John A. Martini
@johnamartini.bsky.social
Historian, author, retired National Park Ranger, former museum curator. Proud native San Franciscan.
Reposted by John A. Martini
"The 49ers kept scoring touchdowns in the second half of the game despite originally not having the lead. Seems fraudulent."
February 3, 2026 at 8:23 PM
"The 49ers kept scoring touchdowns in the second half of the game despite originally not having the lead. Seems fraudulent."
#scalemodels #histscalemodels
Here's a side-by-side comparison of AK Xtreme Metal's aluminum and Tamiya's XF-16 flat aluminum. Both applied over bare plastic.
(Taken in natural indirect window light.)
I'm a die-hard Tamiya fan but their metal finishes (like most acrylics) are too "grainy."
Here's a side-by-side comparison of AK Xtreme Metal's aluminum and Tamiya's XF-16 flat aluminum. Both applied over bare plastic.
(Taken in natural indirect window light.)
I'm a die-hard Tamiya fan but their metal finishes (like most acrylics) are too "grainy."
February 3, 2026 at 6:00 AM
#scalemodels #histscalemodels
Here's a side-by-side comparison of AK Xtreme Metal's aluminum and Tamiya's XF-16 flat aluminum. Both applied over bare plastic.
(Taken in natural indirect window light.)
I'm a die-hard Tamiya fan but their metal finishes (like most acrylics) are too "grainy."
Here's a side-by-side comparison of AK Xtreme Metal's aluminum and Tamiya's XF-16 flat aluminum. Both applied over bare plastic.
(Taken in natural indirect window light.)
I'm a die-hard Tamiya fan but their metal finishes (like most acrylics) are too "grainy."
Republicans seriously want to terrorize this kid for being bad press for the regime
"Classes have been called off in the Columbia Heights school district today due to what officials are calling a bomb threat. The closure comes as 5-year-old preschool student Liam Conejo Ramos & his father from Columbia Heights were released from an ICE detention center in Texas and returned to MN."
February 2, 2026 at 4:25 PM
Reposted by John A. Martini
To Gregory Bovino: This is what brandishing a firearm at a protest looks like.
January 26, 2026 at 6:10 PM
To Gregory Bovino: This is what brandishing a firearm at a protest looks like.
I'm attending No Kings's event, “Eyes on ICE: Document and Record” - sign up now to join me! www.mobilize.us/nokings/even...
Eyes on ICE: Document and Record · No Kings
On Saturday, federal agents horrifically shot and killed 37-year-old Alex Pretti, an ICU nurse who cared for veterans, in the Eat Street neighborhood of south Minneapolis after brutally beating him in...
www.mobilize.us
January 26, 2026 at 2:04 AM
I'm attending No Kings's event, “Eyes on ICE: Document and Record” - sign up now to join me! www.mobilize.us/nokings/even...
Reposted by John A. Martini
I am watching what is happening in Minneapolis on Ali Velshi and one of the ICE officers (off camera) literally says, “It’s like Call of Duty. Pretty cool huh?” as they shoot whatever it is they are shooting. Agents walking around, guns unholstered for no reason. This is insanity
January 24, 2026 at 4:45 PM
I am watching what is happening in Minneapolis on Ali Velshi and one of the ICE officers (off camera) literally says, “It’s like Call of Duty. Pretty cool huh?” as they shoot whatever it is they are shooting. Agents walking around, guns unholstered for no reason. This is insanity
#HistScaleModels #ScaleModels Update on the F3F-2. Apologies, but had a setback when I assembled fuselage out of sequence (bad idea). Had to order replacement parts. Now I've got the fuselage completely assembled, filled, primed and sanded. Looking pretty good. Next step, AK Xtreme Metal Aluminum. 🤞
January 23, 2026 at 1:46 AM
#HistScaleModels #ScaleModels Update on the F3F-2. Apologies, but had a setback when I assembled fuselage out of sequence (bad idea). Had to order replacement parts. Now I've got the fuselage completely assembled, filled, primed and sanded. Looking pretty good. Next step, AK Xtreme Metal Aluminum. 🤞
#histscalemodels #scalemodels Progress on the Grumman F3F-2. Cockpit almost done. A bit of a catastrophe when the decal of the instrument gauges flopped back onto itself. I wasn't able to unfold it. Only the white backgrounds survived. Maybe no one will notice if I close the canopy.
January 7, 2026 at 5:12 PM
#histscalemodels #scalemodels Progress on the Grumman F3F-2. Cockpit almost done. A bit of a catastrophe when the decal of the instrument gauges flopped back onto itself. I wasn't able to unfold it. Only the white backgrounds survived. Maybe no one will notice if I close the canopy.
Reposted by John A. Martini
And now it begins. First build of 2026.
Fingers crossed; this will be my first biplane in (literally) several decades.
Fingers crossed; this will be my first biplane in (literally) several decades.
January 6, 2026 at 12:43 AM
And now it begins. First build of 2026.
Fingers crossed; this will be my first biplane in (literally) several decades.
Fingers crossed; this will be my first biplane in (literally) several decades.
#HistScaleModels #ScaleModels We're hosting a Holiday Open House this afternoon. Spent two days cleaning up the house -- especially my modeling nook. Thought I'd put out some recent examples for the guests to see.
(Note: may need a 'do not touch' sign. People love to try to spin the props.)
(Note: may need a 'do not touch' sign. People love to try to spin the props.)
December 28, 2025 at 6:13 PM
#HistScaleModels #ScaleModels We're hosting a Holiday Open House this afternoon. Spent two days cleaning up the house -- especially my modeling nook. Thought I'd put out some recent examples for the guests to see.
