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January 25 "Stardust Blue" - an original colour on Mazda 626 and RX7"Stardust Blue" (star dust blue), was an OEM paint colour
supplied by Mazda on the 1979, 1980, and 1981 Mazda 626,
and on the 1980, 1981, and 1982 Mazda RX7. The colour code for "stardust blue" was U2.
The paint is classed as a "metallic clearcoat",
but according to one paint expert, the stardust blue
was a "mono-coat", indicating that it was not a base coat/
clear coat paint job.
This might explain why many of the Mazda 626's and Mazda RX7'S
with metallic paint from that period, suffered severe paint degredation
within a relatively short period.
There was no protective "clear coat" to protect those early metallic
paints from the ravages of exposure to Ultra Violet Light and extremes
of weather.
It was not unusual to see severely faded paint on the roof,
bonnet (hood), and on the top of the boot (trunk) cover, on
Mazda 626's and RX7's with metallic paint (from that period)
by the early 1990's.
The metallic silver colours were always the worst affected,
with some of them so faded, they turned to a sickly grey-whitish
colour in the areas already mentioned, but the sides of
the vehicles were usually in good condition.
The fact that the top surfaces (roof, boot, and bonnet) were
severely affected, while the sides were still in good condition,
would indicate that ultra violet light was the main reason for
the degredation.
This phenomenon was not confined to Mazda. Other japanese cars
from the early to mid 1980's with faded paint in the same areas
have also been observed, including Toyota and Nissan.
The metallic blue colours did not suffer as much degredation as
the metallic silver colours, and the "star dust blue" is a good
example of this.
The picture below shows a 1981 Mazda 626 with its original
stardust blue paintwork. The reason the paintwork is in such
good condition, is because the car was kept under cover most
of its life, and was not left out in the sun for long periods
of time.
1981-Mazda-626 with Stardust Blue metallic paint in original condition.
The next picture shows a 1982 Mazda RX7 painted with Stardust Blue -
1982 Mazda RX7 in "stardust blue".
Finally, this picture of a 1979 Mazda 626 painted in
Stardust Blue metallic, appeared on the cover of the
Gregory's Repair Manual for the rear-wheel drive
Mazda 626's.
The colour in the picture is not quite right, and appears
darker than the actual colour.
Cover of Gregory's Repair Manual showing a darker-than-normal
Stardust Blue paint job on a 1979 (and early 1980) Mazda 626.
Note - The Gregory's Manual says "1979 to 1983" , but by 1983
the 626 was a completely different vehicle with front wheel drive, and
a new engine.
Unlike the rear-wheel drive Mazda 626, the RX7 sports car used a rotary engine.
January 18 Automobile Registration card, State of California, 1944This State of California Automobile Registration card from 1944,
appeared in the movie "The Deep Sleep" starring Humphrey Bogart
and Lauren Bacall.
The card indicates that the vehicle, a 1935 Plymouth 6 Coupe, is
registered to Harry Jones, who resides at 240 Dunlee St, Los Angeles.
The date of registration is the 27th of October, 1944, and the engine
number is PJE 23968B. The vehicle registration number is 43 Q 712.
The registration fee is only $4.40. The "PJE" letters mean that the coupe
is an economy model with a low compression engine developing less
horsepower than the standard Plymouth engine.
The movie was filmed between October 1944 and January 1945, but
was not released to public cinemas until 1946, because some additional
scenes were added (and some original dialogue was changed) in
January 1946, due to the marriage of Bogart and Bacall in May 1945.
The marriage lasted until Bogart's death in January 1957.
The registration card seen here was placed in a card holder which was
loosely attached to the steering column of the vehicle.
It clearly states at the top of the card that the "Card must be in plain
sight in driver's compartment".
This practice of having the vehicle registration card "in plain sight",
continued well into the 1960's in the State of California.
It's hard to imagine that the rule would apply nowadays, with your
name and address displayed for all to see !
The card appeared in the scene where Marlowe (Bogart), gained
access to Harry Jones' unlocked car, and looked at the card
suspended from the steering column in order to gain information
about the owner of the Plymouth, which was parked unoccupied
at the kerbside, outside Marlowe's apartment block.
Just after that, Marlowe becomes the recipient of a severe beating
by two thugs, and when they leave, Harry Jones shows up and helps
Marlowe up to his apartment.
Automobile Registration card, State of California, 1944.
January 16 Australian soldier awarded Victoria Cross by Governor GeneralFor the first time in 40 years, an Australian soldier has been awarded
the Victoria Cross.
The medal was presented to Mark Donaldson at Government House
in Canberra today (Friday, January 16, 2009), by the Governor General,
Quentin Bryce.
Mark Donaldson was awarded the Victoria Cross for outstanding bravery
during a battle with the Taliban in Afghanistan last September.
The last time a Victoria Cross was awarded to an Australian was back in 1969.
Mark Donaldson (left) is presented with the Victoria Cross by the Governor General.
 A close-up picture of the Victoria Cross presented to trooper Donaldson.
January 14 Dirk "doe eyes" Donnelley becomes 117th member of groupDirk "doe eyes" Donnelley has just become the 117th. member
of the Australian group "Australia - The Land Down Under".
Dirk works as a motor mechanic for a Government Department,
and is married with two children. He doesn't work on private
vehicles (except for his own car).
Dirk posted this caricature of himself as his membership picture -
caricature
January 10 Aerial view of Philip Island just south of Norfolk IslandThis is an aerial view of uninhabited Philip Island south of Norfolk Island
in the Pacific Ocean.
To gain access to the island, it is necessary to scale the cliff with a rope.
The island is a haven for birds nests, and there are some wild animals,
mainly rabbits.
The correct spelling is "Philip" Island, but quite often it's spelt "Phillip"
Island.
Uninhabited Philip Island south of Norfolk Island in the Pacific.
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