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

Lark Ground-to-Air Guided Missile Cutaway, 1950

Lark Ground to Air Guided Missile 1950

Even though development of the Lark began during World War II, it was not finished in time to assist U.S. troops.  Development picked up again during 1946-1950, and it was used mainly for testing at sea. The real soul of the Lark was in its “brain”:  a set of guidance controls (shown on the cutaway),… Continue reading Lark Ground-to-Air Guided Missile Cutaway, 1950

White House Cutaway Drawing, 1950

White House Cutaway Drawing 1950

The occasion for this cutaway of the White House was its $5.4 million, 2 year-long renovation project under President Harry Truman. By 1950, the White House was a wreck:  saggy floors, weakened beams, crumbling masonry.  The project gutted the entire inside of the house, replacing it with steel girders, but leaving the outside intact. Click… Continue reading White House Cutaway Drawing, 1950

DeHavilland Comet Cutaway, 1950

Comet Airliner Cutaway 1950

The Comet was quite a big deal when it was unveiled in 1950.  Both Popular Mechanics (Popular Mechanics’ deHavilland Comet Cutaway) and Popular Science pulled out all “cutaway stops” to feature this luxurious liner of the skies. Here, illustrator Jo Kotula tips the Comet to an angle rarely seen in aircraft cutaways. Source:  Popular Science… Continue reading DeHavilland Comet Cutaway, 1950

Atomic Pile Cutaway Drawing, 1950

Atomic Pile Cutaway 1950

A gorgeous noir-like cutaway of an atomic pile by Alexander Leydenfrost.  But why does the drawing look so vague and devoid of details? Partially, that was the Leydenfrost style.  His Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel cutaway drawing shows that he emphasized moody shadows and light over the cool and the technical. But mainly, at the time of this… Continue reading Atomic Pile Cutaway Drawing, 1950