Project by BritBoxmaker | posted 05-30-2012 01:21 PM | 3655 views | 4 times favorited | 52 comments | ![]() |
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Another dream.
Years ago, after the main engine failed on the return craft we resigned ourselves to making a go of it here on Mars. It would be at least two years until rescue came. By the time they arrived, four years later, most of us had decided to stay. I come up here to this small hill, most days, and look at the reflection of the sunset in the mirrored panels of the old cold store we’d built. You won’t see one as vivid as that on Earth.
Dimensions – 152×77 x 38mm on a 160×85 x 5mm Pedestal Base.
Materials – Pink Ivory, Padauk, Purpleheart, Ebony, distressed black dyed boxwood stringing and Birch Ply
Adhesives – PVA and CA
Finish – Spray Satin Acrylic
I liked the distressed look that heavily sanded, dyed, boxwood lines give. They give the aged look I was seeking.
The walls are thin on this one, 4mm (2.5mm pattern on 1.5mm ply). Whilst some may think this exceedingly thin a lot of boxes I see have far too thick walls for their overall size. Its a box, not a bomb shelter. Usually for this size I’d go 5 – 6mm thick about 1mm wall thickness per 20- 25mm overall box length.
-- Martyn -- Boxologist, Pattern Juggler and Candyman of the visually challenging.
52 comments so far
TedM
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2002 posts in 3698 days
#1 posted 05-30-2012 01:29 PM
It is beautiful sight! Indeed!
-- I'm a wood magician... I can turn fine lumber into firewood before your very eyes! - Please visit http://www.woodworkersguide.com and sign up for my project updates!
helluvawreck
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#2 posted 05-30-2012 01:36 PM
Martyn, you always seem to be doing something new and creative. Nice work.
helluvawreck
https://woodworkingexpo.wordpress.com
-- helluvawreck aka Charles, http://woodworkingexpo.wordpress.com
SPalm
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#3 posted 05-30-2012 01:39 PM
Hey Martyn, beautiful progression of color.
That looks very nice. You got an eye for this stuff.
Steve
-- -- I'm no rocket surgeon
a1Jim
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#4 posted 05-30-2012 01:39 PM
Your way out there Martyn ,very cool box, another winner.
-- https://www.artisticwoodstudio.com/videos wood crafting & woodworking classes
grizzman
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#5 posted 05-30-2012 02:12 PM
well i remember seeing a signal fire on mars about the time your talking about, but i was heavily medicated on pain pills and hot chocolate overload…and seeing it i tot ally forgot, but im glad you made it back to earth, and now another wonderful reflection of your experience has been manifest in this beautiful box…great color ..always wonderful to see whats next, cheers mate, have a great day…and i hope your enjoying your time off, or is that next week…grizz
-- GRIZZMAN ...[''''']
Granddaddy1
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#6 posted 05-30-2012 02:16 PM
Martyn, the creativity and precision of your work never ceases to amaze me! I’m a new member of LJ’s, but I’ve been a daily lurker for a couple of years. I always anxiously await your next project postings.
Good work!
-- Ron Wilson - maker of fine firewood!
Roger Clark aka Rex
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6940 posts in 3400 days
#7 posted 05-30-2012 02:24 PM
Martyn, another great example of your unique creations. Way to go.
The funny thing is that looking at this box, it shouts to me as a Battenberg Cake box cake box, but you already know how strange my mind is. :-)
For those who don’t know what an English Battenberg cake is:
The first Battenberg was made of an almond flavoured sponge, with the two colours baked apart so that half of the mixture could be dyed pink. The sponge was then cut into four lengths which were then stuck together using apricot jam as the glue, with the pattern like a checkerboard, which has led to the cake lending it’s name to Battenburg markings. Then the cake is wrapped in marzipan, with more apricot jam to ensure that the cake is firmly held together. A design was then made into the marzipan with a knife.
Established variations are for coconut flavouring to the sponge cake and lemon curd or raspberry jam in place of apricot jam.
Oh Well, Now I’m Hungry …..Send one over Martyn.
-- Roger-R, Republic of Texas. "Always look on the Bright Side of Life" - An eyeball to eyeball confrontation with a blind person is as complete waste of Time.
BritBoxmaker
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4611 posts in 3001 days
#8 posted 05-30-2012 02:30 PM
Funny that, Rex, Sue told me the board looked like a bar of chocolate before I ‘mitred’ it
What do you think? I’ve personally never seen pink chocolate but there you go…....
-- Martyn -- Boxologist, Pattern Juggler and Candyman of the visually challenging.
RogerBean
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1605 posts in 2918 days
#9 posted 05-30-2012 02:37 PM
Martyn,
Nice indeed. Has a really warm feel that draws you to the box, then the pattern. Shape works really well. I like it a lot.
Roger
-- "Everybody makes mistakes. A craftsman always fixes them." (Monty Kennedy, "The Checkering and Carving of Gunstocks", 1952)
Roger Clark aka Rex
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6940 posts in 3400 days
#10 posted 05-30-2012 02:38 PM
Martyn, it could be a chocolate box too. Have different coloured chocs in it.
Bourneville, Milk, White …. do they still have that Aero with the green or orange bubble centre? Ideas…. Sue may have something there.
Life is like a Box of Chocolates …says Forrest Gump, but you have the Box. :-)
-- Roger-R, Republic of Texas. "Always look on the Bright Side of Life" - An eyeball to eyeball confrontation with a blind person is as complete waste of Time.
grizzman
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7836 posts in 3268 days
#11 posted 05-30-2012 02:40 PM
now roger you have gone and done it, how about some kraut on that sponge …oh i could think of the million variations here…but your sponge cake idea sure does go along with this box.
-- GRIZZMAN ...[''''']
Roger Clark aka Rex
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6940 posts in 3400 days
#12 posted 05-30-2012 02:48 PM
Now here’s a project for you Martyn.
A Battenberg Cake box similar to the Mars box.
Rectangular to fit the cake.
When lid is removed, it lets one end come down and lets the cake slide out on a platform for cutting pieces of cake. When finished, slide remainder of cake back into box, close the end flap (could be automated) and then place lid on box….. I’ll send Sue this idea so we’ll expect to see this cake box soon. :-)
-- Roger-R, Republic of Texas. "Always look on the Bright Side of Life" - An eyeball to eyeball confrontation with a blind person is as complete waste of Time.
Ken90712
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17553 posts in 3154 days
#13 posted 05-30-2012 03:24 PM
Amazing as always. Well done.
-- Ken, "Everyday above ground is a good day!"
Kookaburra
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#14 posted 05-30-2012 03:37 PM
At first glance, I thought this was painted but even before I got to the fabulous stry of its origin, I deduced the variety of woods. It is beautiful and it sent me to your EZ-Mitre box technique which is pretty darn nifty.
-- Kay - Just a girl who loves wood.
shipwright
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7966 posts in 2763 days
#15 posted 05-30-2012 04:20 PM
Very interesting design Martyn on a number of levels. From the comments so far it obviously sparks the imagination. I couldn’t agree more that many boxes are overbuilt for the actual duty they will serve.
This one is just “Elegant” (scientific meaning)
-- Paul M ..............If God wanted us to have fiberglass boats he would have given us fibreglass trees. http://thecanadianschooloffrenchmarquetry.com/
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