Typhoon Jelawat
10-01-2012, 11:57 PM
#21
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Nope, not a PJ. I'm combat comm tied into a special forces team. Do everything they do, and go where ever they go (except high priority covert ops).
We do have one fatality from this typhoon, idiot went out to the shore and got swept up by the waves mid typhoon and smashed his head onto the coral. He was dead within 5 minutes. Did a body search and didn't find him. But the video of him going down is very conclusive.
We do have one fatality from this typhoon, idiot went out to the shore and got swept up by the waves mid typhoon and smashed his head onto the coral. He was dead within 5 minutes. Did a body search and didn't find him. But the video of him going down is very conclusive.
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10-02-2012, 11:25 AM
#22
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In all seriousness, that is some of the weirdest storm damage I have ever seen. I'm used to hurricanes, where everything just gets flattened. I've never seen anything quite like those photos, though. Buildings standing perfectly intact, roof and all, with random cars and boats flipped over just outside.
Or walls with stacked bricks like was seen in that "epic garage thread"
It does the job for normal living, I'm not saying they're bad, I'm just saying that they can't take any abuse. And I'd guess that if you live in an area of extremes, I'd rather build a strong house than having to rebuild.
At least over here, we put up double sided molds, put in a grid of rebar and then pour concrete into the molds. It may very well be expensive but we shrug off earthquakes up to at least 7 richter (I've actually felt a few like that). And wind at most takes the roof of the shoddiest houses.
So might the difference in construction methods/materials not be the reason for the difference of outcome?
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10-02-2012, 01:24 PM
#23
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In most of the US, yes. They just nail together some pieces of 2 in x 4 inch lumber, and then cover the outside with a product called OSB (Oriented Strand Board. It comes in 4 foot by 8 foot sheets, and is similar to plywood except that it's made from tiny little scraps of wood that have been shredded, coated in glue, and pressed together into sheets.)
In Florida, where I grew up, home are built out of concrete blocks. Until the 1980s or so it was common just to stack hollow blocks together with cement in between, as though you were building a typical 19'th century brick home. Now, many homes are built of stacked blocks which then have steel bars dropped in between and concrete is poured inside. So the blocks themselves form the mold, and remain in place with it. This construction technique seems to be even more solid than straight poured concrete, as the wall cannot form full-thickness cracks during the curing process.
When I first moved away from Florida, to Ohio, I was really quite shocked to see how homes there are constructed. On the other hand, here in southern California, the homes are built exactly as you describe, and yet they seem to survive our earthquakes quite nicely.
The typical failure mode for an older Florida home is that the entire roof will be ripped off as a single piece (or at most, broken into 2 or 3 pieces.) This is because the roof structure itself is fairly rigid, but they did not securely bond the roof to the concrete walls during the 1950s-1980s, which was when many of the homes in the coastal areas were constructed. Newer homes use steel plates embedded in the poured concrete to securely fasten down the roof, and these homes tend to survive quite well. My mother's house, for instance, was hit directly by Hurricane Charley in 2004, and it survived with virtually no damage at all except for cosmetic items. Several older homes on the same street were left with nothing but an empty shell, with the roof and interior (wood / plaster) walls completely removed.
The picture I posted earlier, of the car on the lift, was of a commercial garage. The building codes allow structures such as this to be very cheaply built, and that particular garage was nothing but thin sheet steel, much like a tool storage shed. In the background is an apartment building that was constructed in the 1970s. You can see that the walls are perfectly intact, but that the roof has been completely removed and the interior of the apartments on the top floor has been demolished.
In Florida, where I grew up, home are built out of concrete blocks. Until the 1980s or so it was common just to stack hollow blocks together with cement in between, as though you were building a typical 19'th century brick home. Now, many homes are built of stacked blocks which then have steel bars dropped in between and concrete is poured inside. So the blocks themselves form the mold, and remain in place with it. This construction technique seems to be even more solid than straight poured concrete, as the wall cannot form full-thickness cracks during the curing process.
When I first moved away from Florida, to Ohio, I was really quite shocked to see how homes there are constructed. On the other hand, here in southern California, the homes are built exactly as you describe, and yet they seem to survive our earthquakes quite nicely.
