Russ Fairfield MMSC Voting

[Ed McDonnell]

4th Annual Russ Fairfield Memorial Modified Slimline Contest

Generously Sponsored by

Brooks Blanks​

All 32 entries are presented in this poll. You may vote for one entry. Voting in this poll will close on Thursday February 20.

The 5 entries that receive the highest number of votes will be presented in a separate poll beginning on Friday February 21 to select the 4 prize winners. Voting will close on Monday February 24. Winners will be announced on February 25.

The prizes for this contest are:

1st place $150.00 worth of Brooks Blanks
2nd Place $100.00 worth of Brooks Blanks
3rd Place $75.00 worth of Brooks Blanks
4th Place $50.00 worth of Brooks Blanks

I want to thank all the entrants, our fantastic sponsor Jonathon Brooks and the IAP management team that makes all this happen.

And now, here's the moment you have all been waiting for. The entries in the 4th Annual Russ Fairfield Memorial Modified Slimline Contest. Please review all the pictures below. Note the entry number you want to vote for and select it above.

Good luck to all the entrants. 32 enter the ring, but only 5 will emerge to compete another day. Take your time and really consider each entry.

Ed

 

[Ed McDonnell]

Entry #1

Artist Statement:

A little of each of Russ' slim modifications went into this pen. Influence of the Russ Line and the Fat Line can be seen in the omission of the center band allowing for a wider pen body and longer upper and shorter lower section proportions. The recessed clip design of the J-Line turned into a full hidden clip upgrade with a solid one piece closed end rear cut on a 30-degree angle. This pen was designed with a classic pairing of walnut and maple with segments of african blackwood to offset each segment. A slimline gold clip with black line was used to tie in the blackwood segments and the gold hardware.

Pictures (Click on the thumbnails to see larger pictures):

 

[Ed McDonnell]

Entry #2

Artist Statement:

This longline was done using a gold nose cone in typical Russ fashion. The main wood is spalted oak, the centerband is attached to the lower tube and is made of blonde amboyna burl. The finish is flat BLO/CA


Pictures (Click on the thumbnails to see larger pictures):

 

[Ed McDonnell]

Entry #3

Artist Statement:

My version of the russ line pen. Walnut and maple with no center band and burned rings with a twisty tie.


Pictures (Click on the thumbnails to see larger pictures):

 

[Ed McDonnell]

Entry #4

Artist Statement:

Slimline kit using Bamboo blank cut from a cutting board to use end grain. Center band left off. Stylus tip used. Small piece of deer antler used as accent on lower section. CA glue finish.


Pictures (Click on the thumbnails to see larger pictures):

 

[Ed McDonnell]

Entry #5

Artist Statement:

Russ line style with raised ridges , tapered lines like the Fat line but inverted - turned down


Pictures (Click on the thumbnails to see larger pictures):

 

[Ed McDonnell]

Entry #6

Artist Statement:

This pen was made in the spirit of the Russ Fairfield J-Pen. It features a longer lower section. The main wood is Black Ash Burl with a Redheart center band that has a single wire burn. The finial was recessed and the top was notched to fit the clip. All of the components of a Slimline kit were used except the center band and a longer 7mm tube for the lower section.


Pictures (Click on the thumbnails to see larger pictures):

 

[Ed McDonnell]

Entry #7

Artist Statement:

My version of a Fatline. Its made of red oak burl with a cherry burl center band. Pen has a CA finish on a slimline gun Metal kit


Pictures (Click on the thumbnails to see larger pictures):

 

[Ed McDonnell]

Entry #8

Artist Statement:

This is black ash burl with cocobolo nib, centerband, finial with brass accents.


Pictures (Click on the thumbnails to see larger pictures):

 

[Ed McDonnell]

Entry #9

Artist Statement:

This is a satin gold slimline kit in the "Fat Line" style. The wood is slightly spalted pecan burl with a pink ivory center band. The wood is natural, with no hardening or stabilizing. It was finished with sanding sealer and a friction polish.


Pictures (Click on the thumbnails to see larger pictures):

 

[Ed McDonnell]

Entry #10

Artist Statement:

I chose to emulate Mr. Fairfield's "Fatline" style. The blank, which I think is maple burl, came in a box of unlabled blanks I purchased. The banding is wenge. Rather than gluing the banding to the blank prior to turning, I chose to follow Mr. Fairfield's method shown in the "Wayback Machine" links. This involved turning down the blank to the tube, face gluing on the banding, and then turning to finished diameter. You may notice that the banding is a progression of widths from the finial (1/8") to center (1/4") to the nib (3/8"). The finish is a simple friction finish. Thank you for viewing.


