Last week of the year Contest

[swonut]

So, I've started a new job working for Naval Facilities Engineering Command- NAVFAC-- the Navy's equivalent of the Army Corps of Engineers. What that means it that I've got about 12 hours of leave, so I'll be working all this week. (Or as an Army LCOL once said, "they can make me come to work, but they can't make me work...) No, Actually, I'm doing an online course about the Federal Acquisition process and the the laws associated with it. So, it's slides, slides, slides and then I need to take a break to reset the brain.

So, here's the deal and where you guys come in. For a break, I'd like to see some fiddleback pictures. I want to be able to see a project that you guys are doing over the period Christmas to New Years. Whatever it is-- knives, home renovation, cooking, work, hunting, whatever...

I'll pick a winner and I'll send you a virtual treasure trove of gear, swag, and stuff. I like pictures. I like snow. I like fire. Extra points for glow in the dark and guns. Super special if you are shooting a glow in the dark gun; but I'm already off on a tangent.

Here's my project for the week to get you started -- A kuska (Finland cup). https://www.google.com/search?q=fin...X&ved=0ahUKEwip95G_jPvJAhVP02MKHalyA2QQsAQILQ

Build a grinder, overhaul your car engine, clean out the garage, shoot a glow in the dark glock at a clock at midnight-- I don't really care.... JUST POST PICTURES!!!!

Here's the box of swag to get us started. I'll add an item or two each day. First off, a glow in the dark fire striker and a few sticks of fat wood.

 

[M4Super90]

I'm in!!!! I've had a pretty manly last few days. Guns & Beer


Project 1:

Black Friday is one of my favorite days of the year because I have black rifle disease. I openly admit it. Great deals on all things AR for the last month of the year. This year I had some lowers laying around that I submitted Form 1s on in September and I have been accumulating parts for the builds in anticipation of the stamps arriving. If you are going to go small, I say go as small as possible. So the fun build of the bunch is a PDW (personal defense weapon) in .300 AAC Blackout.

Some of the parts:

I actually chose a Troy stock that comes with its own specialized buffer to reduce the OAL. Here it is assembled. Notice the shortened buffer tube and the all in one buffer/bolt carrier assembly. I also switched the mil-spec trigger that came with the parts kit for a CMC flat:

With the stock open:

And with the parts assembled on the 8.2" Noveske barrel. I can actually stick them together when the stamp gets here.

Project 2:

Still working on my homebrew keg system by the pool. This is in the process of getting 2 upgrades - A) I'm making a template to build forms for the concrete counters to be poured. B) I'm converting the commercial tap, single pressure regulator over to a dual pressure regulator with ball & lock for homebrew kegs. I already have a single homebrew keg chilling with a Berliner Weisse I just transferred from the secondary. The new regulators and 2nd keg should be here soon as I just order them with a gift card I received. I'll post progress as it happens this week.

Recent rifle project (Interesting project for me so I'm posting, but do not consider this as it happened a few weeks ago)

I just finished a rifle and added a krylon touch. I had a bunch of Cabela's points and they had an open box/demo rifle on sale. I ended up getting this Tikka T3 in .270 for about 50% off. I put a Vortex Diamondback HP 3-12 X 42 on it. This is intended to be a beater "truck gun", and I live in the desert so I took some Krylon to it and gave it a desert camo paint job. I used broom straw and a mesh laundry bag as the patterns. Tan base coat, 1 color green and two shades of brown.

 

[Dman3d]

This photoshop work on the monarch search and painting a dragon are my last personal projects for the year. The dragon has a long way to go. Have to finish feathers on the head then paint about a million of them on the body.
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/1353933-Fantasy-Fiddlebacks-(and-Want-to-buy)

The master file is much larger than this. When I decided on feathers I had one of those "what the hell was I thinking" moments.
So the head crest will be much more detailed, the back of the body will be covered in blue-ish feathers. Probably add wings and some sort of horns. Still need to work on the clouds and sky more.
This is all painted in Photoshop no photo-bashing. I do doubt I will be able to finish by the new year.

This started as a doodle at work while waiting for renders from time to time then I scanned it and started painting in photoshop.

Larger inset of the head, so much detailing to still do

 

[HogWylder]

This photoshop work on the monarch search and painting a dragon are my last personal projects for the year. The dragon has a long way to go. Have to finish feathers on the head then paint about a million of them on the body.
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/1353933-Fantasy-Fiddlebacks-(and-Want-to-buy)

The master file is much larger than this. When I decided on feathers I had one of those "what the hell was I thinking" moments.
So the head crest will be much more detailed, the back of the body will be covered in blue-ish feathers. Probably add wings and some sort of horns. Still need to work on the clouds and sky more.
This is all painted in Photoshop no photo-bashing. I do doubt I will be able to finish by the new year.

This started as a doodle at work while waiting for renders from time to time then I scanned it and started painting in photoshop.

Larger inset of the head, so much detailing to still do

Are you using a Wacom pad? Does the 3D in you name denote 3D modeling? I'm a user of Autodesk's creation suite, Maya is one of my favorite programs to model with.

 

[emoney2277]

We have some incredibly productive and talented people in this community. I managed to make fried chicken and pancakes today..hope that counts lol[emoji41]

 

[Gusbuster]

I got a glow in the dark knife in a Star Wars sheath!

 

[Dman3d]

Are you using a Wacom pad? Does the 3D in you name denote 3D modeling? I'm a user of Autodesk's creation suite, Maya is one of my favorite programs to model with.

