Post #426615 by Tipsy McStagger on Thu, Jan 1, 2009 1:11 PM

greetings and happy new year!!!

thought i'd start out the new year by sharing a project i have been working on and off of over the past few months.....Back in may doug horne of swampfire lounge approached me about making him one of my sign replicas based on his logo for his artwork and website.....the plan was to have it done in time for last years 2008 tiki oasis to be unveiled in his booth.....unfortunately, a few set backs occured and rather than rush it through and half-ass it, i informed doug that regrettably, it would not be ready in time.....since then i have been chipping away at it when i can and this past holiday season i was able to rally and start the big push to completion.....

it's about 75% there.......i decided with doug's blessing to post progress pics here ......this will help me stay focused toward it's completion.

here's a few random early stage shots, followed by the latest pic i took this a.m. of the sign with light boxes fired up and ready.....

Here's the only piece of info i had to work from....i based the sign on doug's dimensions and had to wing the rest....

here's some not too interesting shots of the light boxes taking shape....

..and here's the tiki head that will ultimately crown the sign.....this is in the rough early stages (not yet painted either)....since then i have revised it a bit for the sake of assembly. I hand carved this out of dense foam.....it was my first real carving attempt...i thought it came out quite nice....and light-weight too!!

..and this is where we are at right now......

..Doug wanted me to use actual driftwood, but it posed problems with the lettering getting cut...so i had to fake a driftwood look. Also, the camera makes the letters look washed out, but they are actually a nice even green light flowing throughout....

...Had i lived out west near doug i probably would have had it done in time....but i had to carefully design this so it could be disassembled for shipping and easy set-up....i assume doug was going to drag this thing from trade show to tiki event so it had to be light and it had to break down for travel.....as it is, the 2 light boxes are removable.....the tiki head will also be removable....right now it just locates into the top of the pole and is held in by 2 screws......

..stay tuned....i should have the tiki head finished and painted this weekend.....next week i make the flames and tiki torches....

..also- big thanks to BUZZY for suppling the bamboo pole and to Perry for being there for me when i needed the letters cut!!

[ Edited by: Tipsy McStagger 2009-01-01 13:19 ]

[ Edited by: Tipsy McStagger 2009-03-31 05:04 ]