to conferences. I really haven't a bad experience other than short connecting flights in another concourse. Had to jam my carry on in the door one time as they were closing it. The cabin crew didn't hear the gate tell them I was on the way down. Crew was not happy but they let me on.

Posted by: Embarrassing Stain at October 18, 2025 06:40 PM (iUdjE)

48 Haven't had much hobby time lately. A little bit for guitar and zero for radio. Guitar teacher suggested we play a song from when I started. He specifically pointed out my strumming and chord fingering were more fluid and natural. That's why I pay him, to keep me from quitting.

Posted by: Blanco Basura - Z28.310 at October 18, 2025 06:41 PM (lUFok)

49 For almost 20 years, I traveled 1 week out of 3, on average. Had 3 startling experiences: one, a trip into Las Vegas, we were re-routed to Phoenix 'due to bad weather', except no other plane was re-routed - and 2 people exited the plane at Phoenix; two, a trip into Phoenix, when the wind direction reversed during final approach and we had to abort the landing; three, leaving Newark and the waist exit BURST OPEN during the take-off - pilot got the plane stopped without catastrophe, turned us back, and got back into line.

Posted by: Nazdar at October 18, 2025 06:44 PM (NcvvS)

50 I bought some more pipe tobacco last week and got the shipment earlier than expected. Some Stokkebye Virginia, some Cornell & Diehl Crooner for blending, and some more Pegasus burley, also a blending leaf. And an ounce of C & D's Derringer, another Virginia. At one pipe a day or so, I have enough stuff now to last me for *years.*

Also I considered a new (well, used) pipe, a Peterson "Burren" bent apple with a natural bowl and a blond acrylic stem. I hesitated, and somebody else grabbed it. There's a vintage Barling pot-bowl pipe on the same site for about the same price, and I'm considering that.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at October 18, 2025 06:48 PM (omVj0)

51 There's a gem & mineral show here this weekend, so I checked it out today. (Of course, the day my pictures get published here, LOL)

Hobby-related, because I found an excellent selection of semi-precious beads. Bought 2 strands and some cabochons to wire-wrap, once I learn how to do that.

The local rockhound club sponsors this show every year and there's everything from rough geodes & garnets to faceted gems and finished jewelry. Something for everyone.

Posted by: JQ at October 18, 2025 06:51 PM (rdVOm)

52 I was working in DC near Dulles when they flew the shuttle in. They flew around the city and came in to land. Traffic stopped everywhere to watch. Very impressive.

Posted by: Diogenes at October 18, 2025 06:53 PM (2WIwB)

53 oh here we GO. I have something for the gamers here
youtu.be/VOORiyip4_c
Someone finally figured out collision-detection in 3D. No more clipping through walls; no more artifacting in CGI.
Unfortunately this is (1) slow and (2) might be already redundant in AI.

Posted by: gKWVE at October 18, 2025 07:04 PM (gKWVE)

54 Time to say thank you before the next act takes the Ace of Spades stage. See y'all in Club ONT later!

Posted by: TRex - slightly dented dino at October 18, 2025 07:20 PM (uBqkX)

55 TRex, Thanks for the thread. I hope all in Corsicana are having a good time.

Posted by: JTB at October 18, 2025 07:23 PM (yTvNw)

56 I can't tell you how delighted I am with Berserker's comment about "Strad's" violins. Well done, my friend.

Only at AoS can you find an authentic heavy-metal rocker writing a treatise on the finer points of the Stradivarius violin. I love this place!

Posted by: bluebell at October 18, 2025 07:24 PM (79pEw)

57 Posted by: bluebell at October 18, 2025 07:24 PM (79pEw)
***
bluebell!!

Posted by: TRex - slightly dented dino at October 18, 2025 07:24 PM (uBqkX)

58 Bluebell,

In case you use it, Merrifield Garden center in Gainesville has been sold and will close by the end of the year. Massive bummer!!

Posted by: JTB at October 18, 2025 07:28 PM (yTvNw)

59 Nood, music

Posted by: whig's phone at October 18, 2025 07:30 PM (WDjG6)

60 Been waiting for a while to show this diorama. Amazing.

-------

If it hasn't been mentioned, the diorama portrays British 'Operation Chastise'. Well worth reading up on.

