The Weekend Hobby Thread

Good afternoon Morons & Hobbyists. What is going on in your world? Hopefully, you are enjoying late spring preparing for summer and working on things you enjoy. Let's take a look at the world of hobbies.................And please leave the current events outside the front door.

Those of us who feed birds are fully aware of the "joys" of tree rats squirrels. This guy takes them on. This is hobby worthy.

The almost world famous Ace of Spades Pet Thread meets The Weekend Hobby Thread.

We have all heard of historic reenactment. Where do the various items of haberdashery come from? Good question. Well we have one Moron who not only participates in historic reenactments, he makes his own hats. Quite a project and worthwhile hobby if you ask me. Let's take a look........

Prompted from a Miniature Page proposed poll question: Do you have a gaming hat?

Well no and always wanted one. Buying was out of the question so as I do often wonder can I make one. Web searching got me convinced I could.

Shako on right was first attempt, a 1813 Prussian Fusilier soldier. But wasn't done and knew I could do better so started the Prussian Fusilier Officer Shako (Fusiliers are the light infantry in the Prussian army). Another problem after the shako, the front decoration was easy but a officers had eagle medallions on each side. So next issue was can I make those, and a few trials they came out fairly well. I cast them in plaster of Paris poured in a block, then carved out my medallion impression and used plumbing solder as it's metal and melts easy.

So now got these down, could I make a Russian Artillery officer Kiwer (Just the Russian word for Shako) many steps were do overs, the concave top and top edge in a original were same piece of leather and I tried but it wasn't working, so started over, a top and lower edge leather are sewed, the top wasn't easy inside the hat. The medallions were easy now but next is cords around the hat. Russians actually wore them all the time as opposed to some armies in the Napoleonic Wars that only wore them on occasion. Another task I had to learn from videos. Tried a few different cord types and failed attempts to make them silver, a officers would be silver, a artilleryman's are red, a infantryman would be white

All in all I am happy how they came out, I will wear them to Historicon next month, the Prussian Fusilier Officer this time as signed up to play a Prussian vs French war game.- Skip.

I know you Morons have things you enjoy to do. So come on and share your hobbies, hobby storys, tips, photos and the like with us. You can send this information, 20/0 fan brushes, Jenkins Green Acrylic and Prussian Blue Acrylic paints to petmorons at gmail dot com.

posted by Misanthropic Humanitarian at 05:30 PM

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