Richard Steer
@rdsteer.bsky.social
Electricity distribution networks, with an interest in disaster recovery, climate adaptation, and demand-side flexibility | Miniature wargaming | Contributing writer for nodicenoglory.com | Wellington, NZ
There’s an interesting summary of the Ram’s technical issues in this Jan 1944 report, including a comparison vs the Sherman. Even by the end of 1943, there was a view that the Ram was not suitable for use as a frontline tank.
www.canada.ca/en/departmen... - paragraphs 58-65.
www.canada.ca/en/departmen... - paragraphs 58-65.
July 27, 2025 at 1:10 AM
There’s an interesting summary of the Ram’s technical issues in this Jan 1944 report, including a comparison vs the Sherman. Even by the end of 1943, there was a view that the Ram was not suitable for use as a frontline tank.
www.canada.ca/en/departmen... - paragraphs 58-65.
www.canada.ca/en/departmen... - paragraphs 58-65.
To be fair, there’s a long tradition at Airfix of cover art showing their Luftwaffe subjects getting shot down, so you’re in good company.
March 18, 2025 at 6:26 PM
To be fair, there’s a long tradition at Airfix of cover art showing their Luftwaffe subjects getting shot down, so you’re in good company.
The GeoNet app is such a brilliant example of crowd sourced data. Within minutes of this morning’s earthquake, 10,000 people voluntarily reported their experience of the shake, rapidly building a picture of how it affected the region. #eqnz
March 7, 2025 at 6:55 PM
The GeoNet app is such a brilliant example of crowd sourced data. Within minutes of this morning’s earthquake, 10,000 people voluntarily reported their experience of the shake, rapidly building a picture of how it affected the region. #eqnz
Nice selection of sticks at the library today.
January 27, 2025 at 5:30 AM
Nice selection of sticks at the library today.
Lovely day out in Cook Strait.
December 23, 2024 at 3:19 AM
Lovely day out in Cook Strait.
I was surprised to learn recently that the flash colour could indicate the role of a specific vehicle, rather than that of the parent unit. This halftrack is numbered 50 (Armoured Brigade HQ, in this case 29th Armd Bde), but instead of a red flash it is white-over-blue, indicating a Signals vehicle.
November 27, 2024 at 6:46 PM
I was surprised to learn recently that the flash colour could indicate the role of a specific vehicle, rather than that of the parent unit. This halftrack is numbered 50 (Armoured Brigade HQ, in this case 29th Armd Bde), but instead of a red flash it is white-over-blue, indicating a Signals vehicle.
Upon finding out that he had enlisted shortly after his 15th birthday, his parents tried to have him released, but were unsuccessful.
In one of his letters from France, Frank wrote "I would rather see it through... Certain ones would think if I came home I was frightened." 2/3
In one of his letters from France, Frank wrote "I would rather see it through... Certain ones would think if I came home I was frightened." 2/3
November 11, 2024 at 9:07 AM
Upon finding out that he had enlisted shortly after his 15th birthday, his parents tried to have him released, but were unsuccessful.
In one of his letters from France, Frank wrote "I would rather see it through... Certain ones would think if I came home I was frightened." 2/3
In one of his letters from France, Frank wrote "I would rather see it through... Certain ones would think if I came home I was frightened." 2/3
This photo is from the wedding of my great-grandparents, John and Lilian Steer, in 1910. The boy in the front left is Frank, John's brother, aged 10.
Just over five years after this photo was taken, Frank was on a ship to France with the 13th (Wirral) Battalion of the Cheshire Regiment. (1/3)
Just over five years after this photo was taken, Frank was on a ship to France with the 13th (Wirral) Battalion of the Cheshire Regiment. (1/3)
November 11, 2024 at 9:07 AM
This photo is from the wedding of my great-grandparents, John and Lilian Steer, in 1910. The boy in the front left is Frank, John's brother, aged 10.
Just over five years after this photo was taken, Frank was on a ship to France with the 13th (Wirral) Battalion of the Cheshire Regiment. (1/3)
Just over five years after this photo was taken, Frank was on a ship to France with the 13th (Wirral) Battalion of the Cheshire Regiment. (1/3)
@uk-tank-markings.co.uk here’s a photo you may be interested in. It’s a car from 1st Derbyshire Yeomanry, with 6th Armoured Division in Tunisia. The AoS flash looks like a white 47 on a blue and green background.
April 16, 2024 at 9:33 PM
@uk-tank-markings.co.uk here’s a photo you may be interested in. It’s a car from 1st Derbyshire Yeomanry, with 6th Armoured Division in Tunisia. The AoS flash looks like a white 47 on a blue and green background.
The kids were claiming that our hallway spider was pregnant. This was obviously ridiculous, so for days I ignored their increasingly fearful pleas for me to do something about it. We now have approximately a gajillion spider babies.
April 7, 2024 at 1:16 AM
The kids were claiming that our hallway spider was pregnant. This was obviously ridiculous, so for days I ignored their increasingly fearful pleas for me to do something about it. We now have approximately a gajillion spider babies.
