John A. Martini
@johnamartini.bsky.social
Historian, author, retired National Park Ranger, former museum curator. Proud native San Franciscan.
#histscalemodels #scalemodels Second attempt at a British X-Craft sub. (My first one got binned after a shattering fall to the floor.) The overall grey scheme didn't allow for any creative camo. Instead I added restrained rust effects at the drain ports and where seawater would pond on the decks.
December 2, 2025 at 4:34 PM
#histscalemodels #scalemodels Second attempt at a British X-Craft sub. (My first one got binned after a shattering fall to the floor.) The overall grey scheme didn't allow for any creative camo. Instead I added restrained rust effects at the drain ports and where seawater would pond on the decks.
I had to take an oath of allegiance to the Constitution when I became a park ranger in 1974. The usual process was simply signing on a dotted line, but I made the Personnel Officer swear me in, hand raised, in the middle of the office.
I took those words seriously.
The clown car in DC doesn't.
I took those words seriously.
The clown car in DC doesn't.
December 2, 2025 at 5:39 AM
I had to take an oath of allegiance to the Constitution when I became a park ranger in 1974. The usual process was simply signing on a dotted line, but I made the Personnel Officer swear me in, hand raised, in the middle of the office.
I took those words seriously.
The clown car in DC doesn't.
I took those words seriously.
The clown car in DC doesn't.
#histscalemodels #scalemodels Are there any sources for 1/35 U.S. sedans from circa 1940? I’d like to do a staff car alongside an early Stewart but all all I can find in that scale are European autos.
American vehicles of the era aren’t close to 1/35 - except for a Packard but that’s too posh.
American vehicles of the era aren’t close to 1/35 - except for a Packard but that’s too posh.
November 27, 2025 at 2:00 AM
#histscalemodels #scalemodels Are there any sources for 1/35 U.S. sedans from circa 1940? I’d like to do a staff car alongside an early Stewart but all all I can find in that scale are European autos.
American vehicles of the era aren’t close to 1/35 - except for a Packard but that’s too posh.
American vehicles of the era aren’t close to 1/35 - except for a Packard but that’s too posh.
#sanfrancisco #gratefuldead SF then and Now. 1965. The newly-renamed Grateful Dead (formerly the Warlocks) took a series of PR stills at Battery Boutelle in the Presidio of San Francisco. Still there today..
November 9, 2025 at 7:10 PM
#sanfrancisco #gratefuldead SF then and Now. 1965. The newly-renamed Grateful Dead (formerly the Warlocks) took a series of PR stills at Battery Boutelle in the Presidio of San Francisco. Still there today..
Reposted by John A. Martini
We need new heroes
October 27, 2025 at 9:26 PM
We need new heroes
Reposted by John A. Martini
Reposted by John A. Martini
These are the folks designing the ballroom. Terrifying renderings on-line at www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-st...
October 21, 2025 at 4:22 PM
These are the folks designing the ballroom. Terrifying renderings on-line at www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-st...
President Trump in July: "[The ballroom] won’t interfere with the current building. It won’t be. It’ll be near it but not touching it – and pays total respect to the existing building..."
Kinda looks like touching to me.
Kinda looks like touching to me.
October 21, 2025 at 5:41 AM
President Trump in July: "[The ballroom] won’t interfere with the current building. It won’t be. It’ll be near it but not touching it – and pays total respect to the existing building..."
Kinda looks like touching to me.
Kinda looks like touching to me.
Let their words speak for them.
These are some of the leaked messages Young Republicans were sending in group chats.
www.politico.com/news/2025/10...
www.politico.com/news/2025/10...
October 15, 2025 at 6:26 PM
Let their words speak for them.
#scalemodel #histscalemodels Trying again with a photo. This will be the "A" side of the finished M36 tank destroyer. All in all, very happy. (Good old Tamiya fit and quality!) I could probably do some additional weathering but will hold off for now and not mess with success.
October 14, 2025 at 12:49 AM
#scalemodel #histscalemodels Trying again with a photo. This will be the "A" side of the finished M36 tank destroyer. All in all, very happy. (Good old Tamiya fit and quality!) I could probably do some additional weathering but will hold off for now and not mess with success.
#histscalemodels #scalemodels Well, this is the best I could do with the gap in the track links. It's visible but doesn't jump out at you. Not too much, that is. Again, this will be the "B side" of the M36. On the positive side, the post-shading and turret detailing came out pretty well.
October 12, 2025 at 6:05 AM
#histscalemodels #scalemodels Well, this is the best I could do with the gap in the track links. It's visible but doesn't jump out at you. Not too much, that is. Again, this will be the "B side" of the M36. On the positive side, the post-shading and turret detailing came out pretty well.