(Note: may need a 'do not touch' sign. People love to try to spin the props.)
(Note: may need a 'do not touch' sign. People love to try to spin the props.)
#histscalemodels #scalemodels Nippy outside. Sharing a hot latte with Betsy & Milo.
Merry Christmas, all.
Merry Christmas, all.
December 24, 2025 at 11:41 PM
#histscalemodels #scalemodels Nippy outside. Sharing a hot latte with Betsy & Milo.
Merry Christmas, all.
Merry Christmas, all.
#histscalemodels #scalemodels Second attempt at a British X-Craft sub. (My first one got binned after a shattering fall to the floor.) The overall grey scheme didn't allow for any creative camo. Instead I added restrained rust effects at the drain ports and where seawater would pond on the decks.
December 2, 2025 at 4:34 PM
#histscalemodels #scalemodels Second attempt at a British X-Craft sub. (My first one got binned after a shattering fall to the floor.) The overall grey scheme didn't allow for any creative camo. Instead I added restrained rust effects at the drain ports and where seawater would pond on the decks.
I had to take an oath of allegiance to the Constitution when I became a park ranger in 1974. The usual process was simply signing on a dotted line, but I made the Personnel Officer swear me in, hand raised, in the middle of the office.
I took those words seriously.
The clown car in DC doesn't.
I took those words seriously.
The clown car in DC doesn't.
December 2, 2025 at 5:39 AM
I had to take an oath of allegiance to the Constitution when I became a park ranger in 1974. The usual process was simply signing on a dotted line, but I made the Personnel Officer swear me in, hand raised, in the middle of the office.
I took those words seriously.
The clown car in DC doesn't.
I took those words seriously.
The clown car in DC doesn't.
#histscalemodels #scalemodels Are there any sources for 1/35 U.S. sedans from circa 1940? I’d like to do a staff car alongside an early Stewart but all all I can find in that scale are European autos.
American vehicles of the era aren’t close to 1/35 - except for a Packard but that’s too posh.
American vehicles of the era aren’t close to 1/35 - except for a Packard but that’s too posh.
November 27, 2025 at 2:00 AM
#histscalemodels #scalemodels Are there any sources for 1/35 U.S. sedans from circa 1940? I’d like to do a staff car alongside an early Stewart but all all I can find in that scale are European autos.
American vehicles of the era aren’t close to 1/35 - except for a Packard but that’s too posh.
American vehicles of the era aren’t close to 1/35 - except for a Packard but that’s too posh.
#sanfrancisco #gratefuldead SF then and Now. 1965. The newly-renamed Grateful Dead (formerly the Warlocks) took a series of PR stills at Battery Boutelle in the Presidio of San Francisco. Still there today..
November 9, 2025 at 7:10 PM
#sanfrancisco #gratefuldead SF then and Now. 1965. The newly-renamed Grateful Dead (formerly the Warlocks) took a series of PR stills at Battery Boutelle in the Presidio of San Francisco. Still there today..
Reposted by John A. Martini
We need new heroes
October 27, 2025 at 9:26 PM
We need new heroes
Reposted by John A. Martini
Reposted by John A. Martini
These are the folks designing the ballroom. Terrifying renderings on-line at www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-st...
October 21, 2025 at 4:22 PM
These are the folks designing the ballroom. Terrifying renderings on-line at www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-st...
President Trump in July: "[The ballroom] won’t interfere with the current building. It won’t be. It’ll be near it but not touching it – and pays total respect to the existing building..."
Kinda looks like touching to me.
Kinda looks like touching to me.
October 21, 2025 at 5:41 AM
President Trump in July: "[The ballroom] won’t interfere with the current building. It won’t be. It’ll be near it but not touching it – and pays total respect to the existing building..."
Kinda looks like touching to me.
Kinda looks like touching to me.
Let their words speak for them.
These are some of the leaked messages Young Republicans were sending in group chats.
www.politico.com/news/2025/10...
www.politico.com/news/2025/10...
October 15, 2025 at 6:26 PM
Let their words speak for them.
#scalemodel #histscalemodels Trying again with a photo. This will be the "A" side of the finished M36 tank destroyer. All in all, very happy. (Good old Tamiya fit and quality!) I could probably do some additional weathering but will hold off for now and not mess with success.
October 14, 2025 at 12:49 AM
#scalemodel #histscalemodels Trying again with a photo. This will be the "A" side of the finished M36 tank destroyer. All in all, very happy. (Good old Tamiya fit and quality!) I could probably do some additional weathering but will hold off for now and not mess with success.
#histscalemodels #scalemodels Well, this is the best I could do with the gap in the track links. It's visible but doesn't jump out at you. Not too much, that is. Again, this will be the "B side" of the M36. On the positive side, the post-shading and turret detailing came out pretty well.
October 12, 2025 at 6:05 AM
#histscalemodels #scalemodels Well, this is the best I could do with the gap in the track links. It's visible but doesn't jump out at you. Not too much, that is. Again, this will be the "B side" of the M36. On the positive side, the post-shading and turret detailing came out pretty well.
#histscalemodels #scalemodels Help! Almost finished my Tamiya M36 Jackson and ran into track glitch: the kit appears to be one link short. No idea how this happened. Directions followed explicitly, no remaining links on the sprues.
This the second Tamiya model where this has happened. Argh.
This the second Tamiya model where this has happened. Argh.
October 10, 2025 at 7:51 PM
#histscalemodels #scalemodels Help! Almost finished my Tamiya M36 Jackson and ran into track glitch: the kit appears to be one link short. No idea how this happened. Directions followed explicitly, no remaining links on the sprues.
This the second Tamiya model where this has happened. Argh.
This the second Tamiya model where this has happened. Argh.