Easter Sunday afternoon boardgames with my family, playing Mariposas for the first time. There’s probably lots we got wrong, but it was a fun and colourful game.
March 31, 2024 at 2:57 AM
Easter Sunday afternoon boardgames with my family, playing Mariposas for the first time. There’s probably lots we got wrong, but it was a fun and colourful game.
I don’t know how else you could explain the British aircraft industry’s utterly bonkers ideas.
February 29, 2024 at 10:47 PM
I don’t know how else you could explain the British aircraft industry’s utterly bonkers ideas.
And Octopus was a Sherman ARK.
January 30, 2024 at 8:20 PM
And Octopus was a Sherman ARK.
So, it looks like Plymouth Bridge was a Sherman-launched Bailey Bridge, used operationally on 12 May 1944. This image was posted on a military modelling forum, referencing "One More River to Cross" by J H Joiners. No idea about Octopus yet.
January 30, 2024 at 8:10 PM
So, it looks like Plymouth Bridge was a Sherman-launched Bailey Bridge, used operationally on 12 May 1944. This image was posted on a military modelling forum, referencing "One More River to Cross" by J H Joiners. No idea about Octopus yet.
And the #FestiveTankChallenge is finished!
Three 1/100 scale Churchill IIIs completed for #FlamesOfWar.
Three 1/100 scale Churchill IIIs completed for #FlamesOfWar.
December 30, 2023 at 3:59 AM
And the #FestiveTankChallenge is finished!
Three 1/100 scale Churchill IIIs completed for #FlamesOfWar.
Three 1/100 scale Churchill IIIs completed for #FlamesOfWar.
Decals and filter applied to the base coat of my #FlamesOfWar Churchills for the #FestiveTankChallenge. These models were from a starter box which didn’t include appropriate decals for Churchills, so there’s been a bit of improvisation. Now onto painting details.
December 27, 2023 at 9:46 PM
Decals and filter applied to the base coat of my #FlamesOfWar Churchills for the #FestiveTankChallenge. These models were from a starter box which didn’t include appropriate decals for Churchills, so there’s been a bit of improvisation. Now onto painting details.
Progress on the #FestiveTankChallenge! Churchills now base coated and ready for decalling.
December 27, 2023 at 6:14 AM
Progress on the #FestiveTankChallenge! Churchills now base coated and ready for decalling.
Three #FlamesofWar Churchills assembled for the #FestiveTankChallenge. A nice kit that went together quickly. The only issue was a mould line running down the centre of the tracks, but still way better than working with resin and metal.
December 23, 2023 at 2:21 AM
Three #FlamesofWar Churchills assembled for the #FestiveTankChallenge. A nice kit that went together quickly. The only issue was a mould line running down the centre of the tracks, but still way better than working with resin and metal.
A little bit late across the start line, but I’m about to embark on @tomjmegan.bsky.social’s #FestiveTankChallenge with a troop of three 1:100 Churchill IIIs for my #FlamesOfWar British.
December 22, 2023 at 10:11 PM
A little bit late across the start line, but I’m about to embark on @tomjmegan.bsky.social’s #FestiveTankChallenge with a troop of three 1:100 Churchill IIIs for my #FlamesOfWar British.
Sunset over Lower Hutt, New Zealand. 1 December 2023.
December 1, 2023 at 8:47 AM
Sunset over Lower Hutt, New Zealand. 1 December 2023.
Someone has been waiting their entire career to write this headline.
November 22, 2023 at 3:40 AM
Someone has been waiting their entire career to write this headline.
The end of the article is crazy. “Here’s something that we’ve found to be effective, but we’re not going to do it because we want to set a higher baseline to make our future improvements look better.” Utter madness.
October 11, 2023 at 7:59 PM
The end of the article is crazy. “Here’s something that we’ve found to be effective, but we’re not going to do it because we want to set a higher baseline to make our future improvements look better.” Utter madness.
September 2023 was the first month that new registrations of #EV / PHEV light passenger vehicles in the Wellington region of New Zealand exceeded that of non-hybrid petrol/diesel vehicles. The main driver will be changes and threats to the Clean Car Discount. Source: www.nzta.govt.nz/resources/ne...
October 9, 2023 at 12:26 AM
September 2023 was the first month that new registrations of #EV / PHEV light passenger vehicles in the Wellington region of New Zealand exceeded that of non-hybrid petrol/diesel vehicles. The main driver will be changes and threats to the Clean Car Discount. Source: www.nzta.govt.nz/resources/ne...
The Waihopai River dam, Marlborough, NZ. Constructed in 1927 for the 1MW (now 2.5MW) Waihopai power station.
October 7, 2023 at 4:23 AM
The Waihopai River dam, Marlborough, NZ. Constructed in 1927 for the 1MW (now 2.5MW) Waihopai power station.
Beautiful flight across the Strait to Blenheim last night.
October 4, 2023 at 8:04 PM
Beautiful flight across the Strait to Blenheim last night.