Michael Duitsman

There's somehow more now. Also a selection of other people's fictional railroads.

In other news, the layout is down during Open House, so there's nothing new under the sun.

A more interesting question to me is what went wrong. I see three possible failure modes.

1) Guidance failure.
2) Engine failure.
3) Thrust vector control (TVC) system failure.

I include Sarmat because Russia needs a new test silo for that missile, after the previous test silo at Plesetsk was destroyed. It's not clear to me if the RVSN will rebuild the Plesetsk silo, or modify an existing silo elsewhere.

Not what I wanted to do today, but here we are. Coming out of Yasniy, this could be an SS-18, SS-19, or (very unlikely) a Sarmat.

The 13th Missile Division is historically associated with SS-18s, but at least some of their silos currently hold SS-19 Mod 4 missiles with Avangard HGVs.

2/2

No clue. I mean, they cost someone a pretty penny at some point, but they're of no use to anyone at the club, apparently.

Last I checked, the free table at my local club had a bunch of Walthers/Faller/Kibri building kits on it.

With no air or vacuum brakes, either.

As a OO gauge modeler, the tariffs have made me very reluctant to buy new stuff. I used to love DHL, but the service fees they tag on to the tariffs are insane.

Major earthquake near Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky and the Vilyuchinsk nuclear submarine base. There have been several earthquakes nearby over the past 24 hours.

There was an 8.8-magnitude earthquake in this area in late July 2025.

I will be in Europe at the time, but otherwise I would be there!

Экспедиция РГО и Минобороны РФ отправилась на Новую Землю В Арктике началась третья по счету экспедиция, организованная совместными усилиями Русского географического общества и Министерства обороны. Ученые направляются на Новую Землю для исследования арктиче...

Another news story (although the dates are weird, this one is from the day after the RGO story and is about the expedition leaving for Novaya Zemlya)

region29.ru/2025/08/15/6...

Исследователи РГО уточнили подводный рельеф акватории Новой Земли Завершился летний сезон арктической экспедиции

It could be related to the Russian Geographical Society expedition that was up near the northern end of Severniy island last week. rgo.ru/activity/red...

A 1:76 (OO scale) model of a Great Eastern Railway S56 0-6-0 tank engine. Painted in GER ultramarine blue, it bares a resemblance to a particular cartoon train. This will bring joy and entertainment to guests at my local club, and endless irritation to me.

A oo gauge model of a London and North Eastern Railway J69 0-6-0 tank engine. The engine is painted in the early lined black livery used between 1923 and approximately 1926. In this form, the locomotive served commuter lines in eastern London.

A oo guage model of a London and North Eastern Railway J68 0-6-0 tank engine. The engine is painted in plain black.

Accurascale J67/68/69. I *may* have gone a little nuts and bought three of them.

The highlight of that bizarre charade was definitely "We love you, god," with Rubio's thousand yard stare as the runner-up.

Honestly good advice, though I consider the drink optional.

Fantastic. And I have work to finish this weekend.

Wait, I think he's right. Looking at slow motion, it starts at the top of the tank. bsky.app/profile/punk...

Rocket plumbing is hard. All three of the Block 2 Starships have experienced catastrophic plumbing or engine failures.

That said, there are reasons most companies don't run rapid-fire tests after a failure.

I made a joke in the office last week, "Mr. President, we have enough Marines to invade Baltimore or Bandar Abbas, but not both."

I'd prefer it remain a joke.

The Atlantic Trident air exercise starts tomorrow in Europe, and @vcdgf555.bsky.social is reporting on Twitter that the tankers are most likely repositioning flights (based on altitude).

Still don't like the vibes, though.

Fox News and the Israelis are also implying that something is coming. bsky.app/profile/vcdg...

This is not how I want to start the week.

Comparison with debris from a previous strike

Possible debris from today's strikes. Looks like an Israeli air-launched ballistic missile, either a Sparrow or a ROCKS.

Good thread to watch bsky.app/profile/vcdg...

Apparent confirmation from Israel.

Looks like Israel has struck Iran. It's going to be a long evening.

Make Polio Great Again

This building is at 41.717 N, 112.427 W

My records don't indicate this building's precise purpose.