Uploads from Muddy Funkster, with geodata

Watch out, there's a Pyestock nutter about! (Explore)

nobody@flickr.com (Muddy Funkster) — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 02:20:16 -0700

A selfie in the exhaust end of Cell 3 West. Lit using my Scurion lamp.
highest position: 306 on Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Welcome to the machine (explore)

nobody@flickr.com (Muddy Funkster) — Mon, 17 Sep 2012 04:18:57 -0700

Muddy Funkster posted a photo:

The awe inspiring and breathtaking Cell 3 blast nozzle. Has to be seen to be believed, so many people I know have seen images of this and doubted it really exists. Was capable of producing winds in excess of Mach 1 and is also located inside a sealable chamber where pressure could be lowered to simulate high altitude. The Typhoon aka Euro Fighter had its engines tested in here along with many other Military Aircraft. Went back down in here to reshoot these locations with the 7D. My 400d just doesn't cut it by comparison.
Explored: Highest position: 1 on Tuesday, September 18, 2012

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Secrets of Pyestock - part 1

nobody@flickr.com (Muddy Funkster) — Sun, 17 Jun 2012 13:15:53 -0700

Muddy Funkster posted a photo:

National Gas Turbine Establishment my arse!
This top secret facility was a training area for all kinds of weird stuff. I intend to reveal the truth about this shady organisation one photo at a time ;) Stay tuned for the next expose!

Image took around 10 hours to produce, pretty happy with it for a first attempt at digital art.

Launch code confirmed!

nobody@flickr.com (Muddy Funkster) — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 02:30:46 -0700

Muddy Funkster posted a photo:

Another day of exploring the huge site at Pyestock. Decided to go for a few closer shots today as all previous trips I have focussed on the wider and amazing vistas.
The complexity of the place boggles my mind when I look at all the equipment, turbines, vacume chambers, power plant, electrical cabling, pipes and an even larger profusion of stuff that I wouldn't know how to describe let alone name. It all was put there to work in unison like a single 'town sized' machine and the fact that it DID work blows my mind.

The Walk into Oblivion

nobody@flickr.com (Muddy Funkster) — Sun, 29 Apr 2012 17:26:56 -0700

Muddy Funkster posted a photo:

Finally made it into the Cell 1 test area. This cell is completely empty besides the blast nozzle at the far end of the chamber. Cell 2, which is identical in size and length, runs parallel with this one and still has a jet engine loaded into its testing cradle. This place is like an amazing museum, a reminder of the former greatness this country had in its scientific and engineering prowess. Sadly in this world of X Factor and celebrity bullshit, people don't seem to be interested in this kind of stuff any more.

Penelope Cruz was ere

nobody@flickr.com (Muddy Funkster) — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 13:12:44 -0700

Muddy Funkster posted a photo:

This tube was the place that Penelope Cruz and Matthew McConaughey crawl out of when they first discover the solar powered waste disposal facility in the film Sahara. Rubbish film but great filming location. Have since learned that several episodes of Red Dwarf were filmed here too.
I personally frickin love this place!
Click the image to enlarge.

Descent

nobody@flickr.com (Muddy Funkster) — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 15:09:31 -0700

Muddy Funkster posted a photo:

Getting down here on a homemade rope ladder requires some effort and a bit of nerve. But once down you are more than rewarded with a trio of amazing shooting locations in just a matter of meters from each other.
Still wanting to know more about this hole (mentioned by several urbexers) somewhere down here that avoids the need for the rope ladder? Had a really good look around for possibilities but nothing yet.
Click the image to enlarge.

Blast from the past

nobody@flickr.com (Muddy Funkster) — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 01:35:13 -0700

Muddy Funkster posted a photo:

Rework of the cell 4 exhauster entrance hatch. Grunged to hell this time. 2 shot HDR'd vertorama.