The typical failure mode for an older Florida home is that the entire roof will be ripped off as a single piece (or at most, broken into 2 or 3 pieces.) This is because the roof structure itself is fairly rigid, but they did not securely bond the roof to the concrete walls during the 1950s-1980s, which was when many of the homes in the coastal areas were constructed. Newer homes use steel plates embedded in the poured concrete to securely fasten down the roof, and these homes tend to survive quite well. My mother's house, for instance, was hit directly by Hurricane Charley in 2004, and it survived with virtually no damage at all except for cosmetic items. Several older homes on the same street were left with nothing but an empty shell, with the roof and interior (wood / plaster) walls completely removed.
The picture I posted earlier, of the car on the lift, was of a commercial garage. The building codes allow structures such as this to be very cheaply built, and that particular garage was nothing but thin sheet steel, much like a tool storage shed. In the background is an apartment building that was constructed in the 1970s. You can see that the walls are perfectly intact, but that the roof has been completely removed and the interior of the apartments on the top floor has been demolished.
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10-02-2012, 01:43 PM
#24
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thanks for a VERY good response. I partly asked because we often see hurricane aftermath pictures and we just see shrapnel. And everyone always wonders "why the hell aren't houses in those danger areas mandated to be built to a certain standard?"
But not to hijack any further. I hope DK wolf posts some more goodies for us, and that he stays safe.
But not to hijack any further. I hope DK wolf posts some more goodies for us, and that he stays safe.
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10-02-2012, 06:51 PM
#25
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Don't ever wish good on me, I'm a ******* douche.
Anyway, we recovered the body. Japs clean up nice, most of the damage has been mostly repaired, couple buildings are without windows, the autoshops are swamped with cars, and most of the trees are out of major roadways. Some of the rally roads are blocks from large trees.
Here's a youtube vid a couple retard marines took.
Anyway, we recovered the body. Japs clean up nice, most of the damage has been mostly repaired, couple buildings are without windows, the autoshops are swamped with cars, and most of the trees are out of major roadways. Some of the rally roads are blocks from large trees.
Here's a youtube vid a couple retard marines took.
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10-02-2012, 06:53 PM
#26
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Oh yeah and to touch up on the housing, the houses here are pretty much solid concrete.
US houses blow, I can't believe I paid 580k for a house in SoCal that can be blown down by some wind. When comparing the build quality of my house and the ones here.. I'd pick the ones here anyday.
Although mine is prettier.
US houses blow, I can't believe I paid 580k for a house in SoCal that can be blown down by some wind. When comparing the build quality of my house and the ones here.. I'd pick the ones here anyday.
Although mine is prettier.
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10-02-2012, 07:06 PM
#27
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One of the most interesting hurricane stories I have heard again comes from Charley in 2004. A family living in a newer house away from the water chose to remain at home during the storm. Their property was several meters above the waterline, and the windows were protected with heavy, courregated aluminum shutters.
All in all, the house survivived the storm extremely well, except for the fact that a large commercial air conditioner weighing several hundred kilograms mysteriously fell out of the sky and crashed through the roof into their dining room.
During the cleanup and repair process, the insurance company contacted the manufacturer of the A/C unit and provided them with the serial number, in order to determine who it had been sold to and where it had ultimately been installed. Lo and behold, this A/C unit was found to have been lifted off of the roof of a supermarket nearly half-mile away.
Wind does funny stuff.
All in all, the house survivived the storm extremely well, except for the fact that a large commercial air conditioner weighing several hundred kilograms mysteriously fell out of the sky and crashed through the roof into their dining room.
During the cleanup and repair process, the insurance company contacted the manufacturer of the A/C unit and provided them with the serial number, in order to determine who it had been sold to and where it had ultimately been installed. Lo and behold, this A/C unit was found to have been lifted off of the roof of a supermarket nearly half-mile away.
Wind does funny stuff.
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10-02-2012, 07:11 PM
#28
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Yeah dude.. we saw lots of crazy **** flying out here... entire dumpsters and such.
Our AC unit in the STS building almost blew away, one of our other guys got called in, and tied it down.
It broke the tie downs... serious.
I've enjoyed my hurricane experience, glad to see I probably won't see another anywhere this bad again.
Unless I get stationed at the next AFSOC base in florida... -_____-
Our AC unit in the STS building almost blew away, one of our other guys got called in, and tied it down.
It broke the tie downs... serious.
I've enjoyed my hurricane experience, glad to see I probably won't see another anywhere this bad again.
