Thursday, December 31, 2020

The first 10 years


Ten (ish) years ago I started this blog with a goal of making all the Whittlin Jim slides (which I finished in 2017) and then to make all Slide of the Month slides from Boys Life. So with the close of 2020, I've now made all the of them. (There are a few odd ball slides that appeared Boys Life I've yet to make, like the one in a Coke ad for example.) There are over 100 Philmont themed slides, some other designs from the internet and friends. Last but not least, a fair amount of my own designs. There have been wonderful slides I'm proud of and a few that, well, I'll revisit sometime in the future to improve upon. There have been cuts, blisters, an annoying wart on my thumb that had to be surgically removed and a few stitches but still the thrill of making slides has been a wonderful pastime. To date, I have over 500+ slides (not all published yet) and trying to calculate how many I have in my head this morning kept me from sleeping.  That's more than 50 slides a year!

So what does the future hold? Well I'm going out this morning to buy more storage boxes and I already have a bunch more designs in my mind. Who knows but I'm reminded of the line in Jaws...

 "You're going to need a bigger boat"

Sunday, December 20, 2020

Slide of the Month Extra -Red Roof Inn



December 2020

Time to make: 2 hours

Finishing: 1 hour

Original design:  Bill Macfarlane








 

Unless you have been to Philmont, you might not get the humor in this slide. Let just say this was a more acceptable slide than the others I could have made (pilot to bombardier,  pilot/co-pilot, or solo flight). A word to the wise, beware of the rash inducing spiders from mars. 

Carved from southern pine and painted with hobby paints. The slide is finished off with a couple coats of poly.

Friday, December 11, 2020

Slide of the Month Extra - Volunteer Vacation



December 2020

Time to make: 2 hours

Finishing: 1 hour

Original design:  Philmont / Bill Macfarlane










 

Calling all Philmont alums! Want to experience Philmont again while giving back? Well bucko saddle up and join the "Volunteer Vacation".  The Philmont Staff Association sponsors crews of adults for one week of service constructing trails at Philmont Scout Ranch ever year. (Virus and fires permitting)

Carved from pallet wood (southern pine) this is another patch adaption involving mutable layers. The top layer is the arrowhead followed by the outer ring and the background. The slide is painted with hobby paints and the pick and axe were painted with paint pens. (I'm not fond of the job I did on the later...). The lettering was done using waterslide paper and an ink jet printer. A couple of coats of Poly finish it off. 

Tuesday, December 1, 2020

Slide of the Month - Beaver



December 2020

Time to make: 2 hours

Finishing: 1 hour

Original design:  Jeff Springer

Boys Life Sept. 1995, page 54










For the Wood Badge "Critter" folks I present the Beaver. (Still not as great of a Patrol as the da Bears but I digress.)

 Carved from maple, I really like the cartoon nature of this slide! Painted wit hobby paints and sealed with a couple coats of polly