Sunday, December 25, 2022

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!

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