[squbrigg]

Thanks Ash, looking forward to seeing this one. That picture of Napoleon is a favorite of mine, and should be a great challenge to carve. What wood are you using?

Bob

[Kenny_S]

You are on your way Ash. Will be watching with interest.

[Irishman]

If people only knew what it takes to do a carving like this eh. It looks like your at the stage where it gets difficult to angle the carving to get those gouges in there. I'm curious about the wood also as it looks to have some color. I'm assuming that you laminated some pieces together to get the size you wanted.
Patrick

[Gear Dog]

Amazing, I wish I had that much time to work on anything. I'll be watching for more progress pictures.

[Ashbys]

Will I guess I will finish it in 20 or 30 years =)

I wanted something that would really push me so I sellected both a style and subject that was restrictive and yet gave a lot of freedom and this fit the bill.

The wood is Mahagony , and yes it was glued up. the starting size was 24 x 22 x 7-1/2 .

I can can't wait for more time.

anyway here are the updates,

Ash

[Ron Davidson]

Thanks for the phone update Garry. Sounds like it is comming along great.
Ron

[Irish]

You have come quite a long ways in just a few hours! The early rough out looks great. But the biggest thing that I notice is how clean your chisel planes look ... well sharpened tools may easy work and this looks like an example of excellently sharpened chisels.

Susan

[Ashbys]

Thanks Susan,

I guess the expressions from the boards finially soaked in. Then again...

Besides being naturally lazy , clean cuts , less clean up.

I had a couple of hours today I set aside to work on it. I think it is forming very well . But there seems to be little interest in this type of thread. So I will give the update pic, for those that wish to see.

I misted the carving with a little denatured achocol to allow for better contrast in the photo , it does not hurt the wood , and allows me to check the carving for extra cuts, as the cuts will darken , and stand out. If I correct them now it is easy to clean those areas , or mark them to be cleaned . Much simplier in this style of carving then to wait until it is done, and then find out you over gouged the wood and have to change ot modify and angle that will distort the carving.

The hardest section to do so far has been the sword hilt. As the sides are cut across the running grain, they are raise about 1/8 inch and 1/4 inch on each side and are about 1/8 wide 1/4 in long . As the vertical grain will give way very eaisly Rounding them was a bit tricky. But the look good now.

I am forming in the upper arm to acheive the angle so I can move the waist into place now.

All too much fun !

Ash

[squbrigg]

You are making good progress Ash, it's a difficult piece. Don't know about little interest, but it certainly has my interest! Keep up the good work and thank you for sharing the progress with us.

Bob

[A Willburger]

Ash looking good I'm watching and learning.
Andy