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Forum: General Talk
04-03-2024, 06:11 PM
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In the US you can get a driver's license at 16. The details vary from state to state, but I think in most if not all, you can get a farmer's permit at 15. Usually that means you can drive on roads within some distance of your farm while on farm business. In reality, I never heard of a policeman checking what business you were doing or how far from home you were.
I understand things are a bit more stringent in Europe. Our high school would get foreign exchange students from Germany, and one of their priorities was to get a driver's license here, which could be transferred back to Germany.
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Forum: Pentax Camera and Field Accessories
03-29-2024, 11:56 PM
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I've designed and 3D printed my own solar filter holder for the April 2024 eclipse that fits over the hood of the DA* 300mm F4 (102mm diameter). It uses sheet material like Thousand Oaks Optical SolarLite film, which I last used for the 2017 eclipse (with a homemade cardboard holder).
If you have a 3D printer (or want to use a printing service), it's downloadable for free (Creative Commons license) here:
Printables
It's pretty simple, but it works. All it needs is a few M4 screws and nuts.
And if you're handy with 3D modeling software, it shouldn't be too hard to scale it up or down to fit other lenses. I'll be doing just that to make one for the DFA 150-450mm next.
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Forum: General Talk
01-27-2024, 03:32 PM
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Well, I have never obtained a pilot’s license, and I see there is also a requirement for multi engine rating, so I’m not sure it will ever be.
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Forum: General Talk
01-23-2024, 11:16 AM
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My mom owned this airplane back in the 1980s. I went up with her hundreds of times and although I never obtained a pilot’s license myself I have enough experience to perform all that is required to prepare for and execute a flight.
 N6108L by Racer, on Flickr
In 2007 I had a chance to fly this airplane. I had full control for an hour.
 Tondelayo by Racer, on Flickr
Although much larger, and having 2 engines many times larger and more powerful than the little 4 cylinder Continental the Yankee had, the flying experience was quite similar. (Actually the Mitchell was easier to fly, with larger flight control surfaces.) But both aircraft have a means to trim for straight and level flight.
Even though I have several hundred hours of seat time in the Yankee and only an hour in the Mitchell, the bomber was a much more enjoyable experience and I’ll spend the rest of my days wanting more.
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Forum: Troubleshooting and Beginner Help
01-27-2024, 02:56 AM
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So, update, I had run out of sensor swabs and had a gig coming up that night, so I fashioned a swab out of a piece of plastic from a AA battery package and some static-free polishing cloth (softest thing I had around), did a couple of passes with 99% Isopropyl, didn't shift it, so I tried some lens cleaning solution, which did work but left a little bit of residue behind, but that got cleaned up very well with a sensor cleaning pen. I suppose I've had the fear of god put into me by camera shops etc about sensor cleaning, and didn't really realise how robust they actually are. But hey, now I know a few tricks, and I have an immaculate 36mp camera sensor. Thanks all, some lens reviews coming sometime soon.
-P
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Forum: Pentax KP
06-25-2023, 04:46 AM
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I think I may be able to send some photos this time - had to go and pay for providing the information.
01 - LCD display r02 - Ribbon cable - rubber seal.jpgear side.jpg03 - Ribbon cable -crack evident.jpg04 - Camera base + ribbon cable connector.jpg
This process is about as clear as mud in a beer bottle - but I think the photos have been uploaded here.
The biggest challenge in repairing the cracked cable is to get at the connector near the base of the camera. It looks like the camera body has to be dismantled to get access to that ribbon connector - a very complex operation.
The main reason why the ribbon cable has cracked at that location is because the cable is held securely by the waterproof material on the back of the LCD frame, so when the LCD unit is tilted up there is no free movement for the cable, and it just has to buckle in a bit each time - until it cracks. If the cable had some free sliding movement within the slot at the rear of the LCD frame then it would not crack.
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
12-02-2023, 08:48 PM
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Forum: General Talk
10-17-2023, 03:56 PM
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.
Jeep Grand Cherokee, WH Version, 2007
16 years old, bought at 7 years, 76,000 miles, drives like new. The engine is a Mercedes 3 litre V6 diesel. It has permanent 4WD with a low ratio switch that also locks the differentials. With the hills around here in rural South Wales the 4WD is needed at times like leaf-fall and snow, and I don't need to worry about stopping on rough ground to take landscape photos  I often need to carry stuff so I like the space. One photo shows about 120 6ft long fence palings on board, about as much weight as was advisable.
Uncommon in the UK, and so are Jeep dealers, but I do all work myself so don't need them much. The last picture shows changing a front suspension joint after an MoT advisory (UK annual roadworthiness check - quite strict). I don't believe it was necessary but it keeps them happy. It has never failed an MoT, but the testers are more likely to give an unusual vehicle a pass because they are not familiar with its weak points.
The annual road tax is frightful because they assume I am wrecking the environment, but I only drive about 3000 miles per year. Lady L has a smaller car for the shopping.
Pentax K-1, D FA 24-70mm
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Forum: Pentax KP
10-17-2023, 01:05 PM
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Forum: Pentax KP
10-10-2023, 03:37 AM
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Forum: Pentax K-3 & K-3 II
09-05-2023, 06:12 PM
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The first time I drove that truck was from the company’s yard to my house so I could move in all my stuff. Not having a trailer makes for a completely different feel when driving. As I rounded a corner at an intersection the way the truck rolled and pitched made me feel as if I was riding a whale, and Monstro from the Disney movie came to mind.
