C&C my entry as well please

[Lons]

Ok I'm up for C&C as well, I'm a big lad so don't pull any punches, not looking for pats on the back just constructive criticism.
I'm a bit stuck really as to what better I could have done (within my skill set) though I did thing of replacing the cap insert I decided as it was black it wasn't necessary.
I've taken some new pics as below 'cos I wasn't happy with the originals but didn't have my own camera or a light box at the time.

I'll post a new thread outlining briefly my experience.

 

[Penpal]

Efficient turning, interesting blacks I am imagining the view from the other side where it must be mostly black the views you did show allude to a large strip of black indeed. I must say the barrel is straightish with an ever slight curve that suits the top and when together has a neat shape overall. This pen is fine it was up against some favourite timbers is all plus innovation. I agree with your premise that the existing top in the cap being black was already ideal for the finial. Think you gave it a good bash mate.

Peter.

 

[chas_41_uk]

Nothing wrong with the pen Bob
Just we were up against some fantastic pens :wink:

 

[wm460]

Great looking pen Well done.

 

[Vic Perrin]

Bob you can't fault your pen mate in any way. Competitions in my view are very much down to luck,,when you get the number of quality pens that were submitted for this comp it can go any way on another day your pen could have easily won.

Vic

 

[Buckeye]

Bob, your pen was also a stunner. I did think that a custom finial would have been a great touch and yes I know the cap had a lot of black in it, but I think if you had made a finial with a bit of both colours it would have elevated the whole pen. Vic is right, any of the pens entered could have won on a different day and if more people could have been bothered to vote.

I did try to adjust some of the photos so that they appeared as best as I could make them, I would rather white balance and a few tweaks levelled the playing field photography wise.

Peter

 

[stevenw1963]

Stunning pen Bob, nothing wrong with it, I just preferred another bit of wood on another pen.

 

[bassethound]

Nothing wrong with that pen for sure Bob, I would have been very pleased if I had made that one!...

 

[Gizmo3k]

This one got my vote. I liked the lines and the contrast in it. Each of the others had some little detail which wasn't exactly right for me, this one just seemed right all the way!

Kind of hard to explain why I liked it really - it was definitely a 'feeling' more than anything else.

Anyway, I liked it!

 

[Winemaker]

Great looking Pen

 

[paulm]

That is a cracking pen Bob and one that anyone would love to own. I love the straight lines and the wood is superb. If you want something that could be changed but by no means takes it away from the pen is the black plastic on the centre band, either remove it or add a bit of the lighter coloured wood maybe. Would it improve the pen though? questionable.

 

[Lons]

Thanks for all the comments guys but you're all far too kind, I haven't learned a lot apart from the centre band and the finial which makes sense
Did love the competition though and now I've made a metal mandrel I'm going to have another go at a brass version.

 

[Woody]

Nothing wrong with that Bob its a very nice pen anyone would be proud to own such a pen well done mate

 

[donwatson]

Nothing wrong with the pen Bob This was where my vote went.

 

[Bill Mooney]

Bob, the trouble is it's difficult to find anything wrong. You obviously know how to seal & sand the contrasting timbers as there doesn't seem to be any leaching of dark dust to the light timber & no matter how good the shape or turning this problem alone would have killed the quality of the pen.