This cutaway of the classic Colt .45 Automatic was part of Popular Science’s “Know Your Weapons” series that started up in 1951. This series was aimed squarely at WWII (and even WWI) veterans who had been intimately familiar with these military firearms only a few years before.
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Source: Popular Science October 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.
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Source: Popular Science October 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.
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Source: Popular Science September 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.
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Source: Popular Science August 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.
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Source: Popular Science August 1951