Seahorse (my turn)

[chunkolini]

Thanks all, it did my swede right in a few times.

 

[blacksmithstris]

Have changed the "mane fins"... and now just working out the facial details and gill fin..

 

[chunkolini]

A bit late now, but a good idea for fins, draw them on a sheet of metal, then lay a bead of weld along the leading edge, then cut along the edge of the bead, gives a strong leading edge like on fishy fins.
You can just make it out here.

On bigger stuff I weld a length of bar along the edge.

 

[strada]

Chunko,that's a great idea. Ive had trouble doing fins before because i usually cut them out first,then try to run a bead down the edges,and you've guessed it,i sometimes blow the edge away Not anymore,thanks mate
Blacksmithstris,im now loving the main fins,it looks fantastic.Cant wait to see this finished

 

[chunkolini]

Doing it that way can work but is a chore.
If you blip the trigger quickly it does the job, but not any more.
Now I have to kill you.

 

[blacksmithstris]

That is a handy hint Chunko, I can see how that could be a great feature. I'm not quite so good at planning though, I rough sketch the thing out on a bench, but that's about as detailed as I go (apart from doing a bunch of preliminary design and sketches, but not to scale) The fins I have just added I cut out and welded on, then decided they were too big and not quite the right shape so I cut them down in situ, good thing I am a fan of the flame cut look!!! I'm having a bit of a 'hard think' about the face at the moment... none of the sketches I have done really work so back to the drawing board and looking at pics of seahorses, i love google images

 

[chunkolini]

Aaaaah. the face.
That is the hardest bit of all.
Great when it comes out right.

 

[KemppiFrog]

A masterclass bought to our screens by Tris & 'kolini.
Keep it up, very impressive and stylish.

 

[Metalsculptor]

Looks great mate,

I think the eyes will make the face.
I reckon dishes with some braze on could look ace.

www.philipmelling.co.uk

 

[Metalsculptor]

...then it would be an Ace Face!!

 

[blacksmithstris]

ace face!! will try!!!

thanks kemppifrog!!

 

[blacksmithstris]

ok, well, not sure if it's an ace face, but it now has a face!!

 

[strada]

That's is fantastic
what did you make the eyes with ? Are they green or is it a reflection from the grass

 

[blacksmithstris]

Eyes are dished circles, onto which i used the mig to create a pattern round the outside and 'drew in' a pupil. Green is just a reflection from the grass. Will be rusted.

 

[ChrisJ]

nice work

 

[chunkolini]

Well done on the face, I like the eyes, at first I thought you had sneaked some glass in there.
Then I thought, hole drilled in the ball and a marble held in by a tacked on brace on the back.
Good ideas crop all over the place.
Like that a lot.

 

[blacksmithstris]

Thanks guys!

Marble or glass eye would be an awesome addition. Keep that one in mind for future!!

I played around once with melting glass inside a small metal basket, sometimes it worked, most often the glass would shatter, to do with the different rates of contraction of the metal and glass as it cools. When it works it looks fab though!!

 

[pondman]

Super amazing!! The eyes look great I was wondering what you would do. Love it!

 

[blacksmithstris]

Thanks Pondman!! I originally had two solid steel balls about 30mm dia set aside to weld in but they just didn't have any life to them!!! I think I could have gone a bit further with the eye detail, but sometimes you just have to stop!! I'm itching to finish this as my overdraft needs a bit of help!!

 

[blacksmithstris]

brought it over to Seahorse Lady today, to make sure it fit into the alcove... it does... phew. You know, i always take measurements and then i have a panic after i've made it thinking i got it wrong somewhere. Only thing that is kind of getting to me is that it is sitting a bit low in the alcove, could have sat it slightly higher in the seaweed stand, but Seahorse Lady is happy so I am happy.