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at October 18, 2025 07:31 PM (XeU6L)

61 Only at AoS can you find an authentic heavy-metal rocker writing a treatise on the finer points of the Stradivarius violin. I love this place!
Posted by: bluebell at October 18, 2025 07:24 PM (79pEw)

Yup. It's huge reason why I remain here when I have ditched nearly all of the other venues I visited.

Posted by: Pug Mahon Knows Stuff at October 18, 2025 07:31 PM (0aYVJ)

62 My only link to the main subject is that I saw one of the Space Shuttles (don't remember which one) after it had landed at Edwards AFB. We were on a road trip to visit my mom's cousin in northern California and my dad decided to take a rest break at Edwards since he was in the military. I saw it in the distance as we were driving by the fence. It was one of the most awesome sites for my 8 year old self. I was a big space geek back then (still am somewhat) and read every book on the subject I could get my hands on at the post library.

Wish I could have seen it as it was flown away on one of those planes back to Florida.

Posted by: Farquad at October 18, 2025 07:32 PM (CFMhl)

63 I just purchased the last piece for my collection of 1960's Delta Air Lines plastic models, from the era when my dad was an Av tech with them. Dc8, 9, convair 880, 727, dc10, L-1011, 747

Posted by: TheCatAttackedMyFoot at October 18, 2025 07:32 PM (jrgJz)

64 Regarding the content JTB quoted comment. I have been hyping the Moron-recommened book 'Six Frigates'. It is a remarkable history review of the early years on our country, whether you are interested in the Navy or not.

One of the largest issues in the building of the first ships, was wood. One would imagine that we had a wealth of that, the problem was accessibility. The finest oak trees were in the swamps of the south, and even harvesting was an enormous and risky proposition. The recounting of the expedition to St. Simons island to do so is staggering.

We owe an inexpreesible debt to the founders of our country.

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at October 18, 2025 07:38 PM (XeU6L)

65 I finished my Roku menu bar widget for MacOS, now to port it to linux, I used Swift on Mac, going to use Python+GTK, going to have to bring up my python chops.

After that will be an app for the Govee temperature monitors and and any other device in the house that has an exposed API.

Basically I've been hunting for inspiration to program something other than the ERP I've been working on. Which has become slightly boring.

Posted by: Thomas Bender at October 18, 2025 07:41 PM (XV/Pl)

66 Hi T-Rex! I hope you and Grateful are having fun at your undisclosed location.

JTB, I didn't know that about Merrifield, what a bummer. That place is an institution that has been around forever. One time I got to go to the home of one of the long-time employees (I was friends with her daughter) and she had a huge property where she grew all sorts of things, including things she was testing for the garden center. It was so cool to see that.

Posted by: bluebell at October 18, 2025 07:44 PM (79pEw)

67 We owe an inexpreesible debt to the founders of our country.
Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at October 18, 2025 07:38 PM (XeU6L)
--------

That we do. And to those who have protected it for us for 250 years, including you, my friend.

Posted by: bluebell at October 18, 2025 07:46 PM (79pEw)

68 Went to an open house at our local airport today with older military planes on display. There is even a restored Canadian WWII seaplane that (after signing several waivers and forking over a chunk of cadh) you can actually go for a 30 minute flight in. It is a 1943 PBY Catalina.

Posted by: Frankie at October 18, 2025 10:31 PM (+aPZm)

69 My dad, brothers and sisters and I went down to see the space shuttle Columbia on STS-4 as it landed in July 4, 1982. Ronald Reagan gave a speech and it was hot and very exciting.

My brother flew me and my younger brother to see another landing a few years later. I met Nichelle Nichols and Chris Cross at that landing. Again it was a blast.

Coming home was exciting too. My brother drifted into an Air Force flight and was ordered by local ATC to drop 200 feet immediately to avoid collision. Seconds later a C-141B Starlifter plowed right through where we had been.

We were very silent and very grateful for the rest of the trip. 😬

Posted by: The MewTwix at October 18, 2025 11:33 PM (PZ9Yz)

Processing 0.02, elapsed 0.0168 seconds.
15 queries taking 0.0066 seconds, 78 records returned.
Page size 59 kb.
Powered by Minx 0.8 beta.