Site Navigation

Just click on the
blue or red links displayed below
to navigate our website


Home

Weekly Specials

Weekly Specials begin every Wednesday morning



New Products
 

Clearance Items

Gift Certificates

Instructional
Pen Turning
Video's

Basic Pen Turning with
Bill Baumbeck


Additional Instructional Videos

Pen Blanks

 Stabilized Pen Blank Price List

Non-Stabilized
Pen Blank
Price List

 Pen Blank
Images

Acrylic Acetate
Pen Blanks

Snakeskin
Pen Blanks

 $Buck$  &  EPR Pen Blanks

Gemstone
Pen Blanks

Laser Cut Inlay
Pen Blanks

Pen Kits

Pen Kit Images
and Pricing

Pen Kit
Price List

Berea Hardwoods
Tropical Pen Kit Images & Pricing

Berea Hardwoods
Letter Opener Images
and Pricing

50BMG Pen Kit (Browning
Machine Gun)

Pen Kit
Instructions

Pen Kit
Bushings

Extra Brass Pen Tubes

Bottle Stoppers
&
Kaleidoscopes
Bottle Stopper
Kits

EPR Bottle
Stopper Blocks

Wood Bottle Stopper Blocks

Berea Acrylic Bottle Stopper Blocks

3D Acrylic Bottle Stopper Blocks

Kaleidoscope Kits and Kaleidoscope Blocks

Cosmetic Brushes
Cosmetic Brushes

Shaving Brushes
and
Shaving Razors
Shaving Brushes & Shaving Razor Kits

Pen Kit
Accessories
Acrylic Pen Stands and Leatherette Pen Case

Barrel Trimmers, Adapter Sleeves & Chamfering Tool

 Baseplate Wax

Fountain Pen Nibs, Ink Pumps, Ink Refills & Rollerball Refills

Optional Clips, Long Pen Tubes & Colored Pen Tubes

Pen Boxes and  Pen Pouches

Pen Kit Disassembly
Tools

Pen Kit
Finishing Supplies
and Tools

Pen Mandrels

Closed-end
Pen Mandrels

"How To"
Video's

Turning
Supplies &
Other Useful Products

Buffing Supplies

Chamfering Tool

Crushed Stone

Cyanoacrylate
Glue (CA Glue)

Museum
Anchoring Wax

Norseman
Drill Bits

Knife Scales

Micro-Mesh

Renaissance Wax

Stabilized
Turning Blocks

Woodturning
Books

Woodturning Design Magazine

References:

Customer Comments


Flat Rate Priority Mail Clarification

Resources &
Referrals To
Other  Great Websites:
Our Links Page


Turner's Showcase
Todd Norrel


A Tribute To A
Special Friend

Ray Allen

An Internet
Art Exposition

My Customer's Gallery

A Little About Us
About Us

My Gallery

Unique Gifts
Candy Dispensers

Aviation History


Bar-B-Q Sauce

 


We are THE suppliers of 'Eye Candy' y


Internet sales only.  We are located in a light industrial district that does not allow for over-the-counter retail sales.

We are in the Pacific Time Zone during Daylight Savings Time

660 East 18th Place, Suite B, Yuma, AZ  85365
Business hours
:
Monday - Friday 10:00AM to 5:00PM  Saturday: Closed July & August
  Sunday: Closed
   
928-329-9466 Pacific Standard Time

Home       Contact Us       Terms for Use

Check Out      View Cart       Log-in to Your Account

 Now you can Search For Products

To view a site map of our product line  Click Here



A Once in a Lifetime Opportunity

Taking a flight in a World War II B-17G Flying Fortress

Click On Any Picture Below To See A Larger View

 

The B-17G "Sentimental Journey" owned and maintained by the Arizona Wing of the Commemorative Air Force in Mesa, AZ.  This aircraft is painted with the aircraft markings of the 457th Bomb Group based in Glatton, England during WWII with the 8th Air Force.

 
 

I have been a student of WWII ever since grade school and, at one time, had a collection of WWII memorabilia that rivaled most small museums. I have stood on the memorial at Pear Harbor spanning the battleship Arizona.  I have been at the foot of the building located next to the bridge which was used as the aiming point when the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima. I've met and spoke to Col. Paul Tibbetts who piloted the B-29 Enola Gay that dropped the first atomic bomb.  I've been aboard a German U-Boat (U-505) and I had the distinct honor of having Gen. Joe Foss who was the highest scoring Marine Ace during WWII as a personal friend.  Ironically, I served in the same squadron (VMA-121) in Vietnam that Joe served with during WWII (VMF-121).