#histscalemodels #scalemodels Help! Almost finished my Tamiya M36 Jackson and ran into track glitch: the kit appears to be one link short. No idea how this happened. Directions followed explicitly, no remaining links on the sprues.
This the second Tamiya model where this has happened. Argh.
This the second Tamiya model where this has happened. Argh.
October 10, 2025 at 7:51 PM
#histscalemodels #scalemodels Help! Almost finished my Tamiya M36 Jackson and ran into track glitch: the kit appears to be one link short. No idea how this happened. Directions followed explicitly, no remaining links on the sprues.
This the second Tamiya model where this has happened. Argh.
This the second Tamiya model where this has happened. Argh.
Reposted by John A. Martini
Even Sporkfoot knows who is responsible for the government shutdown.
October 6, 2025 at 3:27 PM
Even Sporkfoot knows who is responsible for the government shutdown.
#scalemodel #histscalemodels I gave a talk at a high-end yacht club last night. Venue was loaded with gorgeous, scratch built models. Almost made me want to to give up model building and switch to a hobby like tatting or stamp collecting. Keep repeating, “it’s the process, not the product.”
October 4, 2025 at 1:07 AM
#scalemodel #histscalemodels I gave a talk at a high-end yacht club last night. Venue was loaded with gorgeous, scratch built models. Almost made me want to to give up model building and switch to a hobby like tatting or stamp collecting. Keep repeating, “it’s the process, not the product.”
Just a reminder: the Republicans have enough votes right now to overturn the filibuster rule (only a simple majority in the Senate needed) and then immediately pass their continuing resolution.
They don't need the Democrats' votes to end the shutdown. They just don't want to.
They don't need the Democrats' votes to end the shutdown. They just don't want to.
October 2, 2025 at 5:55 PM
Just a reminder: the Republicans have enough votes right now to overturn the filibuster rule (only a simple majority in the Senate needed) and then immediately pass their continuing resolution.
They don't need the Democrats' votes to end the shutdown. They just don't want to.
They don't need the Democrats' votes to end the shutdown. They just don't want to.
#histscalemodels #scalemodels The X-class submarine is assembled and primed. A German tanker is temporarily standing in to give the model scale, while awaiting a proper British officer (on backorder) to take over the watch. A short breather, then start pre-shading.
September 26, 2025 at 5:41 PM
#histscalemodels #scalemodels The X-class submarine is assembled and primed. A German tanker is temporarily standing in to give the model scale, while awaiting a proper British officer (on backorder) to take over the watch. A short breather, then start pre-shading.
Reposted by John A. Martini
Real post on another network:
September 26, 2025 at 11:13 AM
Real post on another network:
#histscalemodels #scalemodels Did some poking around and found a 1/35 figure of a British sub commander standing lookout. He looks very much like the salty dog in the newsreel footage of an X-class sub. This will help give scale to the model, which was only 51.25 ft (15.62 m) long.
September 25, 2025 at 3:37 PM
#histscalemodels #scalemodels Did some poking around and found a 1/35 figure of a British sub commander standing lookout. He looks very much like the salty dog in the newsreel footage of an X-class sub. This will help give scale to the model, which was only 51.25 ft (15.62 m) long.
#histscalemodels #scalemodels. This is turn into a nice build. Cool details like weld lines. And I’m really looking forward to the weathering stage. I see lots of opportunities for rust streaks from those drain ports.
September 24, 2025 at 10:46 PM
#histscalemodels #scalemodels. This is turn into a nice build. Cool details like weld lines. And I’m really looking forward to the weathering stage. I see lots of opportunities for rust streaks from those drain ports.
#histscalemodels #scalemodels Very glad I invested in a slew of new clamps before starting on the X-class sub and its long, long keel.
September 24, 2025 at 2:06 AM
#histscalemodels #scalemodels Very glad I invested in a slew of new clamps before starting on the X-class sub and its long, long keel.
"Il Duce ha sempre ragione" is Italian for "The Duce is always right." Very common phrase in Italy in the 1920s and '30s. Wonder if it was ever put on a ball cap?
September 23, 2025 at 9:44 PM
"Il Duce ha sempre ragione" is Italian for "The Duce is always right." Very common phrase in Italy in the 1920s and '30s. Wonder if it was ever put on a ball cap?
Amazing coincidence
September 23, 2025 at 5:05 AM
Amazing coincidence
Reposted by John A. Martini
Honor Charlie Kirk by releasing the Epstein files.
It’s what he wanted.
It’s what he wanted.
September 12, 2025 at 6:29 PM
Honor Charlie Kirk by releasing the Epstein files.
It’s what he wanted.
It’s what he wanted.