That was the second best truck I drove, the first being the older blue Volvo (my first truck), which had an engine with more displacement, horsepower, and of course torque.
The coolest truck I drove was a loaner while Monstro was at the dealer for some recall work. It was a Peterbilt 379, Cat, Super 10. Long hood, and with the Super 10 you just split every gear, so going up and down through the gears is quick. I wish I would have done a video of it.
The view from “my office”.
 Truck 65 by Racer, on Flickr
Even as a worn out pool truck it still looks cool.
 Truck 65 by Racer, on Flickr
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Forum: Pentax K-3 & K-3 II
09-05-2023, 07:38 AM
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Monstro seems to have become a bit of a celebrity, and an overall descriptor of large commercial motor vehicles.
The real Monstro prefers the wide open spaces of the Texas prairie though.
Here I was allowing him a rest break, many miles from the hustle and bustle of civilization.
 Monstro In West Texas by Racer, on Flickr
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Forum: Pentax K-3 & K-3 II
12-12-2013, 07:48 PM
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Mac & cheese (Kraft Blue of course) with real bacon, freshly cooked, now that is Yum!
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Forum: General Talk
02-01-2023, 11:57 AM
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I worked there for eight and a half years, even had a hand in building the last 747 (on a one week loan to do some rework).
Rarely did I have new tools. They keep rebuilding the tools, hand and machine tools. One common drill is a self feeding pneumatic power drill, that also feeds coolant/lubricant through passages in the cutter. The original ones were made by Quackenbush (we called them quacks), a Texas aerospace manufacturing tool supplier. Newer ones are made by SetiTech, a French aerospace manufacturing tool supplier.
Most of the quacks are as old as the factory, having been used on the first 747s in the late 1960s. They have been rebuilt many times over, but Quackenbus has gone out of business, and parts supplies are running low.
The Atlas Copco (and several other brands) drills and other pneumatic tools I used were always rebuilt used units. Once I had a drill lock up on me, and the tool man did give me a brand new one, but out of the hundreds of tools I handled in the years I was there, it was the only new one.
As for tools, you could fill several 747 freighters with tools in the Everett plant alone, and still have enough tools in the factory to build airplanes. Tools rarely sit idle there.
Also, every mechanic that is hired is only chosen based on previous experience, and then after hiring, spends three months at the SPC (skills process center) in school eight hours a day, learning the Boeing standards and processes, and how to use the drawings and specifications to get the work done. In the last year I was there, every time I passed by SPC there was always about 100 new hires going through the training.
That is followed by at least six more months of on the job training, and certification in myriad processes required for performing certain tasks.
And the certifications have to be renewed periodically.
I had about a dozen certifications, and every year on my birthday I would spend a week in the recent lab renewing them.
I see Boeing announced the other day that the space in the Everett factory previously used for 747 manufacturing is going to be tooled up for a fourth 737 line to augment the three lines at the Renton plant.
They have a backlog of over 4,000 orders for the 737 Max, and even producing two and a half planes a day at Renton it will take years to catch up.
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
06-29-2022, 08:09 AM
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When my KP arrived {2-1/2 years ago}. my wife thought I had left my old "Super Program" out.
The two cameras do have similar look-and-feel, but the KP is noticeably larger
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
05-04-2022, 09:34 AM
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
05-04-2022, 06:53 AM
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
05-14-2022, 07:36 AM
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
05-07-2022, 11:59 AM
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Nothing so exotic here, the KP with the DA20-40 shot in low key. I actually set this shot to use it for the Project 52 Low Key challenge, and for this thread, a two for one shoot.
 Low Key KP by Tom Ramsey, on Flickr
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Forum: General Talk
02-09-2022, 09:46 AM
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Our eyes are very important to us all, and not just because we are photographers.
Last night my left eye showed a change in the "floaters" that have always been visible in it, and I experienced a semi circle of flashing lights. Having been through this a couple of years back I knew immediately what it was... vitreous detachment. Quite common, with usually no adverse affects. But in some cases it can lead to retinal detachment as well. The latter is very serious and often leads to complete vision loss in that eye.
So first thing this morning I was at my optician who saw me immediately. They confirmed there was no sign of retinal detachment, but I have to monitor it for a number of weeks as the vitreous detachment completes and if there are any changes to vision or flashing lights to go to the emergency department.
So I imagine this will be just like the other eye and all will be well. But if you ever experience this please do not hesitate to get yourself seen immediately. If the more serious retinal detachment occurs at the same time it can usually be operated on if detected in the first 24 hours. Leave it any longer and you may lose your sight.
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Forum: General Talk
02-02-2022, 03:34 PM
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DB11 V12 5.2L twin Turbo.
It is fast, sporty and comfortable for long distance driving (although Covid has meant I have not ventured far from home in it yet)
Not like ?.....Hmmmm.... cant think of a single thing.
 IMGP5127-HDR by Peter Schluter, on Flickr
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Forum: Pentax KP
01-28-2022, 03:22 PM
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Forum: General Talk
01-26-2022, 07:44 AM
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Thanks for reminding me I haven't donated lately.
In the past I've donated, had a donation given for me (Rupert) and I've also donated for another member.
Fixed income old fart, so the amount isn't great.
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Forum: General Talk
01-25-2022, 03:22 PM
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Forum: General Talk
01-25-2022, 05:12 PM
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Love this forum. Yes we are Pentax but I consider it one of the top photographic forums on the net. Why? The high quality people posting here
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