On April 9, 2006 I had the opportunity to take a flight in one of the most famous heavy bombers flown during World War II.  The Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress, along with the Consolidated B-24 Liberator, were the two main heavy bombers used in the European Theater of Operations flown by the U.S. Army Air Corps.  Words cannot describe what I felt.  Here was an aircraft that carried thousands of crew members, millions of tons of ordnance, over a period of 3 1/2 years to free Europe from the Nazi's. 

This is a "no frills" aircraft - its all business: No sound-proofing, no air conditioning, no heaters, no bathrooms.  Wind, exhaust fumes and the smell of engine oil are permeate the air inside the fuselage.  Everything is vibrating.  Soft stepping the catwalk between the aft end of the aircraft to the cockpit through the bomb bay allows you can see the ground between the gap between the closed bomb bay doors.  The day we flew was perfect (sunny, 80 degrees, light wind) and we flew no higher than 2,500 feet (as required by the FAA).  All I could think about was what it must have been like flying an eight hour combat mission at 35,000 feet in the freezing cold wearing an electrically heated flight suit while wearing an oxygen mask.  Not to mention that there were thousands of enemy fighters and anti-aircraft guns shooting at you!  I honestly don't know how those young airmen did what they had to do to help win the Second World War but I have the utmost respect for each and every one of them!

This flight was definitely a highlight.  I'd recommend it to anyone who has an interest in aviation or the time period in which this awesome airplane flew in.

Some interesting facts about the Sentimental Journey:

Date built ..... November 1944
Wingspan ..... 103' - 9 3/8"
Length ..... 74' - 3.9"
Height ..... 19' - 2.44"
Powerplant ..... Four Wright R-1820-97 Cyclone engines (1,200hp each at takeoff)
Empty weight ..... 36,134lbs
Gross weight ..... 65,000lbs
Cruising speed ..... 160mph
Top speed ..... 287mph
Service ceiling ..... 36,400ft
Range ..... 2,000 miles
Fuel capacity ..... 2,780 gallons carried in the wings
Fuel consumption ..... 200 gallons per hour
Oil capacity ..... 37 gallons per engine
Crew .... 10
Bomb load ..... 6,000lbs
Armament ..... thirteen 50 cal heavy machine guns
Total number of B-17's built ..... 12,731
Total number of B-17G's built ..... 8,600
B-17's still in existence ..... approximately 50
Operational costs (2006 dollars) ..... $2,000 per hour

Click On Any Picture Below To See A Larger View

Here I am with my good friend Jesus Garcia preparing to board the aircraft.  I was the 'bomb load' and Jesus was the ball turret gunner.
A nice lady was trying to sell us flight insurance (just kidding).
   
One we were all aboard it was time to fire up the engines.  I have flown many times in a C-130 during my military career but this was a whole new ballgame!
Preparing to taxi to the active runway.  The noise was deafening and earplugs were a necessity. In the background is a U.S. Navy TBM torpedo bomber with its wings folded.
   
The 'best seat in the house'.  This is where the bombardier sat for the duration of a mission.  On a hot day this position could be quite unpleasant.
The ball turret gunner's position.  Considered the safest position in the aircraft because it afforded the smallest target.
   
Another view of the ball turret.  It took a special individual to man this position.  You couldn't get up and move around as you were 'locked' into this turret for the duration of a mission.
The top turret position.  Normally operated by the flight engineer.  To the left of the antenna is the single .50 cal machine gun operated by the navigator.
   

 
This view is from the waist gunner's position looking forward to the navigator and radio operator's stations.  The top of the ball turret can be seen below the yellow tank.
 
Looking aft from the navigator/radio operator's position.  The framework supports the ball turret.
   


 
One had to walk on the 'cat walk' in order to move to the front of the bomber.  This is a tight fit for someone my size.  I have no idea how someone  did this in a bulky, heated flight suit while bouncing around at 35,000 feet!
Looking forward to the pilot/co-pilots position from the navigator/radio operator's position through the bomb bay.
 
   
An inside view of 'the best seat in the house'.  The Norden bomb sight is located just in front of the seat and the remote control for the 50 cal. 'chin guns' is on the right.
Quite a view!
   