Unless I get stationed at the next AFSOC base in florida... -_____-
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10-02-2012, 07:23 PM
#29
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This is one thing that really surprises me about Puerto Rico. For the most part, PR is not known as a paradise for civil engineers, however most of the higher-end homes there are extremely well constructed. In addition to concrete walls, they often feature a flat roof which is also made of poured concrete.
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10-02-2012, 07:24 PM
#30
On the subject of boredom while stationed in Japan, a family friend was stationed in Okinawa (I think) after his tour in Korea at the very beginning on the conflict there. Him and some other marines used to "borrow" helicopters and buzz out to the reefs to snorkel. One day the tide came in and washed their chopper away. I don't think you could get away with losing a chopper now a days, much less stealing one.
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10-02-2012, 08:33 PM
#32
On the subject of boredom while stationed in Japan, a family friend was stationed in Okinawa (I think) after his tour in Korea at the very beginning on the conflict there. Him and some other marines used to "borrow" helicopters and buzz out to the reefs to snorkel. One day the tide came in and washed their chopper away. I don't think you could get away with losing a chopper now a days, much less stealing one.
DK, I'd like to hear more about your Japan car experiences. I head out that way next summer for Atsugi, which I have heard is awesome.
I guess I'm a queer fanboi
as I have my sights on an R32 GTR. I have plenty of rx7 experience and think they are prettier than a supra... I dunno... talk me out of it.
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10-02-2012, 08:42 PM
#33
This was in the early 1950s, as hinted at: "after his tour in Korea at the very beginning on the conflict there." I'm not going to argue one way or the other but I will say that the man has zero reason to lie and, frankly, wouldn't. Given his exploits working in the intelligence community, he wouldn't need to make up stories to blow your mind.
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10-02-2012, 09:31 PM
#35
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Car culture is pretty dead on mainland. I went up to visit some of the locals and there wasn't much action going on. If you do plan on coming out here, I suggest getting on zeroyon.com it's the oki/japan military car club. Some japs and locals are on it too. It's pretty legit, pretty much no rules and lots of fighting and stuff... will find almost zero technical information there, but it's a chill place to hang out and meet others.
but good luck finding a R32GTR, most will probably be gone by the time you get here (murricuns will be importing them like crazy now that they qualify). And they will cost a FORTUNE. The regular R32GTR that isn't near it's 25 year mark, will cost you something like 12 grand... if it's within 2-3 years of being 25 years old, you can expect to pay +20k for it... not to mention find one that isn't rusted to ****.
32s are ok, the rest all suck a giant bag of donkey dicks and are ugly as sin. Wouldn't be caught dead in one.
Get an FD. The advice I give to all the newbies that join our forum. Get a car out here that you would get stateside, so you get all the super ultra rare whatever JDM tyte yo parts, and you can take them back with you instead of taking back a rusted piece of **** car that is RHD and super gay (not to mention insurance premiums will be higher for a RHD).
Anyway... just do a lot of research. Only reason you want a GTR is to say you have one.. once you drive one, you'll realize what a useless bag of dicks it is.
but good luck finding a R32GTR, most will probably be gone by the time you get here (murricuns will be importing them like crazy now that they qualify). And they will cost a FORTUNE. The regular R32GTR that isn't near it's 25 year mark, will cost you something like 12 grand... if it's within 2-3 years of being 25 years old, you can expect to pay +20k for it... not to mention find one that isn't rusted to ****.
32s are ok, the rest all suck a giant bag of donkey dicks and are ugly as sin. Wouldn't be caught dead in one.
Get an FD. The advice I give to all the newbies that join our forum. Get a car out here that you would get stateside, so you get all the super ultra rare whatever JDM tyte yo parts, and you can take them back with you instead of taking back a rusted piece of **** car that is RHD and super gay (not to mention insurance premiums will be higher for a RHD).
Anyway... just do a lot of research. Only reason you want a GTR is to say you have one.. once you drive one, you'll realize what a useless bag of dicks it is.
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10-03-2012, 01:46 AM
#37
This was in the early 1950s, as hinted at: "after his tour in Korea at the very beginning on the conflict there." I'm not going to argue one way or the other but I will say that the man has zero reason to lie and, frankly, wouldn't. Given his exploits working in the intelligence community, he wouldn't need to make up stories to blow your mind.
DK, so why when I go on Japanese car auction sites you can snag a nice shape R32 GTR for ~5,000usd? And the first R32 won't qualify till 2014. Do they have rust issues? Never really thought about that.
