Early Aviation at the Smithsonian

More aircraft from the Samuel Langley Gallery at the Air & Space Museum. Below is the Curtiss Model D. Still hard to believe that someone trusted their life to the flyability of this.

Bell X-14

It's been awhile since this was a temporary display - the Children's Museum had the Bell X-14 in the lobby. It was on loan from the Ropkey Armor Museum and it is now back there undergoing renovation.

Air & Space - Blériot XI

Part of the Samuel Langley Gallery on the first floor of the museum, here is the Blériot XI.

Air & Space Museum - fanciful balloon "La Minerva"

As part of the Langley Gallery of Flight the Smithsonian has a model of a fanciful model of the balloon "La Minerva".

Entry to the Samuel Langley Gallery

Air & Space - Boeing 247D

Boeing 247, DC-3, PA-5 Mailwing, and Fairchild FC-2

Taking a vacation with the family as the kids are on their Spring Break. Flew into National Airport and have spent an enjoyable few days walking around Washington, D.C. My family indulges me when I get my geek on, and patiently waits while I leisurely tour a museum. I've spent most of my time at the National Air and Space Museum. In my opinion, the Smithsonian is one of the best museums in the world. Accessible for all ages and levels of interest, I learn something new everytime I go. The only down side is the problem inherent in showing such a large collection of items - it's hard for a novice photographer like me to get a good shot. It's almost impossible to get a complete walk-around as the items are often hung from the ceiling; it is full of others viewers that will invariably walk in front of you at just the wrong moment (which I'm sure I'm guilty of, too), and it's hard to isolate one item from another when composing the shot.

Above is the Boeing 247D. This model entered service in 1934, and is painted in the livery of United Airlines. I didn't realize it until I was researching for this, but "it is displayed today with two sets of markings, the left side is marked as NR257Y, in Colonel Turner's 1934 MacRobertson Race colors, while the right side is painted in United Airlines livery, as NC13369."

ReAction Figures Kane figure (with facehugger)

Picked up some ReAction Figures while I was out and about. Here is the Kane figure (with facehugger) from Alien (directed by Ridley Scott). The background is a set I picked up from an art museum that allows you to create a 70s style room.

I like the overall sculpt, but am disappointed with the lack of articulation. I get that it is a limited production, and not meant as a toy (box is really clear - Adult Collectible - Not a Toy). But it wasn't cheap for what it is - $9.95 at Barnes and Noble. High marks, though, for the facehugger. It fits well on the figure, and looks good.

1/32 scale half-tracks

This pair of half-tracks is another part of my collection disposed of. On the left is a 21st Century Toys M3 half-track. On the right is a pre-built M16 half-track by Testors.

The 21st Century Toys model came with a figure (shown) and was nicely detailed. Doors and hood opened, for example. Guns are vinyl and are hard to keep straight. I appreciate the fact that 3 of the .30 cals were included.