Pictures (Click on the thumbnails to see larger pictures):

 

[Ed McDonnell]

Entry #11

Artist Statement:

Kit: Slimline Econo in chrome Blank: Honduran Rosewood Finish: 14 coats of thin CA then polished with Beall system I went with the deleted center band and extended the bottom tube upwards 1/4". I then used some small detail grooves in the upper and lower tube. I wanted to keep it simple.


Pictures (Click on the thumbnails to see larger pictures):

 

[Ed McDonnell]

Entry #12

Artist Statement:

I was inspired by Russ's article on closed end pens and 'invisible' clips. The wood is buckeye burl and I used a bit of ebony around the center as an accent rather than the burn lines typically used on a j-line style. The hardware is from a gunmetal slimline kit.


Pictures (Click on the thumbnails to see larger pictures):

 

[Ed McDonnell]

Entry #13

Artist Statement:

Attached is my rendition of Russ Fairfields Long Line Pen. Materials used were, Bocote, Aqua Green Acrylic and Brass Shim Stock separating the Acrylic and Bocote.


Pictures (Click on the thumbnails to see larger pictures):

 

[Ed McDonnell]

Entry #14

Artist Statement:

"A J-Line style Russ-Line". I combined the angled cap and recessed finial of the J-Line pen with the larger upper barrel diameter of the traditional Russ-Line. The pen body is angle-segmented Maple and Blackwood with a gloss CA finish (ala Russ). The slimline components are Ti-Gold plated (Russ was a big proponent of TiGold). Both ends of the upper barrel are angled.


Pictures (Click on the thumbnails to see larger pictures):

 

[Ed McDonnell]

Entry #15

Artist Statement:

This is a standard Slimline Stylus Kit. I extended the lower barrel and turned a tenon in the upper barrel where I glued in a leftover scrap of Abalone Shell Blank left over from a Jr Gent Kit.


Pictures (Click on the thumbnails to see larger pictures):

 

[Ed McDonnell]

Entry #16

Artist Statement:

The pen is a Fat Line style with Ambrosia Maple and African Blackwood center band. The pen kit is black chrome. The finish is 12 coats of Craft Coat polished to a semi gloss finish.


Pictures (Click on the thumbnails to see larger pictures):

 

[Ed McDonnell]

Entry #17

Artist Statement:

After trying my hand at a few of Russ' styles I decided upon the Russ Line. Wood came from a large pack of exotics and the kit is CS Fancy Slimline.


Pictures (Click on the thumbnails to see larger pictures):

 

[Ed McDonnell]

Entry #18

Artist Statement:

7mm Tubes, nip, twist mechanism, and a cross style refill all from a slimline kit. Center band from a classic style. Moose antler for the nip section and the rest from walnut. CA finish.


Pictures (Click on the thumbnails to see larger pictures):

 

[Ed McDonnell]

Entry #19

Artist Statement:

This is a Fat-Line made with a CSUSA Artisan slimline set with a Pine Root Burl blank and a Brook's Blanks cast Spanish Moss for the center band. It is finished with CA (6 thin, 6 medium) and micro mesh to 12,000 followed by polish.


Pictures (Click on the thumbnails to see larger pictures):

 

[Ed McDonnell]

Entry #20

Artist Statement:

One of my first segmented pen/pencils that I attempted. I used Walnut and Maple. Two of my favorite woods. This pencil design has been inspiration for me to continue to create even more intricate segmented designs.


Pictures (Click on the thumbnails to see larger pictures):

 

[Ed McDonnell]

Entry #21

Artist Statement:

My attempt at a Russ-Line with an angle cut upper barrel.


Pictures (Click on the thumbnails to see larger pictures):

 

[Ed McDonnell]

Entry #22

Artist Statement:

Nib section is Aust. Hairy Oak, the centre band is part of a poly resin blank and the other blank is Curly Maple. Finish is 8 coats of CA and then buffed. I wanted to try moving the centre band to a lower point.


Pictures (Click on the thumbnails to see larger pictures):

 

[Ed McDonnell]

Entry #23

Artist Statement:

Bethlehem Olivewood Fat Russline with Corian centerband.


