by
Whystler
The nocturnal (or nocturlabe) is a very old instrument for telling time at night by measuring the stars. While concept is ancient, this design is all original. It is fully functional (all dials move properly) and meant to be worn as a pendant. This is now available for sale, as it has been tested and works nicely.
How to Use the Nocturnal:
The top of the nocturnal is where you see a bit of a ring around a spike. This ring can be strung with a chain and makes it possible to wear the nocturnal as a pendant. When reading the nocturnal, this end of the piece should always be up.
Your first step is to set the outermost dial on the date. The months are shown as letters, with January and December at the top, and the progression of the months running *counterclockwise*. Note that the exact position of the letter actually marks the middle of that month. Look closer at the piece and you will see the line that separates the months between the letters.
Now, hold your nocturnal up to the starry night sky, making sure that the date is still properly set. Locate the North Star centred in the hole in the middle of the Nocturnal. Then use the central dial (the one that looks like a pointer) to point to the two stars at the end of the bowl of the *big* dipper.
Once you have this all set. Look closer at the pointer and you will see that within the pointer is an eliptical ring and within this is a smaller pointer. This smaller pointer points to a roman numeral, which shows you the time.
Note again, that the roman numeral is centred on the middle of the hour. So, if the little pointer points in the centre of the numeral, it is in fact half past.
So now you can tell time at night without a powered time piece. This is great for night owls, vampires, and those who appreciate a gothic or steampunk look.
How to Use the Nocturnal:
The top of the nocturnal is where you see a bit of a ring around a spike. This ring can be strung with a chain and makes it possible to wear the nocturnal as a pendant. When reading the nocturnal, this end of the piece should always be up.
Your first step is to set the outermost dial on the date. The months are shown as letters, with January and December at the top, and the progression of the months running *counterclockwise*. Note that the exact position of the letter actually marks the middle of that month. Look closer at the piece and you will see the line that separates the months between the letters.
Now, hold your nocturnal up to the starry night sky, making sure that the date is still properly set. Locate the North Star centred in the hole in the middle of the Nocturnal. Then use the central dial (the one that looks like a pointer) to point to the two stars at the end of the bowl of the *big* dipper.
Once you have this all set. Look closer at the pointer and you will see that within the pointer is an eliptical ring and within this is a smaller pointer. This smaller pointer points to a roman numeral, which shows you the time.
Note again, that the roman numeral is centred on the middle of the hour. So, if the little pointer points in the centre of the numeral, it is in fact half past.
So now you can tell time at night without a powered time piece. This is great for night owls, vampires, and those who appreciate a gothic or steampunk look.
by
kampfflieger
1/144 scale model of the famous Fokker Dr.I Triplane, the WWI fighter.
Perfect for the wargamers and collectors.
Perfect for the wargamers and collectors.
by
kampfflieger
1/144 Bristol F2B British WWI two-seat fighter and light bomber.
The Bristol F.2 Fighter was a British two-seat biplane fighter and reconnaissance aircraft of the First World War flown by the Royal Flying Corps. It is often simply called the Bristol Fighter or popularly the "Brisfit" or "Biff". Despite being a two-seater, the F.2B proved to be an agile aircraft that was able to hold its own against opposing single-seat fighters.
The Bristol F.2 Fighter was a British two-seat biplane fighter and reconnaissance aircraft of the First World War flown by the Royal Flying Corps. It is often simply called the Bristol Fighter or popularly the "Brisfit" or "Biff". Despite being a two-seater, the F.2B proved to be an agile aircraft that was able to hold its own against opposing single-seat fighters.
Perfect for the wargamers and collectors.
by
kampfflieger
1/144 Fokker D.VII German WWI fighter.
Perfect for the wargamers and collectors.
Please, see instruction before build model.
Perfect for the wargamers and collectors.
Please, see instruction before build model.
by
admiralducksauce
Alien starship for space miniatures gaming. I offer this in 2 sizes; this one is roughly 2" long.
by
kampfflieger
1/144 Vickers F.B.5 British WWI fighter.
The Vickers F.B.5 (Fighting Biplane 5) (known as the "Gunbus") was a British two-seat pusher military biplane of the First World War. Armed with a single .303 in (7.7 mm) Lewis Gun operated by the observer in the front of the nacelle, it was the first aircraft purpose-built for air-to-air combat to see service, making it the world's first operational fighter aircraft.
The Vickers F.B.5 (Fighting Biplane 5) (known as the "Gunbus") was a British two-seat pusher military biplane of the First World War. Armed with a single .303 in (7.7 mm) Lewis Gun operated by the observer in the front of the nacelle, it was the first aircraft purpose-built for air-to-air combat to see service, making it the world's first operational fighter aircraft.
Perfect for the wargamers and collectors.
by
kampfflieger
1/144 Handley Page O/400 British WWI heavy bomber.
An improved variant of the O/100, the Handley Page O/400 multi-bay biplane bomber featured more powerful engines, a compressed air starting system and an improved fuel system. To meet Royal Air Force specifications, the wings of the O/400 were designed to fold back against the fuselage so that the aircraft could be stored in standard hangars. In 1918, the O/400 was used to bomb targets in Germany's Rurh and Saar industrial centers. By the end of the war, the RAF had 259 O/400s in service and continued to fly some of them until 1920.
An improved variant of the O/100, the Handley Page O/400 multi-bay biplane bomber featured more powerful engines, a compressed air starting system and an improved fuel system. To meet Royal Air Force specifications, the wings of the O/400 were designed to fold back against the fuselage so that the aircraft could be stored in standard hangars. In 1918, the O/400 was used to bomb targets in Germany's Rurh and Saar industrial centers. By the end of the war, the RAF had 259 O/400s in service and continued to fly some of them until 1920.
Perfect for the wargamers and collectors.
by
ceramicwombat
A d4 shaped like a caltrop. Handy for rolling for magic missiles or deterring infantry.
by
kampfflieger
1/144 Caproni Ca.3 WWI Italian bomber.
Developed in late 1916, the Caproni Ca.3 biplane bomber used the same airframe and landing gear as its predecessors, the Ca.1 and Ca.2. With more powerful engines, improved performance and increased bomb capacity, the Ca.3 bomber series was produced in large numbers and remained in service until the end of the war.
Developed in late 1916, the Caproni Ca.3 biplane bomber used the same airframe and landing gear as its predecessors, the Ca.1 and Ca.2. With more powerful engines, improved performance and increased bomb capacity, the Ca.3 bomber series was produced in large numbers and remained in service until the end of the war.
Perfect for the wargamers and collectors.
