Thread: Nutcracker Christmas Soldier

well. He is finished. He was conceived last Christmas when my No 1. daughter ( she's 40 ) wanted a life size Nutcracker soldier. They are very big in the U.S.A. and she has spent eight years there.

So, unbeknown to her, I set about seeing what I could do. The project tooki all year to complete on and off. it is part turned, part carved, a lot of woodwork and then finishing.

I finished it in time and for me and my beginner standard I am happy with it even though their is a few slip ups that I think i got out of ok considering my background uin turning and woodcarving.

The photo's are not the best. I had trouble trying to find the right light conditions in the house and they were taken on a cell phoney my other daughter.

The head and torso are Jelutong. the arms, legs and everything else is from what I found liying around , the boots were from some New Guinea Rosewood I had in the shop.

It was not a cheap project. The Jelutong cost $200 , but the offcuts will give me pleanty of woodcarving material for a long time. Overall, you could add another $200 to it in consumerables and additional items I did not have, plus once you added the rest of the wood I ( Stole, begged or borrowed ) you can add another $200 . So, overall to complete with no onsite resources you would be up for about $600 in materials alone.

In the States these Soldiers are valued at Plus $2000. So, providing, mine was acceptable, I felt it worth having an attempt. I only had to produce a product worth about $ 300 as the rest was stuff I had on hand .

Pete





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