Pictures (Click on the thumbnails to see larger pictures):

 

[Ed McDonnell]

Entry #24

Artist Statement:

Olive wood and Chrome slim line


Pictures (Click on the thumbnails to see larger pictures):

 

[Ed McDonnell]

Entry #25

Artist Statement:

My version of Russ's Long Line. The wood is Persimmon with a scrap of Yellow and Scarlet Acrylic for the centerband. The dark coloration on the lower end is actually a chared section. At some time in it's growth the tree must have survived a fire or lightening strike. I think it blends in well. The overall length of the pen is 9 inches as compared to Russ's Tutorial's 8 inches... I'm thinking off using this one at work after making a holder for it.


Pictures (Click on the thumbnails to see larger pictures):

 

[Ed McDonnell]

Entry #26

Artist Statement:

PSI Slimline Kit Deer Antler, Closed End Longline. Custom center band made from Aluminum and Blackwood


Pictures (Click on the thumbnails to see larger pictures):

 

[Ed McDonnell]

Entry #27

Artist Statement:

Ebony and Ivory I chose to use ebony for the the body of the pen and a scrap piece of elephant Ivory for the center band.


Pictures (Click on the thumbnails to see larger pictures):

 

[Ed McDonnell]

Entry #28

Artist Statement:

I made this from Figured Eucalyptus and Fake Ivory for the center band 10 coats of CA on a gold finish kit


Pictures (Click on the thumbnails to see larger pictures):

 

[Ed McDonnell]

Entry #29

Artist Statement:

This is a Cocobolo Long Line with a Corian center band. The blank was cut from a 7 1/2 inch piece of cocobolo and is fitted with an upgrade gold nib. The finish is Wood Turners Finish and the pen is buffed and waxed on the buffing wheels.


Pictures (Click on the thumbnails to see larger pictures):

 

[Ed McDonnell]

Entry #30

Artist Statement:

Modified copper Berea slimline. Flame maple burl, cut and stabilized by myself with a mammoth ivory centerband.


Pictures (Click on the thumbnails to see larger pictures):

 

[Ed McDonnell]

Entry #31

Artist Statement:

A titanium gold 'Fat Line' slimline using a red with gold web Tru-Stone blank accented with a black acrylic center band.


Pictures (Click on the thumbnails to see larger pictures):

 

[Ed McDonnell]

Entry #32

Artist Statement:

This is my entry into the 4th Annual Russ Fairfield Modified Slimline Contest. The wood is Arbutus, Birds eye maple band, curly maple and arbutus. Thanks for looking.


Pictures (Click on the thumbnails to see larger pictures):

 

[Carl Fisher]

So many to choose from. All wonderful pens.

 

[johncrane]

Congrats to all entries! Awesome pens here, this would have to be the highest number of pens for this contest ever,Russ would be very proud,

 

[mredburn]

It was really hard to choose. I need multiple Ids for this site if we keep this up!
Great Job on the pens and Great job on the contest Ed!

 

[Ed McDonnell]

We have 28 votes so far for the 32 entries. So, who is sleeping in late and hasn't voted for their pen yet?

Time to wake up and vote!!

Ed

 

[Ed McDonnell]

Alright, we are up to 43 votes now.

Extrapolating from the last half hours voting results, if we keep up the same pace of voting we will close the poll with over 900 votes!!!!

Way to go.

Let's show these fine pen makers some love. Get your votes in.

Ed

 

[SteveJ]

Alright, we are up to 43 votes now.

Extrapolating from the last half hours voting results, if we keep up the same pace of voting we will close the poll with over 900 votes!!!!

Way to go.

Let's show these fine pen makers some love. Get your votes in.

Ed

Aren't we little Mister Optimist....

So many pens, so few votes...

Just had my wife, my four sons, my two daughters, my three daughter-in-laws, my son-in-law and my wife's parents register to vote. Still working on my dead parents from Chicago since they no longer have email addresses, but that shouldn't be a problem.

Steve

 

[Ed McDonnell]

Steve - Jeff recently implement very sophisticated filtering algorithms that will catch and filter out Chicago Style registrations. Not that I expect that we will need it here with the high caliber of entrants and voters that will naturally be drawn to a contest of this quality.

Who would want to vote Chicago style anyway? I mean, that would be like eating Chicago style pizza (using the work pizza loosely here). What's up with that?

Come on everyone. A vote today is a vote for quality pen making (and a vote against Chicago style voting (and pizza)).

Ed