Invisible Themepark

Month: February 2013

  • New York World’s Fair 1939 Perisphere and Trylon Cutaway

    New York World’s Fair 1939 Perisphere and Trylon Cutaway

    New York World's Fair 1939 Perisphere Cutaway
    New York World’s Fair 1939 Perisphere Cutaway

    The symbol and centerpiece of the 1939 New York World’s Fair was its combination trylon and perisphere.  The trylon was a 610 foot tall tower, whose bottom section provided entrance for the adjoining 190 foot diameter perisphere.

    This circa 1938 cutaway was drawn prior to completion of the trylon and perisphere.  It shows how visitors would take escalators up through the trylon and be deposited on two “doughnut-shaped moving platforms,” as LIFE puts it, to watch a 6 minute show focusing on a futuristic, utopian City of Tomorrow.

    Source: LIFE Aug 1, 1938

  • Disneyland Matterhorn Cutaway, 2012

    Disneyland Matterhorn Cutaway, 2012

    matterhorn-cutaway

    A nice, recent cutaway drawing of the Matterhorn at the Anaheim, CA Disneyland.  This graphic, from the February 8, 2012, Orange County Register, shows remodels to the Bavarian-influenced concrete “rock.”

    One of the most notable and largest changes was filling in many of the large openings, including the large one that allowed passage of the now-discontinued Skyway.

    This cutaway also shows the secret Matterhorn basketball court.

  • British RAF Typhoon Fighter Cutaway Drawing, 1944

    RAF Typhoon Fighter Aircraft Cutaway Drawing, 1944
    RAF Typhoon Fighter Aircraft Cutaway Drawing, 1944

     

    The RAF’s Typhoon was termed an “Engine With Wings” by Popular Science because of its 2,200 horsepower, 24 cylinder power plant–a massive engine at the time.

    The Typhoon carried four 20 mm cannon.  With its capacity for carrying two 500 lb. bombs, one under each wing, the Typhoon could be a fighter-bomber as well as a fighter only.

    At a loaded weight of 11,300 lbs., it was fairly heavy compared to its sister, the Hurricane, which weighed in at 7,290 lbs. loaded.

    This cutaway is from Popular Science, August 1944

  • British R.A.F. Mosquito Cutaway Drawing, 1943

    RAF Mosquito Cutaway Drawing, 1943
    RAF Mosquito Cutaway Drawing, 1943

     

    The R.A.F. Mosquito was a zippy, nimble aircraft, its fuselage built of plywood on a balsa wood core and its wings made of spruce and birch.  Other than mechanical working parts, this made the Mosquito nearly all wood.

    The Mosquito’s crew of two could take the 18,500 lb. craft to relatively low altitudes to whisk into position, drop its load, and whisk away.

    This cutaway drawing was pieced together from a December 1943 issue of Popular Science.

  • Solar Home Cutaway Drawing, 1979

    CutSolar Home Cutaway Drawing 1979

    This is a circa 1979 cutaway drawing of a solar-heated home in Falmouth, Massachusetts.  That part of Massachusetts has a 6,000 degree heating season, yet owner John Moody was able to get by spending only $9.63 in the 1978 winter.

    The whole winter.

    The house does not have solar panels that generate electricity.  Rather, the house collects solar heat, redistributes it, and saves it.  The pile of rocks (lower center section of cutaway) is one way of absorbing and storing heat.

    The house is located at 5 Fire Tower Road, Falmouth, MA 02540.  Ironically, when I look on Google Street View to see if the house is still around, Fire Tower Road is lined with electric company utility trucks.


    View Larger Map