Oceanliner Cristoforo Columbo Cutaway, 1955

Behold, in all its gigantic 2500 x 1060 px glory, the oceanliner Cristoforo Columbo from 1955. This 29,100 ton Italian Line ship provided 703 tourist class, 225 first class, and 320 cabin class cabins. It’s a Rolf Klep masterpiece, part of a larger LIFE double spread that included an Super-G Constellation in the upper left. … Continue reading Oceanliner Cristoforo Columbo Cutaway, 1955

Super-G Constellation Cutway, 1955

A fine cutway from 1955 by famed illustrator Rolf Klep, of a Super-G Constellation. This is actually part of an amazing double-spread from a LIFE magazine, showing both this aircraft and the oceanliner Cristoforo Columbo. Accompanying text notes that the Constellation had a flexible seating arrangement.  In this drawing, tourist class passengers occupied the forward… Continue reading Super-G Constellation Cutway, 1955

Consolidated Vultee Clipper (PanAm) Cutaway, 1945

I’m not certain when this Rolf Klep cutaway was produced, but the magazine text mentions that V-E Day was upcoming, so I’ll put it at 1945. This 160 ton aircraft was expected to be able to take 200 passengers from New York to London in 9 hours. Consolidated ventured that it would build about 15… Continue reading Consolidated Vultee Clipper (PanAm) Cutaway, 1945

Rolf Klep: Crack Cutaway Illustrator

One great technical illustrator who produced many great cutaway drawings was Rolf Klep. Klep was born in 1904 in the great shipping hub of the Pacific Northwest, Astoria, Oregon.  As such, Klep gravitated toward shipping and other marine-related illustration work. During the Second World War, he was in charge of graphic arts production in the… Continue reading Rolf Klep: Crack Cutaway Illustrator