OZturner
Member
While working for an Australian, Multi National Company, I was assigned for 3 years to a Company in the USA, that we had acquired, so I lived in Pennsylvania from 1994 to 1997.
We purchased a house, in Sugarloaf, and only had adjoining neighbours on one side.
They were the most hospitable, and supporting couple, that you could ever want to meet.
Lynn was a Special Needs Teacher, and Mike a Vietnam Veteran, worked shift work in a local Packaging Printing Factory.
Over the years, our friendship developed, and while previously Mike had always stated that the only way he would come to visit us, would be after they had built a bridge to Australia.
I was delighted when I was told that they were coming, and in fact did visit and stay with us just over a year ago for two magnificent weeks.
Mike like a lot of Vietnam Veterans, was very quiet and did not want to talk about Vietnam, or the War. He also is an ardent Fire Arms Collector.
Lynn told me before they visited us, that Mike had purchased a "Red Horse Ring" of his Company, in the USAF.
I took this as a sign that he had began to loosen up, and was beginning to release some of those pent up Emotions, Anguish, and Torment.
As the 50th Anniversary of the Vietnam Conflict was upon us, I decided it was now time to show Mike, the Regard and Respect, that I held for Him, and for his Service, and Friendship, in the most Personal Way I could, by giving him a part of me, that I put into a Tribute Gift.
Earlier, this year for various American friends, I arranged and sent a consignment of Pens, to Lynn for her to distribute them for me, and at that time confidential and unknown to Mike.
For Mike I made three pens, and a Presentation Box, with a Water Slide Decal, of both the USAF and "Red Horse" Company Badges, his Name and Serial Number, together with a Small Message.
I initially intended the box to represent a Munitions Box, enclosing the "Arsenal", but when I milled the Timber, the Quality was too good to cover with Grey Paint, so I decided that would be better left natural.
I used Eucalyptus Robusta aka Swamp Mahogany, however I struck a problem with gluing the Timber, regrettably the Tannin in the timber reacted with the water based Acrylic Adhesive, and the glue joints turned a deep black, as did the parts of the Box where the glue got onto the timber.
This was OK for the outside of the Box, as I could sand it, however the inside was not possible.
So I decided to line the inside of the Box, with a Padded, Sky Blue Satin Lining, and mount the "Arsenal" on inbuilt Cradles.
Lid of Presentation Box. With Water Slide Decals
View in Gallery
Presentation Box and Contents
View in Gallery
30 Caliber Bolt Action - Gunmetal Pen - Vietnam Ribbon.
View in Gallery
Bolt Action Magnum - Gun Metal - Molten Metal Blank.
View in Gallery
Mini Magnum Bolt Action - Gun Metal - Brown Mallee Burl.
View in Gallery
For Lynn, I included.
Gold Princess Pen w/ Clear Swavorski Crystals - Pink Ivory Blank.
View in Gallery
I would appreciate all Critiques and Comments.
Thank you for looking.
Brian.
We purchased a house, in Sugarloaf, and only had adjoining neighbours on one side.
They were the most hospitable, and supporting couple, that you could ever want to meet.
Lynn was a Special Needs Teacher, and Mike a Vietnam Veteran, worked shift work in a local Packaging Printing Factory.
Over the years, our friendship developed, and while previously Mike had always stated that the only way he would come to visit us, would be after they had built a bridge to Australia.
I was delighted when I was told that they were coming, and in fact did visit and stay with us just over a year ago for two magnificent weeks.
Mike like a lot of Vietnam Veterans, was very quiet and did not want to talk about Vietnam, or the War. He also is an ardent Fire Arms Collector.
Lynn told me before they visited us, that Mike had purchased a "Red Horse Ring" of his Company, in the USAF.
I took this as a sign that he had began to loosen up, and was beginning to release some of those pent up Emotions, Anguish, and Torment.
As the 50th Anniversary of the Vietnam Conflict was upon us, I decided it was now time to show Mike, the Regard and Respect, that I held for Him, and for his Service, and Friendship, in the most Personal Way I could, by giving him a part of me, that I put into a Tribute Gift.
Earlier, this year for various American friends, I arranged and sent a consignment of Pens, to Lynn for her to distribute them for me, and at that time confidential and unknown to Mike.
For Mike I made three pens, and a Presentation Box, with a Water Slide Decal, of both the USAF and "Red Horse" Company Badges, his Name and Serial Number, together with a Small Message.
I initially intended the box to represent a Munitions Box, enclosing the "Arsenal", but when I milled the Timber, the Quality was too good to cover with Grey Paint, so I decided that would be better left natural.
I used Eucalyptus Robusta aka Swamp Mahogany, however I struck a problem with gluing the Timber, regrettably the Tannin in the timber reacted with the water based Acrylic Adhesive, and the glue joints turned a deep black, as did the parts of the Box where the glue got onto the timber.
This was OK for the outside of the Box, as I could sand it, however the inside was not possible.
So I decided to line the inside of the Box, with a Padded, Sky Blue Satin Lining, and mount the "Arsenal" on inbuilt Cradles.
Lid of Presentation Box. With Water Slide Decals
View in Gallery
Presentation Box and Contents
View in Gallery
30 Caliber Bolt Action - Gunmetal Pen - Vietnam Ribbon.
View in Gallery
Bolt Action Magnum - Gun Metal - Molten Metal Blank.
View in Gallery
Mini Magnum Bolt Action - Gun Metal - Brown Mallee Burl.
View in Gallery
For Lynn, I included.
Gold Princess Pen w/ Clear Swavorski Crystals - Pink Ivory Blank.
View in Gallery
I would appreciate all Critiques and Comments.
Thank you for looking.
Brian.