I already have an FB rx7 that I plan to piece together a 20b on when I'm there, I'd like to push something different and exquisitely JDM while I live there. I'd considered old datsuns, rx-3's, maybe an old impreza. But Skylines are my fav, no homo I honestly like the looks (at least of the old ones, yes the r33's are kinda gross) and have always enjoyed the concept of a sport sedan/big coupe. My first car was a(n) SHO, and I always wanted to recapture that, but better.
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10-03-2012, 03:13 AM
#38
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First, let me tell you. If you plan on going JDM, expect to lose all the money you put into it. JCI and road tax will probably add on 2,000 dollars on top of the normal price. If it's non-plated or has Jap plates.. you need to get Gaijin Y plates and that costs even more again.
Rust is MAJOR issue. Especially if the car you are buying is near the coast. The japs are notorious for "fake" fixing rust. They just bondo over it and paint over it, Without properly removing it. Ask me how I know (saw a guy lean on his door and it caved in).
Shipping isn't cheap either for when you buy cars from o-cross.net or goo.net, **** stacks up. Once you get anything near eligible year vehicles (especially if you're looking at areas near base, because everyone knows the americans buy that ****) the prices skyrocket .To buy online, you need a local to assist in the transaction, because they won't sell to gaijin.
I mean, sure if you really want to, go GTR. Whatever, no skin off my back. But if you drive it, you'll see how much of it sucks. Doesn't handle, has zero power, and it's just big and heavy, plus mods cost an arm and a leg for anything RB related out here. (get familiar with upgarage.com for parts).
I'd highly suggest sticking with a miata, lots of rare parts mainland side and they're all cheap. GV tails popped up once on upgarage for only 150 bucks, but by the time I wanted to buy them, someone else had.
FDs are plentiful out here, if you want, you could go with that. But expect to do the work yourself, not many shops will touch a rotary. I had an FD and loved every minute of it, pushed it to over 400hp and it was a total blast. But 8mpg for 200 bucks a week on gas is too much for a lowly airman such as myself.
But what all the OGs here will tell you, if you really want to enjoy JDM goodies, buy the same car you can get back in the states, or have back in the states, and slap all your goodies on it here, and take it back with you.
Rust is MAJOR issue. Especially if the car you are buying is near the coast. The japs are notorious for "fake" fixing rust. They just bondo over it and paint over it, Without properly removing it. Ask me how I know (saw a guy lean on his door and it caved in).
Shipping isn't cheap either for when you buy cars from o-cross.net or goo.net, **** stacks up. Once you get anything near eligible year vehicles (especially if you're looking at areas near base, because everyone knows the americans buy that ****) the prices skyrocket .To buy online, you need a local to assist in the transaction, because they won't sell to gaijin.
I mean, sure if you really want to, go GTR. Whatever, no skin off my back. But if you drive it, you'll see how much of it sucks. Doesn't handle, has zero power, and it's just big and heavy, plus mods cost an arm and a leg for anything RB related out here. (get familiar with upgarage.com for parts).
I'd highly suggest sticking with a miata, lots of rare parts mainland side and they're all cheap. GV tails popped up once on upgarage for only 150 bucks, but by the time I wanted to buy them, someone else had.
FDs are plentiful out here, if you want, you could go with that. But expect to do the work yourself, not many shops will touch a rotary. I had an FD and loved every minute of it, pushed it to over 400hp and it was a total blast. But 8mpg for 200 bucks a week on gas is too much for a lowly airman such as myself.
But what all the OGs here will tell you, if you really want to enjoy JDM goodies, buy the same car you can get back in the states, or have back in the states, and slap all your goodies on it here, and take it back with you.
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10-03-2012, 03:48 AM
#39
First, let me tell you. If you plan on going JDM, expect to lose all the money you put into it. JCI and road tax will probably add on 2,000 dollars on top of the normal price. If it's non-plated or has Jap plates.. you need to get Gaijin Y plates and that costs even more again.
Rust is MAJOR issue. Especially if the car you are buying is near the coast. The japs are notorious for "fake" fixing rust. They just bondo over it and paint over it, Without properly removing it. Ask me how I know (saw a guy lean on his door and it caved in).
Shipping isn't cheap either for when you buy cars from o-cross.net or goo.net, **** stacks up. Once you get anything near eligible year vehicles (especially if you're looking at areas near base, because everyone knows the americans buy that ****) the prices skyrocket .To buy online, you need a local to assist in the transaction, because they won't sell to gaijin.