If you were to look straight down there is nothing but Plexiglas keeping you inside the B-17!
Coming in for the landing.  I can only imagine what the flight crews of wartime B-17's thought of when they experienced this view!
   

Back on solid ground!

For additional information on the aircraft maintained by the
Arizona Wing of the Commemorative Air Force click here .

Our next adventure....


A SNJ Navy Trainer

 



Another Exciting Day in Vietnam (Chu Lai 1967)
 

I took the following pictures while I was a member of VMA-121.  '121'  was equipped with the A4-E Skyhawk aircraft which, in my humble opinion, was one of the best aircraft ever designed for close air support of Marine ground forces in any war.

On this particular day we launched four aircraft to targets in North Vietnam loaded with eight MK-82, 500lb, low-drag bombs per aircraft.  I was the ordnance line chief at the time and I thought it would be interesting to take photo's of the returning aircraft.  Little did I know that it would be a little bit more than I expected.  

Please excuse the quality of the photos.  They were taken more than thirty-eight years ago!

Semper Fi!




 

The first photo shows the last Skyhawk (of four) to land.  You might notice that the left wing is a little higher than the right wing.  This is due to the 'trim' of the aircraft as it was carrying 500 pounds more on the left side than the right side at the time it 'touched down' on the runway. 

What happened is that the pilot experienced a 'hung bomb' (one that did not drop when it was supposed to).  Upon landing the bomb released, hit the runway and skidded off to the left of the picture into the sand.  I thought that the Skyhawk had blown a tire and a piece of the tire had gone off into the sand on the left side of the runway.  The A-4 rolled past me with all three of its tires intact and that is when I noticed a giant 'rooster tail' plowing through the sand.  A moment later the 'rooster tail' turned into a bomb and skidded onto the runway and started following the A-4 down the runway.

The bomb stopped about 50 feet from where I was standing and I walked over to it to see if it had armed itself.   It was armed as the arming wire was pulled from the fuze (fuze is not misspelled - check a dictionary) and the prop on the fuze had turned the required rotations to arm itself. The bomb was equipped with a M-904 fuze and when this fuze is armed (there is a small round window on the side of the fuze that displays a red disk when armed).  The window was red.

Since I had loaded this aircraft and knew how to remove this fuze and I started walking towards the bomb but I was strongly discouraged to do so by the people in the air traffic control tower (they were yelling obscenities at me to leave the area).  Yeah, right!  Who is going to miss a photographic opportunity like this?




 

I waited a few minutes and EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) showed up.  This picture shows how two guys, with all of the patience in the world, can handle a 'problem' like this.  That's why they are paid 'the big bucks' (the photographer wasn't).



This photo shows the 'old timer' of the two removing the M-904 fuze from the bomb.  One nice thing, if you could call it that, is that if something went wrong with the removal of the fuze there would be little time to reflect on what went wrong!

The guys I knew in EOD are a 'special breed' of people and I continue to have the utmost respect in the skills and patience they possess.  And you thought you had a tough day!


 

 


All photographs, images and material contained and displayed in this website are covered by international copyright laws and may not be reproduced anywhere, distributed anywhere or posted to any newsgroup, blogs and/or forum without the express written permission of Mr. William Baumbeck.  Mr. Baumbeck is both the owner and author of all material contained in this website and, unless otherwise noted, is in line with new millennium international copyright laws.   None of the material presented in this website can be used for any purpose, no matter if this is for financial gain or not, without the express written permission of Mr. William Baumbeck.
Copyright z William Baumbeck and Arizona Silhouette Inc.

 


Arizona Association of Woodturners
Desert Woodturning Roundup 2011

February 18, 19, & 20, 2011 to be held at the

Mesa, AZ Convention Center

You will not be disappointed attending this symposium!  Make plans now.


My personal opinion...
 
I am a forty-two year resident of Yuma, Arizona.  My home town is located on the Arizona/California/Mexico border along side the Colorado River. Our country has been invaded over the past 25 years and I am no longer willing to keep my head down and not say anything for fear of offending someone.  If my personal beliefs effect my business - I'm willing to live with that.  If I have offended someone - I'm willing to live with that too.

I have lived in this great country for over 60 years and I am not going to back down from any threat directed at the United States from any threat - foreign or domestic.  As Davy Crockett may have said: "Bring em' on!" (although I think the words may have been stated it in much stronger language).  If you would like to see for yourself what this country is up against take a look at this website mexica-movement .

