Slide of the Month Extra: Philmont Segmented Peaks

 

July 2025

Time to make: 3 hours

Finishing: none

 
Original design:  Philmont/Bill Macfarlane







I love trying to bring Philmont themes to something unexpected. When I saw the Philmont Peaks Segment Patch I knew there had to be a way not only to make the slide but to also to make it modular so I could add my own segments for my time at Philmont.

Working with Tinkercad I laid out a 6 segment circle with an inner circle then 3D printed the parts.  Next I printed out the patch (and a few extra locations) on some presentation paper, cut them out, and glued them to the segments using contact cement.  I then designed a thin base, 3D printed it and super glued small magnets into the holes I had made in the base. Lastly I used some thin metal tape (made for use with magnets) to mount to the backs of the segments.

The final build is simple as the segments stick to the baseplate and are easily changed. In fact this is so easy I got a couple of other designs that will be coming soon.

Slide of the Month: A Crow's Skull

 

July 2025

Time to make: 2 hours

Finishing: 1 hour

 
Source: Indian and Camp Handicraft

by W. Ben Hunt

Page 62

Original design:  Ben Hunt

Update: Bill Macfarlane

3D file: Crow Skull by Meligati on Thingiverse: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4121798

Ben Hunt (Whittlin Jim) made a lot of slides and not all of them were in Boy's Life. This slide was in one of the many books he wrote and during the coming months I plan to track as many down as I can.

The original design called for a real crow's skull but I don't see many dead crows around area and the thoughts of cleaning a real skull is not on my list of must do's. Enter a 3D printer and the file listed above.  

Using white PLA filament,  I printed the skull and then carved away the inner walls of the eye socket like Ben's article instructed. I then painted the skull using paint pens.