I mean, sure if you really want to, go GTR. Whatever, no skin off my back. But if you drive it, you'll see how much of it sucks. Doesn't handle, has zero power, and it's just big and heavy, plus mods cost an arm and a leg for anything RB related out here. (get familiar with upgarage.com for parts).
I'd highly suggest sticking with a miata, lots of rare parts mainland side and they're all cheap. GV tails popped up once on upgarage for only 150 bucks, but by the time I wanted to buy them, someone else had.
FDs are plentiful out here, if you want, you could go with that. But expect to do the work yourself, not many shops will touch a rotary. I had an FD and loved every minute of it, pushed it to over 400hp and it was a total blast. But 8mpg for 200 bucks a week on gas is too much for a lowly airman such as myself.
But what all the OGs here will tell you, if you really want to enjoy JDM goodies, buy the same car you can get back in the states, or have back in the states, and slap all your goodies on it here, and take it back with you.
Rust is MAJOR issue. Especially if the car you are buying is near the coast. The japs are notorious for "fake" fixing rust. They just bondo over it and paint over it, Without properly removing it. Ask me how I know (saw a guy lean on his door and it caved in).
Shipping isn't cheap either for when you buy cars from o-cross.net or goo.net, **** stacks up. Once you get anything near eligible year vehicles (especially if you're looking at areas near base, because everyone knows the americans buy that ****) the prices skyrocket .To buy online, you need a local to assist in the transaction, because they won't sell to gaijin.
I mean, sure if you really want to, go GTR. Whatever, no skin off my back. But if you drive it, you'll see how much of it sucks. Doesn't handle, has zero power, and it's just big and heavy, plus mods cost an arm and a leg for anything RB related out here. (get familiar with upgarage.com for parts).
I'd highly suggest sticking with a miata, lots of rare parts mainland side and they're all cheap. GV tails popped up once on upgarage for only 150 bucks, but by the time I wanted to buy them, someone else had.
FDs are plentiful out here, if you want, you could go with that. But expect to do the work yourself, not many shops will touch a rotary. I had an FD and loved every minute of it, pushed it to over 400hp and it was a total blast. But 8mpg for 200 bucks a week on gas is too much for a lowly airman such as myself.
But what all the OGs here will tell you, if you really want to enjoy JDM goodies, buy the same car you can get back in the states, or have back in the states, and slap all your goodies on it here, and take it back with you.
Otherwise, I wanted to get something unique to japan with the intent of bringing it home and never getting rid of it. I understand there are taxes and fees, but at least the Navy will pay to bring 1 car back, making sure it conforms is my own problem. I'm not concerned with "losing what I put into it" been there done that. I want something for me, that I won't get rid of. And I want to avoid rotary anything (unless it's like an old rx3) because I already have LOTS of that, and like I said, will be planning a build for my FB while I'm there.
And I do ALL my own work and nothing really scares me.
^don't get me wrong, I'm loving your feedback and hanging on every word. I just want to present my intents to you.
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10-03-2012, 04:03 AM
#40
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well.. your choices are slim... essentially, you can only bring back 25 year old or older vehicles... and 96' R33 GTSTs... only things you can bring back.
Good luck finding a car 25 years old seeing as one, they are expensive, two, they are super rare.
I would suggest finding a levin, AE86, +25yr skyline (R30,32)... really isn't much that's affordable once it's 25+
any older datsun costs 30k usually...
And like I said.. rust is a big issue, you don't want to be buying anything that's old online. You need to do personal inspections and etc. Which pretty much restricts you to near base, which will bring high costing cars. (unless you plan a long distance trip or something).
Although, finding a cosmo would be pretty much the epitome of cool.
A miata would also be a dope choice and just 1.8 swap it.
S13s are also a decent choice (many suffer rust and drift damage... hard to find an unmolested one.)
Good luck finding a car 25 years old seeing as one, they are expensive, two, they are super rare.
I would suggest finding a levin, AE86, +25yr skyline (R30,32)... really isn't much that's affordable once it's 25+
any older datsun costs 30k usually...
And like I said.. rust is a big issue, you don't want to be buying anything that's old online. You need to do personal inspections and etc. Which pretty much restricts you to near base, which will bring high costing cars. (unless you plan a long distance trip or something).
Although, finding a cosmo would be pretty much the epitome of cool.
A miata would also be a dope choice and just 1.8 swap it.
S13s are also a decent choice (many suffer rust and drift damage... hard to find an unmolested one.)
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