Tag Archives: General Dynamics

Making America Great Again!

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He’s back! Yes, at the time of writing it looks like Donald Trump is returning to the White House, and here at The Lego Car Blog we’re delighted. Because we’re going to get four more years of material to make jokes like this. And this. And this. And this.

Admittedly this does mean forfeiting the first woman President in US history (for the first criminal President in US history), environmental regression, and the exacerbation of sensationalist popularism, but easy material is easy material. Plus USA! USA! USA!

Cue today’s creation, America’s brand-new M10 Booker infantry support vehicle, the first units of which were delivered earlier this year.

Designed for The US Army’s ‘Mobile Protected Firepower’ programme, the M10 is “capable of providing mobile, protected, direct fire offensive capability”, with the contract won by General Dynamics Land Systems based in Michigan. USA! USA! USA! …Except the design is actually based on something rather old. And with German roots.

Yes this most modern and American of light tanks is derived from an Austrian-Spanish design from the early ’90s, that was produced by a company formed through the collaboration of Germany and Austria in the 1930s. US-Oh… No matter, a quick Americanised name-change sorted that.

This superb Lego recreation of the M10 Booker MPF is the work of newcomer Thinh Thi, who has both built and presented it beautifully, including a rotating turret, rolling tracks, and even brick-built shovels.

There’s more of the model to see at Thinh’s photostream and you check out something defensive, older than it looks, and actually a bit German via the link above. Or in any number of Trump victory speech videos that will be circulating imminently.

Highway to the Danger Zone

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The art of Air Combat Manoeuvring (ACM) came to the attention of the general public with Tony Scott’s 1986 film, Top Gun. Whilst this concentrated on the US Navy’s school the US Marine Corps and Air Force have similar units. With the advent of high-tech missiles, guns and dog-fighting were deemed to be obsolete. Pilots would be able to destroy their enemies using radar, way before they were close enough to see them.

Vietnam was to become the testing ground for the technology. However, the Rules of Engagement often dictated that the identity of opponents had to be visually confirmed first. This could lead the heavy American aircraft (often with no guns) into tight, close-in, turning fights with lighter, cannon armed MiGs. Analysis showed that US airmen needed new aircraft, leading to the F-15 & F-16 programmes and new skills, which lead to the creation of the USAF’s Aggressor squadrons. These squadrons flew lightweight aircraft, often of types not used by the US, which could simulate the tactics and manoeuvres used by enemies.

Evan M‘s excellent F-16C comes from the 16th Weapons Squadron, based at Nellis AFB. The model does a very good job of capturing the smooth curves of the F-16’s blended fuselage and wing in angular Lego. The tan & brown colours from Lego also represent one of the various colours scheme used by the squadron. Click here to see more images and click here to take the Highway to the Danger Zone.

Thunderbirds Are Go!

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F-16 Thunderbird

Neither Brains nor Lady Penelope but the United States’ Airforce aerobatic display team feature in this model from Jme Wheeler. Whilst other militaries use lightweight trainer aircraft to equip their teams, the USAF and the US Navy have traditionally used front-line fighters. At one point, both teams displayed using the large, heavy McDonnel Douglas Phantom II, a machine not exactly noted for its manoeuvrability.

This model is neatly chibi version of the current mount of the Thunderbirds: the Lockheed-Martin F-16. Jme Wheeler has captured the shape of the Viper in compact form, including its chines. He’s made a good choice in the big, bubble canopy that has allowed him to squeeze a minifigure into the cockpit too. It’s all topped off with a suitably abbreviated version of the Thunderbirds’ distinctive markings. Sadly, a group of Elves has got hold of the model and are busily trying to fly it across the TLCB offices by launching it from a high shelf. To get a view of the ‘plane when it was still in one piece, click this link to Flickr, where you can see more of Jme Wheeler’s Lego cars and ‘planes.