3D Modeling

[Andrew Mason]

I may be the last to know this. I just looked at Dealey Plaza in Google Earth Pro-with 3D Buildings layer. Elevation data is not only given for buildings but trees, plaza structures and even automobiles parked in the lots! Elevations for some details of the TUP are available. All elevation data are given with 1 foot resolution.

Elevation, Ft
426      Center of Houston St. / Main intersection
400      Elm just at the underpass
398      Elm just after the underpass
419-420   Top of bridge at track level
423      Rail
426      Top of East Elm/Main pillar

Very helpful.  On my 3D Sketchup model of DP I get 490 feet from the bottom SE corner of the TSBD to the middle of Elm at the entrance to the underpass. So the average slope is arcsin(26/490)=3.04 degrees.

[Jerry Organ]

The rubber tyre diameters don't match. My model shows tyres with a 27" diameter.  It may be that the rubber tyres are bigger. Need more information.

In 1963, the limousine received a set of "sunburst" wheel covers made for the 1957 Lincoln Premiere, that measure 15" across. The same diameter as the hubcaps in the SketchUp model. So at least the wheel covers are accurate.

[Jerry Organ]

There's an auction closing today for a fence section owned by Larry Howard. Link


I believe this is not the 1963 fence because the fence Holland and Lane stood behind in 1966 had a different taper. I believe the 1963 fence had no gaps between the pickets and that there was a curvature on the front surface of each picket, in order to simulate a "stockade fence".

[Royell Storing]

There's an auction closing today for a fence section owned by Larry Howard. Link


I believe this is not the 1963 fence because the fence Holland and Lane stood behind in 1966 had a different taper. I believe the 1963 fence had no gaps between the pickets and that there was a curvature on the front surface of each picket, in order to simulate a "stockade fence".

    Just curious, but why would you use the word "simulate" with respect to the 1963 fence? Why do you believe the 1963 fence was Not an actual "Stockade fence"?  In 1963, the parking lot behind that fencing was still nothing but actual ground/soil.

[Jerry Organ]

    Just curious, but why would you use the word "simulate" with respect to the 1963 fence? Why do you believe the 1963 fence was Not an actual "Stockade fence"?  In 1963, the parking lot behind that fencing was still nothing but actual ground/soil.

The original stockade was built of logs, placed side-by-side vertically to form a defensive wall. The 1963 decorative "stockade fence" was made of planks with machined curvature on one face. The 1980s version that's up for auction seems like small irregular logs sawed in half vertically. Evidently they were looking to evoke the "Old West" look.

No one builds traditional stockades anymore, so the term "stockade fence" now mainly refers to decorative or privacy fencing. Such a fence needs only a pointed top to be "stockade"-style and doesn't have to be curved on its front face. Such fences are usually sold in sections. The 1963 fence might be made of same-length sections that are attached to evenly-spaced metal posts.

[Royell Storing]

The original stockade was built of logs, placed side-by-side vertically to form a defensive wall. The 1963 decorative "stockade fence" was made of planks with machined curvature on one face. The 1980s version that's up for auction seems like small irregular logs sawed in half vertically. Evidently they were looking to evoke the "Old West" look.

No one builds traditional stockades anymore, so the term "stockade fence" now mainly refers to decorative or privacy fencing. Such a fence needs only a pointed top to be "stockade"-style and doesn't have to be curved on its front face. Such fences are usually sold in sections. The 1963 fence might be made of same-length sections that are attached to evenly-spaced metal posts.

    I thought this "STOCKade" fence carried that name in reference to "liveSTOCK" being confined in this same area at one time. This made it convenient to then load the livestock onto the trains for transport. I don't know how secure anyone would feel with a fence such as this serving as a "defensive wall", even if it were made of logs. It is only roughly 5 feet tall.   

[Jerry Organ]

"Knott Laboratory presents digital reconstruction and findings on the assassination of President John F. Kennedy" ( Link )


They're using the "low" entry point for Kennedy's back wound. Since they're not showing a jacket bunch, I guess they went about four-inches below the top of the jacket collar. Photos show the top of the jacket collar was tight to Kennedy's nape and went to the hairline

Connally was sitting upright (if not a little backward) in the early-Z220s while they have the Governor's torso leaning forward.

[Mitch Todd]

"Knott Laboratory presents digital reconstruction and findings on the assassination of President John F. Kennedy" ( Link )


They're using the "low" entry point for Kennedy's back wound. Since they're not showing a jacket bunch, I guess they went about four-inches below the top of the jacket collar. Photos show the top of the jacket collar was tight to Kennedy's nape and went to the hairline

Connally was sitting upright (if not a little backward) in the early-Z220s while they have the Governor's torso leaning forward.

They also have the bullet hitting JFK in the centerline, and it looks like they have the shot coming from the western pane of the first window, rather than the eastern one. And there's nothing to account for the uncertainty of the measurement of the actual wound locations. If this is all these guys have, they're either amateurs, lazy, or just incompetent.