Let's Make A Coffee Pot- Part 1

I'm in the midst of doing another Chuckwagon Cook and being as I've already covered the Cook I thought doing a few videos concentrating on some of the associated details might be a good idea.  So, here is how I go about making a Chuckwagon Coffee Pot.  It's not a hard thing to make but getting it right is something we want to do so our cook has the right equipment to turn out a good cup of Joe!  And you certainly can'd do a Chuckwagon Cook without a coffee pot in there somewhere.   Here's the video:
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http://www.vimeo.com/25779012
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The photo to the Cook on the left is one I did quite a few years ago. I can't make out the date which is a good reminder to make sure your photos capture those important facts.  He's got his coffee made, cups in hand, and is waiting for the boys to crawl out of their bedrolls and stumble over for a cup of wake-up.  As Arbuckles coffee was the brand any good cook would choose I included a case of it and a opened package on top.  The cups are tin.  Overall a pretty neat little scene.
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I hope you can follow along and carve one of your own and comments are welcome as always.  Here's the video link:

Look What Flew In!

Carved these two guys this morning as I continue to flesh out the burial scene.  Can't wait to get them painted as they really add a lot to the theme of the piece.  The tree is a piece of cedar I clipped off a dead tree yesterday and ran it through a steel brush and the flap sander.  I'll stain and paint it later.  Cedar is great for things like this as it doesn't rot like other found wood.  Haven't decided what to put on the smaller sign but I've good some good ideas.

Some more photos in the Gallery and your comments are welcome as always.

Carving a Cowboy On His Horse - The Inner Leg Details

A number of you have asked me when am I ever going to finish the Cowboy on the Horse project.  Well, to be honest I really can't tell you as I have so many other things going on a the moment.  So, to help you out as much as I can here are some photos of the inside of a cowboys legs while setting on a horse.  Anything above the carved area will be hidden when the cowboy is placed in the saddle.  If you check the album The Range Rider you can see how this looks when he's in place. Once the legs are done I then carve the upper part of the body.
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When fitting the body to the saddle you will no doubt also have to remove material from the saddle.  The important thing is that the body should fit into the saddle naturally so it looks like a single piece.
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Hope this helps you out.

Done Gone Under

Here's an early look at a scene I'm working on.  Started it early last year and you may have seen in setting on the table during some of the videos.  I made the base first as I wanted to see just how it would look as a platform for the figures.  The hole goes down through all three levels and will be textured to match the upper area when done.  I plan on having two additional figures in the hole shoveling and they will be only partially be seen.  Of course there will be lots of little details laying around.  The base is about 18" wide to give you some scale of it's size.
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The little poem is one of my own and while it doesn't really explain what his neck was stretched for it's clear that whatever it was he won't be doing it again.
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I hope to have this one done by the Dayton show.  As always your comments are welcome and there are a few more photos in the Gallery.

The Viking Warrior

I painted the flag design this morning and put everything together so here he is, ready to jump in his ship and go off to rape and pillage somewhere.  Sure hope it's not around here.
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This has really been a fun project but I'm glad it's over.  Doing these carvings via the video process really stretches out the production time of a piece and by the time it's half done I'm just about ready to move on to something else.  But I know you folks like those videos so we'll keep them coming.   I've already got an idea for the next series which should be even more interesting and a lot more challenging.
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The symbol on the flag is one I found on the web and I think it really rounds out the character.  Once everything was mounted I gave him and the flag a quick shot of Dul-Coat to even everything up.
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So, if you're making your own version I hope you share it with the rest of us.  Maybe we can put them all together and go over and attack that WCI forum and create a little havoc.   Again, your comments are welcome and appreciated.

Viking Warrior – Part 10

With this segment we wrap up the project except for the final flag design, the finishing varnish and mounting him solidly on his base.  Personally, I think he turned out great and will make an impressive little character for someone’s display shelf.   If you’re carving your own version I hope you had as much fun doing it as I have. 

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As always your comments and opinions are appreciated. 

Viking Warrior – Part 9

He just keeps looking better and better!

Viking Warrior – Part 8

In this one we paint the tunic, the chainmail, the leggings and boots.   He’s starting to look pretty snappy. 

Viking Warrior – Part 7

Believe it or not we’re finally finished with the carving part.  In this segment we wrap up that part of this project and get ready to move into the painting phase.  A couple more posts and this little figure can go set on the display stand.

Viking Warrior – Part 6

At last!  We work on the face and head.  Now the fun really begins!

Viking Warrior – Part 5

Slowly but surely we’re getting there.  With this segment the body is just about complete. 

Viking Warrior – Part 4

He’s really starting to take shape with this segment.  I kind of fleshed him out outside the video but most of what I did has already been covered in previous projects so I felt I didn’t need to repeat those steps here.   I placed my patterns for the arms and sword in the Gallery album.  Just remember there is a lot of extra wood to the arms to play with. 

Viking Warrior Part 3

In this segment we get ready to attach the first arm and block out a shield blank.