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Back in late November I was contacted by the Command Master Diver of EODTEU-ONE in San Diego. He wanted to come up with something unique as a departing gift for a for an HMCS Navy Diver that is retiring from the naval service.

After we spent a few minutes talking I presented him with the idea of making a shadow box using the Kirby Morgan Mk 37 dive helmet as a template. This would allow to keep a realistic perspective. This helmet replaced the MK5 in 1985 and in my mind the old Mk 5 would not work being that it has small viewing ports. I would have to make it very big or give it a "Fischer Price Look" to reproduce the image and still be able to incorporate the shadow box.

Looking at the Master Diver I could sense that he thought I may be out of my mind. I thought so too! After that brief moment we decied to push forward with the Mk 37 as the platform for this shadow box. The actual dive helmet has a large viewing pane and it allowed me to use this area as the shadow box.

I added an image of the actual helmet.

In the words of the Master Chief, "this is the best diver Hoo-yah I have seen in my 25 years!"

I enjoyed this. Hope you do to…

Gallery

Comments

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779 Posts
Man, that's awesome.
Great detail…....................
 

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311 Posts
Very nice!!!
 

· In Loving Memory
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8,391 Posts
Great work on this Ken with all those details so accurately reproduced. A very fitting retirement gift.
 

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42 Posts
Very cool and unique. Refreshing to see something different!
 

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14 Posts
Ken,

I just reconnected with a few divers that I served with on the USS Conserver ARS-39 in the mid 70's. I'll forward this photo to them and post it on the Conserver Group page on Facebook. They'll love it and it may generate some interest. Hope you saved the templates and patterns. Another great job!
 

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259 Posts
Amazing work on this, every detail is fantastic and well thought of with the great wood and finish.

-www.sawblade.com
 

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211 Posts
Just amazing and creative, well done!
 

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169 Posts
This is a neat project! Very creative! Nice choice on the woods, too. You made it look like the actual diving helmet, which is hard to do, in my opinion. Good job.
 

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169 Posts
I have a question though, what is that brass piece on the bottom for? What does it do?
 

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169 Posts
You put a lot of detail into this. I especially like the knobs you used for the air lines.
 

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MIP,
The brass piece you see is the old school dive knife that was issued in dive school. That knife went away with the old dive helmet. This particular knife was purchased to be displayed with the new dive helmet to represent the old school divers.
 

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18 Posts
WOW, looks better with everything mounted. You are a true artist!
 

· In Loving Memory
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That is by far the coolest shadow box in the world! Your attention to the tiniest detail is simply amazing! I know the recipient will be blown away. I certainly was. The fact that this isn't the number 1 project posted proves that the system ain't working!
 

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7,151 Posts
Ken, this is really incredible work…....what a great gift…....
 

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That is an amazing work of art!!!

The recipient will surely treasure this for years to come. It will surely become a family heirloom!!!

Extemely well done!!!
 

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8,822 Posts
Now that is the nicest shadow box I think I've ever seen.
I like shadow boxes that break away from the same old "box" style.
This one surely does that.
 

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Looks pretty darn good for being out of your mind…..
 

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1,390 Posts
Wow! That is some incredible work, and for a worthy customer. Nice job!
 

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1,256 Posts
alright thats cool
 
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