This is something I have had in mind for a while now. When the blank came to me, I knew it was time.
The reel seat is a Pacific Bay A7 with Ponderosa Pine Bark from Camp Tahosa for the insert. The grip is Moose antler framing Ponderosa Pine Bark accented with American Walnut and Olive wood. The TiCH single foot guides are wrapped with colors from teh current Boy Scout Uniform. The pants are real close to the color of the blank. The shirt is tan, and the old red numerals have been replaced with olive green ones.
The moose antler represents the resident moose at Tahosa and each side of the 6 joints in the 7pc rod are representative of the 12 points of the Scout Law.
Kevin, When you post stunning photo’s like this my first thought is that you are just finding professioanl pictures somewhere. That first pic of all 7 pc’s looks like its right out of a catalog. Great job as usual, but this one is super!!!
I need to fix the first and third pictures. They are horribly overexposed. A while back, another member showed a light tent he had built I did something similar. I use a hanging file folder frame slipped inside a white pillowcase and a couple of clamp on flood lights that are diffused by the pillowcase. That, or there is a root to a large cottonwood in the back yard that I use as a background and shoot the photos in the shade for the diffused light. I like to use the root for the rods, but it is covered with snow right now.
Beautiful work Kevin, the grain in that pine bark is stunning! How do you seal the bark? (I have bad memories of, and splinters from, handling pine and fir firewood when I was a kid.)
I used 3 coats of wipe on polyurethane on this one. I did not want a glossy finish so I quit when the bark wasn’t soaking it in as well. The finish is on the bark and wood only. The antler is simply polished with Micro-Mesh.
That is one of Roger Penrose’s blanks. If you search Ebay for “fly rod blanks” the ones that come up “by Roger” are his. They are decent blanks along the quality and performance level of the Sevier Tiger Eye blanks. About the same price range, too.
I was kind of sad to see the red go, too. It’s a good thing that “once a uniform, always a uniform.” I really don’t like the cargo pants for the new uniform. I do not need baggy pockets adding to the size of my butt. :lol:
As one who spent many days and most of 6 summers in Boy Scout uniforms, I hate the new unis. Now I have a boy in cub scouts and know I will be stuck back in the leader uniform all too soon.
A super memory is seeing Burl Ives come on stage at the 1977 National Jamboree in full scout uniform complete with shorts knee socks and garter flashers…total class act.
Kevin I may have to hijack your color scheme. I bought a bunch of blanks on clearance and am doing them for our local Scout camp. they are restarting the camp as a summer camp after a 15yr closure. we would go there all the time for weekend stuff.
Did the Scoutmaster thing for 10 years, both sons Eagle, we did Philmont, Jambo etc also.
my super memory was working VIP dining at 2005 Jambo and having to wait on Steve Fossett. two days later he’s waking down the road and remembers me. we walked and talked for about a mile to the next event and it was he was just your neighbor.
I wear the shorts with knee socks and flashes, too. I wear McClaren tartan flashes because I have been through Wood Badge and have staffed a couple of times. I have Dad’s old red knit flashes and wear those once in a while. I like the green, but since I am a Unit Commissioner and not affiliated with a specific unit, I don’t have numerals and my shoulder loops are silver. What I don’t like is the cargo pockets.
Check your local Scout Shop. They may have some of the older uniforms left. I was surprised that ours did still. They have been selling out at $5 each for shorts, pants, and shirts. If you can find them, grab them now. Thrift stores get them once in a while, too.
I too like the way the colors compliment each other on this rod. Beautiful work on the handle and insert. Obviously, a lot of thought went into this rod!!
