Invisible Themepark

Category: 1950s

Cutaways from the 1950s (1950 to 1959).

  • 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, it was said that the nuclear power plant would be so heavy (about 50 tons) that it would cost as much in terms of weight as a petroleum-fueled plane (power plant replacing fuel).

    Another problem:  a radioactive engine being dangerous to the flight crew, extensive and heavy shielding would have to be added.

    And another problem:  the nuclear reactor’s slow start-up time.

    Click to Enlarge to 1230 x 755 px:

    Atomic Airplane Cutaway 1951
    Atomic Airplane Cutaway 1951

    Source:  Popular Science October 1951

  • Winchester M1 .30 Carbine Cutaway, 1951

    Winchester M1 .30 Carbine Cutaway, 1951

    Firing .30 caliber cartridges, the Winchester M1 Carbine wasn’t intended to be the ultimate killing machine  Rather, it was an intentionally lightweight piece for radiomen, cooks, officers, and others for whom a firefight wasn’t their main job.

    Click to Enlarge to 756 x 740 px:

    Winchester M1 Carbine Cutaway 1951

     

    Source:  Popular Science September 1951

  • Soviet TU-10 Two-Jet Bomber Cutaway, 1951

    This is the Tupolev TU-10 bomber.  I have not been able to find information on this aircraft.  If anyone has leads, please leave information in the comment section.

    Click to Enlarge Image to 1375 x 745 px:

    Soviet TU 10 Two Jet Bomber 1951

    Source:  Popular Science August 1951

  • M1 Garand Rifle Cutaway, 1951

    The M1 Garand is a rifle with a storied reputation.  Over 6.25 million of these .30 caliber shell-firing rifles were produced from 1936 to 1957.

    This cutaway was published in 1951 to an audience of veterans who had been quite familiar with the Garand on tours of duty during both WWI and WWII.

    Click to Enlarge to 756 x 740 px:

    M1 Garand Rifle Cutaway 1951

    Source:  Popular Science August 1951

  • S.S. Atlantic Seaman Oil Tanker Cutaway, 1951

    In 1951, the term “supertanker” had not yet been invented.  But with the United States’ growing appetite for oil post WWII, the need would soon arise for shipping massive quantities of crude overseas, at ever lower costs.

    The S.S. Atlantic Seaman was considered a supertanker in its era, transporting 257,935 gallons of oil–enough to move 16,000 cars 10,000 miles each, as the text notes.

    By way of comparison to today’s supertankers, of course, the S.S. Atlantic Seaman isn’t much.  Some of today’s largest tankers can transport 2,000,000 barrels of oil.

    S.S. Atlantic Seaman Oil Tanker Cutaway 1951

    Source:  Popular Science July 1951

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