Underworld

nobody@flickr.com (Muddy Funkster) — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 01:46:26 -0700

Muddy Funkster posted a photo:

Part of Pyestock Cell 3 jet engine testing area, located underground to minimise noise pollution.
I have since learned that the circular ribbed thing beyond me would have had a cooled liquid circulating through it, its purpose was to cool the hot vapours blasting through here as they passed through the wind tunnel and the engine testing area. The rods protruding from the floor were inhibitor torches, kind of like large bunsen burners. Their job was to ignite any remaining fuel particles that did not get ignited within the engine and so stopping 'potentially explosive' chemicals building up further down the cell.
Reminds me visually of the scene at the end of Matrix Revolutions where Neo goes to the Machine City and speaks with the head AI robot.
Click the image to enlarge.
A composite made with bits of 16 different exposures.

Pyestock test cell

nobody@flickr.com (Muddy Funkster) — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 01:07:04 -0700

Muddy Funkster posted a photo:

Awesome trip into the NGTE, the former National Gas Turbine Establishment in Fleet. In at 6am and a good old explore around the tunnels and turbine halls of what used to be a testing site for many of this countries supersonic jet engines. This particular spot was tricky to get into requiring a rope climb down but pretty damn awesome for photography.
This location was used in the finale of the film Sahara.
Lit from beneath the mesh walkway casting shadows across the ceiling and walls.

Hidden bunker

nobody@flickr.com (Muddy Funkster) — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 01:03:55 -0700

Muddy Funkster posted a photo:

Somewhere within the forgotten buildings and machinery of Pyestock lies this portal. It's one of Pyestocks iconic images and the reason many urban explorers head in across the fences with their cameras. Overcoming the obstacles and avoiding security patrols is all part of the fun of the challenge and enjoyment of a day out like this.

Take nothing but pictures...

nobody@flickr.com (Muddy Funkster) — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 00:59:01 -0700

Muddy Funkster posted a photo:

...leave nothing but footprints.
HDR master at work, photographing the interior of Cell 3 west's open air exhauster.

The Gulf

nobody@flickr.com (Muddy Funkster) — Sat, 07 Apr 2012 13:09:35 -0700

Muddy Funkster posted a photo:

Inside the main opening of the vast Cell 4 exhauster.

Test Chamber - Cell 3

nobody@flickr.com (Muddy Funkster) — Sat, 31 Mar 2012 15:06:04 -0700

Muddy Funkster posted a photo:

Another view of the test chamber in Cell 3. The noise in here when the cell was active must have been incredible. Imagine the volume and blast like a jet engine but enclosed within an underground tunnel so the noise can't escape.

Event Horizon

nobody@flickr.com (Muddy Funkster) — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 01:04:10 -0700

Muddy Funkster posted a photo:

Inside the belly of the huge exhauster in Cell 4. This wind tunnel was used for testing jet engine prototypes under extreme pressure. Both Concorde and the Harrier's engines were tested here.
The complex series of tunnels around the buildings in the north of Pyestock are connected to the huge turbine hall. This is where winds of up to two thousand miles per hour could be generated and channelled into tunnels like this. The rods protruding from the floor were inhibitor torches, kind of like large bunsen burners. Their job was to ignite any remaining fuel particles that did not get ignited within the engine and so stopping 'potentially explosive' chemicals building up further down the cell.
A comp from 5 different exposures to get it all lit how I wanted it.
Click the image to enlarge.

Plant House - Pyestock

nobody@flickr.com (Muddy Funkster) — Sat, 07 Apr 2012 12:01:26 -0700

Muddy Funkster posted a photo:

The place is amazing. Huge in size and variation and a unique remnant from an era now passed. You could spend days here and not see everything there is to see. You keep stumbling across new things you didn't see aon a previous visit.

Cell 3 West

nobody@flickr.com (Muddy Funkster) — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 16:20:10 -0700

Muddy Funkster posted a photo:

Turbine hall crane

nobody@flickr.com (Muddy Funkster) — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 16:23:19 -0700

Muddy Funkster posted a photo:

Timanfaya Crater

nobody@flickr.com (Muddy Funkster) — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 12:38:33 -0800

Muddy Funkster posted a photo:

Ejecta-texture

nobody@flickr.com (Muddy Funkster) — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 12:38:33 -0800

Muddy Funkster posted a photo:

Love the walls of this long extinct crater. The results of molten splatter solidifying in over hangs and waves, then being wind blasted smooth afterwards.