Slide of the Month Extra - The Nutcracker

    

     Christmas day 2022

     Time to make: 3 hours

     Finishing: 1.5 hour

     Original design:  Bill Macfarlane













A long time ago (last Friday to be exact), I thought I might like to try making a nutcracker slide for the holiday season. After researching learning how to make a working nutcracker in a size I could use for a neckerchief slide, I realized this wasn't that different from making the joined monkey slide. 

Make from different sized dowels, I started with a large dowel and carved and hour glass shape for the body. I cut a slot in the body and began working on the working jaw mechanism. After figuring out where to drill the hole, I used a long nail to drill through the body into the jaw and out the other side of the body. The nail was purposely long enough to also mount the arms (made from smaller dowels). A small drop of super glue  to secure the arms to the nail and when I use the lever to close the jaw the arms also move.  Next using the same large dowel, I carved the head and the hat then using pins and glue secure them to the body.  Using a slightly larger dowel, I cut out the legs and made feet which I glued and pined to the legs. The legs were then glued and pined to the body. The hands were make from some flat beads and glued/ pinned to the arms. I painted the slide with hobby paints before gluing the hair to the chin and head.

Happy Holidays and I be back next year!

Slide of the Month Extra - Matchbox/Hotwheels

December 2022

Time to make:  1/2 hours

Finishing: 0 hours

Original design: Bill Macfarlane





When I was very young, Matchbox diecast cars and trucks were a mainstay with cars racing around and construction vehicles building roads in the sand box. A few years latter, it was a upstart company Hot Wheels cars racing down orange flexible tracks. A great number of years later, a collection of fire, rescue, and ambulance vehicles from many different companies in my collection. (OK, I have a few space ones too...)

The other day I happened to see this mini-sub and thought it might make for an interesting slide. I simply drilled a couple of holes into the back and crazy glued a wire loop into the holes. Quick, easy, and a good looking slide!

Slide of the Month -The Viking

December 2022

Time to make: 2 hours

Boys Life "Slide of the Month"

Aug. 1998, page 54

Original design: Jeff Springer












Now there are two thing that come to mind when I think of Vikings. The first is a great series from the History channel and the second a silly reference from Monty Python's Flying Circus. (spam, spam spam, spam...)

I like this slide as it is somewhat chip carving and somewhat finished. Carved from maple and painted with hobby paint. It is finished with a couple coats of poly and it has a coat hanger loop.