Justin Pyke
@justinpykehistory.bsky.social
MA in History. Studies intelligence, sea power, air power, and the Asia-Pacific War. Researching U.S. intelligence assessments of Japanese air and sea power, 1919-1941. Andor appreciator and PC gamer.
The biggest thing with the mod for me is the added environmental storytelling. Like this scene of sentinels burning Flood bodies in The Library. The addition of more competent and present friendly forces adds much to the feeling that you're part of a broader effort.
November 10, 2025 at 3:42 PM
The biggest thing with the mod for me is the added environmental storytelling. Like this scene of sentinels burning Flood bodies in The Library. The addition of more competent and present friendly forces adds much to the feeling that you're part of a broader effort.
I have a few of my books facing out to make it easier to insert new arrivals into the relevant part of my shelves. This always hits me as a great title.
October 14, 2025 at 8:59 PM
I have a few of my books facing out to make it easier to insert new arrivals into the relevant part of my shelves. This always hits me as a great title.
Ghost of Tsushima is a great example of art direction easily beating out games that are better graphically on a technical level.
October 11, 2025 at 6:33 PM
Ghost of Tsushima is a great example of art direction easily beating out games that are better graphically on a technical level.
Lord Shimura in Ghost of Tsushima: "Whoa, whoa we samurai always look our enemies in the face and announce ourselves. Attacking people from the shadows is bad."
Actual early medieval samurai:
Actual early medieval samurai:
October 7, 2025 at 10:36 PM
Lord Shimura in Ghost of Tsushima: "Whoa, whoa we samurai always look our enemies in the face and announce ourselves. Attacking people from the shadows is bad."
Actual early medieval samurai:
Actual early medieval samurai:
War Thunder does its best to make flying zeros miserable, but it's still fun on occasion.
October 6, 2025 at 12:55 AM
War Thunder does its best to make flying zeros miserable, but it's still fun on occasion.
Just testing if it's possible to post about enjoying waffles without being a raging asshole.
October 4, 2025 at 3:46 PM
Just testing if it's possible to post about enjoying waffles without being a raging asshole.
This will keep me busy for a few months given how slow I paint.
October 2, 2025 at 12:13 AM
This will keep me busy for a few months given how slow I paint.
Finished my Raven Guard librarian in terminator armour. I'm not totally happy with the axe, but it's alright.
September 26, 2025 at 3:03 AM
Finished my Raven Guard librarian in terminator armour. I'm not totally happy with the axe, but it's alright.
I finished a unit of barbgaunts! I'm still struggling with my dry brush technique, but I think they turned out OK.
September 9, 2025 at 3:01 AM
I finished a unit of barbgaunts! I'm still struggling with my dry brush technique, but I think they turned out OK.
The arrival of these new books means I have to reorganize my shelves...
August 30, 2025 at 10:58 PM
The arrival of these new books means I have to reorganize my shelves...
The first draft of my 1 Canadian Division deck in WARNO.
August 30, 2025 at 5:05 PM
The first draft of my 1 Canadian Division deck in WARNO.
The J-7E isn't really my playstyle in War Thunder, but it's still fun on occasion.
August 24, 2025 at 4:21 AM
The J-7E isn't really my playstyle in War Thunder, but it's still fun on occasion.
The Ki-21-I Hei is not to be trifled with in War Thunder.
August 16, 2025 at 6:34 PM
The Ki-21-I Hei is not to be trifled with in War Thunder.
We'll see if I get more video notes done this weekend. I have a book stack started at least.
August 16, 2025 at 3:09 AM
We'll see if I get more video notes done this weekend. I have a book stack started at least.
The Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum and Park was a powerful place to visit. I also want to note that Hiroshima as a whole is wonderful and I wish I had been able to spend more time there on my last trip.
August 7, 2025 at 3:53 PM
The Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum and Park was a powerful place to visit. I also want to note that Hiroshima as a whole is wonderful and I wish I had been able to spend more time there on my last trip.
I felt inspired to test my intelligence report tracking spreadsheet out and find this again. It's an excerpt from an MID intelligence report covering the battle of Nomonhan. Dated July 18, 1939.
August 2, 2025 at 5:53 PM
I felt inspired to test my intelligence report tracking spreadsheet out and find this again. It's an excerpt from an MID intelligence report covering the battle of Nomonhan. Dated July 18, 1939.
