Slide of the month: Shell

June 2025

Time to make: .5 hours

Finishing: 1 hour

 
Boy's Life April 1980, page 76

 
Original design:  Wayne Mason













Sea shells are fascinating as nature creates some of the most beautiful thing. Now most folks wont find this Scallop Shell to be that great but what makes this interesting to me is I found it digging in my back yard. (I'm no where near the ocean and we are not big shellfish fans.)

Easy slide to make as all I had to do, after cleaning it up, was to glue a loop to the back of the shell.

Slide of the Month-Woodland slide

 

June 2023

Time to make: 1.5 hours

Finishing: .5 hour

 
Boy's Life Mar. 1980,  p. 73

Original design:  Wayne Mason






It's one of my favorite time of year as the leaves are coming out in full and it seems that overnight the leaves go from this size to full grown. 

I picked some small leaves late in May, put them between sheets of waxed paper and placed the under a heavy book. Taking a fallen dead branch, I cut a half dollar sided round about one half inch thick. When the leaves were dry (after a few days), I picked  the best one and glued it to the round. A couple of coats of poly finish it off.

Slide of the Month-Battle Drum

 
May 2023

Time to make: 3 hours

Finishing: 1.5 hour

 
Boy's Life July 1975, page 36

Original design:  Wayne Mason

The 37th Massachusetts was a volunteer infantry unit formed in Pittsfield, MA in 1862. Known as the "Tremont Zouaves" the companies were known by their uniforms which, beside the union blue, also consisted of a long red wool sash and a red "Fez" hat. Some of the engagements the regiment were in include Fredericksburg, Gettysburg, the draft riots of New York City, and the siege of Petersburg. The emblem on this battle drum is from the 37th.

I carved this slide from some maple starting by drilling a 3/4 inch hole trough the middle of the wood. I rounded the slide and then cut in the center of the drum. Next I painted the slide with hobby paints sealed it with a couple coats of poly and applied the emblem using waterslide paper. I drilled holes for the ropes and used small metal beads for the tensioners.

Slide of the Month- Road Signs

 

April 2023

Time to make: 1 hours

Finishing: .5 hour

 

Boy's Life June 1977, page 74

Original design:  Wayne Mason





So this is my spin on the Road Signs neckerchief slide that every adult leader should own. Come to think of it, I should also have one for the Senior Patrol Leader...Yield - ask your patrol leader.

A very quick slide to make as it has really one thing to cut. I used a think piece of hobby 1/16 inch plywood and cut it in the octagon shape. I painted it with white hobby paint. Next I printed out the red area on white water slide paper and applied it to the slide. I sealed it with a couple coats of poly.

Slide of the Month - Knight's Sword and Shield

May 2021

Time to make: 3 hours

Boys Life "Slide of the Month"

August 1977, page 69

Original design:Wayne Mason












I've heard it said,  Lord Baden Powell used  King Arthur's Code of Chivalry and the Knights of the Round Table when writing his Scouting for Boy. What better way to honor the King Arthur legend by creating an inspired Sword and Shield!

Carved from a couple pieces of  maple, the shield was a quick and easy start. The sword was a bit trickier as the double edged blade and the handle took a steady hand to make. Finished with hobby paints and some painters tape. The royal lion was painted freehand. The sword was glued to the shield as was the coat wire loop. A couple of coats of poly to round this off.

Slide of the Month - Jack-O-Lantern Slide

         October 2020

        Time to make: 1 hours

        Finishing: 1 Hour

        Boys Life "Slide of the Month"

        

        Oct. 1980, page 71

        Original design: Wayne Mason

As I understand it, Jack-o-Lanterns are based on the Irish folk tail of Stingy Jack. 

A quick, fun little slide made from pallet wood! I started out cutting a semi round disk and then rounding the wood into a half dome(ish). Using some deep v-cuts, I formed the sections of the pumpkin. A bunch of sanding to make it smooth and painting with hobby paint. The eyes, nose and mouth were painted with a paint pen. A couple of coats of poly finish it off.

Slide of the Month - Seagull

November 2019

Time to make: 2 hours

Boys Life "Slide of the Month"

January 1981, page 50

Original design: Wayne Mason









I love seeing seagulls off the coast of New England but I can help thinking of this scene from Finding Nemo.  (mine, mine, mine...)

 The pier is made from a piece of ceder and the ends have been hit several times with a hammer to give it the look of being pounded into the ground. The rope is some hemp string tied in the back and held the ceder together when I was gluing them together. The body of the seagull is craved from maple and the leg is a paper clip. The seagull is painted with the hobby paint and it is finished up with a couple coats of poly.

Slide of the month - Wood Canteen

April 2019

Time to carve: 2 hours

Finishing:  1.5 hour

Boy's Life - August 1975

Design: Wayne Mason

I do apologize that I don't have great pictures of this slide so here is one with and without a flash.

Coming off making the wooden bucket slide, I knew I wanted to use Oak so the grain would make the canteen look weathered. Lots of v-cuts in this slide! The spout is made from an un-crimped pop rivet and some UV glue (to keep the chain in place). The chain is from a cheep jewelry necklace and it is anchored on the other side with a wire loop. Two additional loops are in place for the leather strap.  The wire bands (not shown) are beading wire. The wood is stained with dark walnut and the metal pieces are painted with a black paint pen. The only metal not painted black was the chain since it was an antique brass already. U.S was also painted on the canteen with the black paint pen. Poly seals the canteen. The shoulder strap is made from a scrap golf glove of really thin leather.