H-4 Hercules model and display base delivered to private model collector. Adding support wings to rear of model base negated a yawing effect when base absorbed surface vibrations. As previously noted, in 1947 flight taxi trials the H-4 propellers were painted black, upon its public display in 1980s propellers were painted silver, so decided to model H-4 base on its current status. For gamers interested in flying the Spruce Goose in PC flight simulations programs, FLY AWAY Simulations offer such an add-on gaming mod. The Spruce Goose Fly's Again!!! | Flight Simulator 2004 Screenshots Forum - flyawaysimulation.com/postp8551.html

Inset 1 : Close-up on H-4 display, circular Velcro pads added to reduce scratches to model paint, rear rectangular support added to prevent model oscillation.

Rollover : H-4 top display view, wing and fuselage panel lines created via combination of Black Paint Wash technique and groove tracing via mechanical pencil and ink markers. Deeper surface grooves created by Plastic Scriber, this enabled pencil and ink tips to aligned and fill the crevices. Spruce Goose Progress Update - www.aafo.com/library/history/goose/index2.htm

Inset 2 : Lasting legacy to Howard Hughes and Cold War espionage was his oil exploration vessel Hughes Global Marine Explorer (better known as Glomar Explorer). Built in 1973 at over $350 million, it sailed on 20 June 1974 into the Pacific for deep ocean mining (circa 2 to 3-mile depth) to alleviate 1970s world energy crisis. In actuality, it was a Hughes-CIA cooperative venture called Project Jennifer to retrieve Soviet submarine K-129 (sunk from accident on April 1968) in Pacific Ocean for intelligence. Iconic Glomar Explorer photo in her 1974 clandestine voyage, with central drilling platform and twin stabilizer grid towers. Ship had a large hanger deck with huge bottom bay doors ostensibly for hauling up and sorting Manganese Nodules (potato-size chunks of manganese mixed with iron, nickel, cobalt and other metals) from the sea bed. Project Jennifer - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_Jennifer

Inset 2 Rollover : Modern photo of ship interior showing massive midsection hanger, this is where Soviet K-129 submarine was hauled in. US also retrieve bodies of Soviet crewmen and gave deceased a traditional Soviet military funeral (with Soviet flag flying and national anthem playing, all filmed by CIA). When Cold War ended with Soviet Union collapse in 1991, US shared this movie clip with newly formed Russian Federation to demonstrate respect shown for Soviet deceased. Senior Russian (ex-Soviet) military commanders were not impressed and denounced US with grave desecration. But this emotion was quickly tempered with US outrage on discovery that during 1950s Korean War, some captured US pilots were taken to Soviet Siberia where they were interrogated, tortured and later died in captivity (some countered that US already knew this intelligence back in Korean War, but decided to withhold it from American public for fear outrage would expand Korean War into an all-out nuclear war confrontation with the Soviets). U.S. Knew in 1953 North Koreans Held American POW’s - www.frankolsonproject.org/Articles/NorthKoreans.html

Concerning the submarine, US intelligence secured covenanted Soviet cipher machine + 3 nuclear torpedoes + 2 nuclear missiles, but during salvage operation the sub suffered catastrophic structure failure and broke into three sections : 1) midsection hauled into ship, 2) bow and stern falling back to ocean floor. Submarine's nuclear reactor in stern sprinkled radioactive debris onto Pacific floor, but its bow weapons section tumbled out nuclear-warhead torpedoes and for a few anxious moments US feared warheads may detonate with resulting explosion engulfing Glomar Explorer in gigantic water spout, such are Cold War antics. The Hughes Glomar Explorer's Mission - w3.the-kgb.com/dante/military/mission.html

In 1975, Glomar Explorer's clandestine operations were revealed to US Press, hence ship transferred to US Navy control (redesignated as USNS Glomar Explorer T-AG-193), she was mostly relegated to mothballed Naval Reserve Fleet in Suisun Bay, near San Francisco-California. In 1990s, vessel underwent refitting and modernization project, her two large rigs were removed, bow thrusters power plants installed, but hanger deck was retained (used for both commercial energy exploration and defense research such as trial tests for US stealth submarine). USNS Glomar Explorer (T-AG-193) - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glomar_Explorer

Inset 3 : Howard Hughes (builder of H-4 Hercules seaplane and Glomar Explorer vessel) in early-year photo and late-year illustration. In early-years, with multi-million inherited fortunes, he indulged in various endeavors including oil exploration, movie production, sexual escapades, etc. In his prime, Hughes was a world-class aviator, setting US cross-country flight record of 7 hours 28 minutes on 19 Jan 1937.

Inset 3 Rollover : Hughes in his late-years, after being investigated by US Congress in 1947 for war profiteering, he withdrew from public view, last photo taken of him in 1956. He was surrounded by close associates and confidants that some derailed as the Palace Guards. Living in various penthouse suites, all windows were darkened to prevent outside press from taking photos of him and for him to enjoy his rudimentary home theater system with favorite Hollywood movies (allegedly he watched Rock Hudson's Ice Station Zebra movie over 150 times). Ice Station Zebra (film) - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ice_Station_Zebra

Upon his death in 1976 officially from kidney failure, it was revealed that he let his finger and toe nails grew out, with drug abuse Hughes had hypodermic needles embedded in his arms, he weight only about 90 pounds, US FBI had to use finger prints to properly identify his body (allegedly Hughes fear conspirators may try to take over his industrial empire if he sought medical care, hence he abstained from such treatment). But want comes around goes around, upon Hughes burial in Houston-Texas Glenwood Cemetery (where his parents were lay to rest in 1920s), pursuit and conspiracies were on for inheritors of Hughes' $2.5 billion estate. Howard Hughes Estate - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Howard_hughes#Estate