If you would like to help out Arizona please consider donating to our state's legal defense fund by clicking on the link below.  This is not just an Arizona problem - illegal immigration affects all of us.  Should you believe as I do and want to help out then put your money where your mouth is.  70% of us living in Arizona approve of SB1070 and we certainly appreciate your support.  Someday we might be able to financially support your state in accomplishing the same legislation Arizona passed.

$5.00, $10.00 and $20.00 donations are most welcome.  Thank you for your consideration.

Update July 29, 2010   We are not giving up!

Click here to contribute to the Arizona state legal defense fund
(This link will take you to the official State of Arizona legal defense fund website)



The Legacy Foundation

Border Sheriffs
"Defending Those Who Defend Our Borders"

The Legacy Foundation is a non-partisan organization recognized under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. This organization does not support or endorse candidates for election. Contributions or gifts to The Legacy Foundation are tax-deductible as charitable contributions for Federal income tax purposes to the fullest extent permitted by law. You will not receive any good or service in exchange for any contribution.




Only two defining forces have ever offered to die for you:
Jesus Christ and the American G.I.
One died for your soul and the other for your freedom.

By Danielle   "A proud Army wife"
 

 
A friend sent me the following:
 

What is a Veteran?   A "Veteran" -- whether active duty, discharged, retired, or reserve -- is someone who, at one point in his or her life, wrote a blank check made payable to "The United States of America" for an amount of up to and including his or her life.

Semper Fi!  (1965-1974)

 
Operation Komando
 


Until they all come home...


 
 

Freedom Alliance
Supporting the continued education of children whose parents were killed in the line of Duty.
 
Lt. Colonel Oliver North, Founder and Honorary Chairman
 

The Mission of Freedom Alliance is to advance the American heritage of freedom by honoring and encouraging military service, defending the sovereignty of the United States and promoting a strong national defense.

Freedom Alliance , a 501(c)3 educational and charitable foundation, was founded in 1990 by Lt.Col Oliver L. North, who now serves as the organization's honorary chairman. We will work to "keep America strong, keep America prosperous, and keep America free," said North upon the founding of Freedom Alliance. And so we have.
 


It was 113 here yesterday....
   
A man and his dog were walking along a road. The man was enjoying the scenery, when it suddenly occurred to him that he was dead.  He remembered dying, and that the dog walking beside him had been dead for years. He wondered where the road was leading them.

After a while, they came to a high, white stone wall along one side of the road. It looked like fine marble. At the top of a long hill, it was broken by a tall arch that glowed in the sunlight.  When he was standing before it he saw a magnificent gate in the arch that looked like mother-of-pearl, and the street that led to the gate looked like pure gold. He and the dog walked toward the gate, and as he got closer, he saw a man at a desk to one side. When he was close enough, he called out, 'Excuse me, where are we?''  This is Heaven, sir,' the man answered.. 'Wow! Would you happen to have some water?' the man asked.  'Of course, sir. Come right in, and I'll have some ice water brought right up.'  The man gestured, and the gate began to open.  'Can my friend,' gesturing toward his dog, 'come in, too?' the traveler asked.  'I'm sorry, sir, but we don't accept pets.'

The man thought a moment and then turned back toward the road and continued the way he had been going with his dog.
After another long walk, and at the top of another long hill, he came to a dirt road leading through a farm gate that looked as if it had never been closed. There was no fence.  As he approached the gate, he saw a man inside, leaning against a tree and reading a book.  'Excuse me!' he called to the man. 'Do you have any water?'  'Yeah, sure, there's a pump over there, come on in.' 'How about my friend here?' the traveler gestured to the dog. 'There should be a bowl by the pump.'  They went through the gate, and sure enough, there was an old-fashioned hand pump with a bowl beside it.  The traveler filled the water bowl and took a long drink himself, then he gave some to the dog.

When they were full, he and the dog walked back toward the man who was standing by the tree.  'What do you call this place?' the traveler asked.  'This is Heaven,' he answered. 'Well, that's confusing,' the traveler said. 'The man down the road said that was Heaven, too.' 'Oh, you mean the place with the gold street and pearly gates? Nope. That's Hell.'  'Doesn't it make you mad for them to use your name like that?' 'No, we're just happy that they screen out the folks who would leave their best friends behind.' 

Author unknown but I've been told that this story was presented in an episode of Rod Serling's "The Twilight Zone".