Fantastic Department Store Cutaway, 1950s

Yet another mind-blowing cutaway from master illustrator Frank Soltesz. Few people realize that half of a department store is devoted to areas they never see.  Behind the familiar counter and displays are large areas used for stockrooms and other services that supply the selling floors out front.  there is a fur vault, complete bake shop,… Continue reading Fantastic Department Store Cutaway, 1950s

Triple Deck Auto Transport Plane Cutaway, 1952

  A lovely 3-color cutaway by Popular Science stalwart, technical illustrator Ray Piotch, of the Blackburn Universal Freighter (“BUF”). The BUF had two lower freight decks that could accommodate 6-8 autos, depending on size, and an upper deck for 42 passengers. This hulking beast wasn’t known for its speed, though, reaching a maximum of 180… Continue reading Triple Deck Auto Transport Plane Cutaway, 1952

Atomic Airplane Cutaway, 1951

Atomic Airplane Cutaway 1951

Even though I like Ray Pioch, his 1951 cutaway drawing of this fanciful atomic airplane really isn’t very good.  It’s got the typical middle-of-magazine two-color scheme, and the perspectives within this so-called atomic airplane are all wrong. That said, it was predicted that, by 1980, atomic-powered jets would already be in use.  However, more realistically,… Continue reading Atomic Airplane Cutaway, 1951

French Leduc 021 Experimental Ramjet Cutaway, 1956

French Leduc 021 Experimental Ramjet Cutaway, 1956

Where’s the pilot?  Well, maybe it’s not a plane.  Maybe it’s a missile of some sort.  But then, where’s the warhead? You’re looking at a G.H. Davis cutaway drawing, 1956, of a Leduc 021 ramjet aircraft.  No pilot, no warhead. The Leduc 021 was carried up by a Languedoc airliner, Space Shuttle-style, and then released. … Continue reading French Leduc 021 Experimental Ramjet Cutaway, 1956

French Baroudeur SE 5000 Fighter Jet Cutaway, 1956

French Baroudeur SE 5000 Fighter Jet 1956

A nice G.H. Davis cutaway (note “France” added just above his signature) of a French Baroudeur SE-5000. See the landing gear on the Baroudeur?  No?  That’s because the Baroudeur (roughly translated to “adventurer”) is leaving its landing gear behind on the ground.  That’s right, the SE-5000 carried no gear, instead relying on a wheeled trolley… Continue reading French Baroudeur SE 5000 Fighter Jet Cutaway, 1956