Yeah I am a 3DMAX, Zbrush and 3d Coat user, Adobe suite etc. This is all photoshop only though. Using an older Wacom Intuous III. When I paint I use my left hand, right hand for mouse so I need the stylus for painting/drawing.



That Mandolorian sheath rules!

 

[Odaon]

I've got a couple worthy projects that I'll try to post this week!

M4Super90, I can't see any of your pictures but the last ones, I fricken love my Tikka T3 in .270. I have the Hunter model with the walnut stock and that thing is a tack driver and a deer killer.

Here's my buck from this year.

 

[swonut]

There's still time.... Anyhow, I've sweetened the pot with the infamous 3.97 flipper knife from Walmart. G-10 handle, mystery steel, good clean flip with a nice 50% lockup. Really, I challenge anyone to do better at the sub four bucks price point.

Please, post some pictures of what you have going on. Cooking, camping, fire building, paying bills, I really don't care. Here's what I need a break from....

 

[Marl71]

Not sure if this qualifies, and it definitely won't be done in time.

I'm trying my hand at carving a spoon. I have never tried before, and so far it has been rough going. My first mistake was buying hard maple (1.5 x 0.75 x 12 inch board), pretty tough stuff. Blisters are showing up in new exciting places, and the KE Bushie's edge is taking a beating. Anyways, here is the work in progress. I am still in the rough shaping phase.

Stopping point #1


Stopping point #2. Black spots on the wood are from my glove deteriorating.


Edge damage (after steeling and stropping). I had a hard time getting a good picture.


Time to break out the waterstones and get that edge back in shape. Then I need to learn how to dish out the head of the spoon.

 

[swonut]

Not sure if this qualifies, and it definitely won't be done in time.
Time to break out the waterstones and get that edge back in shape. Then I need to learn how to dish out the head of the spoon.

It definitely qualifies! Easiest way I've seen to do the spoon dish is burning it with a small piece of charcoal. I just got a hook knife (Mora 162) and it was immensely helpful last night in smoothing the inside of my kuksa, but still not quite as magical as I had hoped.

 

[Jhaskins1970]

Just curious...wood beats steel, whats up with that edge?

 

[Odaon]

Here's an on going project I've been working on that I have some pictures of...

Creating recipes for all of this elk, deer, and wild game we have! My roommate, a very good friend, started hunting big game this year and I started last year. This year we were both able to fill our bull elk and buck mule deer tags, he also had a black bear tag that went unfilled. We also got a bunch of pheasant in NE, and we try to get out every or every other weekend to hunt small game or go fishing... We had to buy a second chest freezer.

My goal for 2016 is to supply myself, girlfriend, and roommate with meat that we get ourselves. It wont be 100% because we still like the occasional roast chicken or pulled/smoked pork but as much as possible I'd like to it be wild game.

Here's one of our freezers. This has most of both elk, some salmon from Alaska, and a little bit of deer. The other freezer has the rest of the deer, pheasant, some walleye from earlier this year, and a few snowshoe hares. Hoping to add some yellow perch to the mix this weekend.

So since the contest is for things we've done this week, here are some elk roasts we made on Tuesday. Seared, topped with bacon, and cooked over root veggies. I'm still perfecting the cooking time and temperatures for elk and deer so these got a little past where I would have liked. Still delicious.

Before topping with bacon.

Finished product.

I made a gravy out of the drippings and we had baked potatoes as well.

Tomorrow I'll be making a batch of crock pot elk chili. :thumbup:

 

[TxSportsman]

Odaon, I believe you and I would get along just fine.

Whitetail jerky batch

 

[Odaon]

I would agree! I'll let you know next time I'm in TX! Haha.

What flavor is the jerky? I've got some roasts set aside just to make into jerky and I'm always looking for new recipes to try.

 

[Marl71]

It definitely qualifies! Easiest way I've seen to do the spoon dish is burning it with a small piece of charcoal. I just got a hook knife (Mora 162) and it was immensely helpful last night in smoothing the inside of my kuksa, but still not quite as magical as I had hoped.

Thanks for the input! I have a small set of carving tools, so I was going to give that a shot before investing in a hook knife. The charcoal is a great idea.

Just curious...wood beats steel, whats up with that edge?

This is pretty tough wood, but I'm sure some of it is user error. I believe I have read that scandi grinds are not as robust as convex grinds. The edge is rolling, not chipping. And the edge is getting thinner and weaker as I steel and strop.

I think resharpening to a high polish will help some. Taking breaks to strop as I work will help. And avoiding any twisting movements will help. I am not an expert on grinds, edges, and sharpening by any means. I'm learning as I go.

 

[SA Condor]

My end of the year project is packing, packing, and more packing!! We are moving. Monday I'm making an overland trip with a load of stuff. It's about an 11 hour trip and it's rainy season, so slippery muddy roads are a reality, and landslides a strong possibility. Fun fun

Time to tear the tree down and pack it too!

 

[SA Condor]

Snow!! I miss snow down here in the Andes, so to make sure we had some snow this Christmas and also for my daughter's birthday yesterday, I brought this back from my old romping grounds. I miss New England!!

 

[Justarandomguy]

I would agree! I'll let you know next time I'm in TX! Haha.

What flavor is the jerky? I've got some roasts set aside just to make into jerky and I'm always looking for new recipes to try.

When you go, you can fill the need for the pork butt with some feral hog. They have been tearing Texas up.

 

[Odaon]

When you go, you can fill the need for the pork butt with some feral hog. They have been tearing Texas up.

That's definitely something that I've got on "the books"! That would be a lot of fun. We apparently have a small population in SE Colorado but I don't know a ton about it.