Yeah, the plane was pretty much topped out with the A6M5 without a significant re-engine. Such a thing was possible, but the D4Y got priority. The A6M8 did not make it into production before war's end as a result. It still wouldn't have been equivalent to a new clean-sheet design of course.
August 1, 2025 at 6:53 PM
Yeah, the plane was pretty much topped out with the A6M5 without a significant re-engine. Such a thing was possible, but the D4Y got priority. The A6M8 did not make it into production before war's end as a result. It still wouldn't have been equivalent to a new clean-sheet design of course.
The IJN gradually began to introduce protection features to more aircraft through 1944 and into 1945, but Japan had far bigger problems by then. The IJN's Zero fighter saw the gradual addition of fuel tank fire extinguishers, a bulletproof windscreen, armour, and self-sealing fuel tanks.
July 30, 2025 at 4:26 PM
The IJN gradually began to introduce protection features to more aircraft through 1944 and into 1945, but Japan had far bigger problems by then. The IJN's Zero fighter saw the gradual addition of fuel tank fire extinguishers, a bulletproof windscreen, armour, and self-sealing fuel tanks.
Fuel tank protection gave the Japanese, and other nations, the biggest headaches. It was relatively easy to provide decent fuel tank protection against rifle calibre hits, but proved difficult against 12.7mm (.50 cal). The IJN's G4M bomber's integral wing tanks posed a serious challenge (see alt).
July 30, 2025 at 4:26 PM
Fuel tank protection gave the Japanese, and other nations, the biggest headaches. It was relatively easy to provide decent fuel tank protection against rifle calibre hits, but proved difficult against 12.7mm (.50 cal). The IJN's G4M bomber's integral wing tanks posed a serious challenge (see alt).
The IJA Ki-43-I fighter had fuel tank protection from early production but lacked armour until the Ki-43-II. The Japanese navy (IJN) Zero fighter was unprotected, but that was ordinary for 1940 and remained unremarkable into 1942. The US Navy's F4F-3 also lacked protection into 1942.
July 30, 2025 at 4:26 PM
The IJA Ki-43-I fighter had fuel tank protection from early production but lacked armour until the Ki-43-II. The Japanese navy (IJN) Zero fighter was unprotected, but that was ordinary for 1940 and remained unremarkable into 1942. The US Navy's F4F-3 also lacked protection into 1942.
Fuel tank protection, and later armour, would be added to the Ki-21 and all subsequent IJA twin-engine bomber designs would call for armour and fuel tank protection. The Ki-51 light bomber was the first Japanese aircraft to be fitted with armour from inception.
July 30, 2025 at 4:26 PM
Fuel tank protection, and later armour, would be added to the Ki-21 and all subsequent IJA twin-engine bomber designs would call for armour and fuel tank protection. The Ki-51 light bomber was the first Japanese aircraft to be fitted with armour from inception.
By the standards of the mid-to-late 1930s, the lack of protection features in Japanese aircraft was entirely ordinary. In fact, the IJA was a relatively early adopter of fuel tank protection in its bombers as a result of combat experience in China. Earlier than British or American designs.
July 30, 2025 at 4:26 PM
By the standards of the mid-to-late 1930s, the lack of protection features in Japanese aircraft was entirely ordinary. In fact, the IJA was a relatively early adopter of fuel tank protection in its bombers as a result of combat experience in China. Earlier than British or American designs.
Few aircraft had protection features in the mid-to-late 1930s. Armour and fuel tank protection were not new, both had appeared in the First World War, but they were nowhere near standard. The move toward all-metal construction alone was seen as a significant improvement in aircraft survivability.
July 30, 2025 at 4:26 PM
Few aircraft had protection features in the mid-to-late 1930s. Armour and fuel tank protection were not new, both had appeared in the First World War, but they were nowhere near standard. The move toward all-metal construction alone was seen as a significant improvement in aircraft survivability.
Fuel tank protection is an even bigger rabbit hole. It was not always "self-sealing," or if it was of self-sealing design was not effective against all calibres. This was a constantly evolving technology with many different iterations and solutions. Sometimes used on their own or combined together.
July 30, 2025 at 4:26 PM
Fuel tank protection is an even bigger rabbit hole. It was not always "self-sealing," or if it was of self-sealing design was not effective against all calibres. This was a constantly evolving technology with many different iterations and solutions. Sometimes used on their own or combined together.