A Flight Capt memory box

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Baer Charlton

SPFG, Supreme Picture Framing God
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May 24, 2004
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FlightCapt01.jpg


Some Attach E-Z, some pass through hinges. We also restored the picture of the crew and plane.

FlightCapt03.jpg


Yes the PH is cocked... all of the medals swing loose.
The PH is on a raised dais because it was the most important. Well OK, so the Flight Cross and stuff are pretty good too..... but it was the injury that the daughter remembered.

FlightCapt02.jpg


Dais close up. two 8-ply. The bottom is reversed beveled on bottom half for the Flexible Fillet to fit under.

The mat is three levels. The deepest is 12-plies deep. The "Gentleman's Tray" is 4-ply higher, and the top is 8-plies higher. This creates a visual activity instead of everything on a flat plane with looks like a bunch of dead soldiers laid out for burial.

MatLayersExplainedE.jpg
 
Outstanding work on the dais. I bet a lot of work went to fabric wrapping and fitting those flexible fillets. I particularly liked the fold on the letter's edge and the way the photo and IDs are laid out, so spontaneous and casual. Excellent job Baer!
 
Wonderful job, Baer. I especially like the different depths that you used. Great use of the flexible fillets as well!

With the medals swinging loose, is there any chance of them hitting (and scratching) the glass if the shadowbox is tipped forward, or is there enough space from your liner that would prevent that from happening?

That is an interesting frame around the photo. Was the photo already in that frame when the customer brought it in, or was it one of your creations? How did you attach it to the backing board?

I like the choice of colour of the fabric as it seems to compliment the bronze color of the medals and the frame around the photo. Curious though, do any of your customers insist on "airforce blue" for airforce personnel, "army green" for army personnel, etc. ? It is nice to see that it wasn't the case for the Flight Capt.'s shadowbox (unless my eyesight is deceiving me this morning, the fabric looks green)
 
Beautiful lay out. I also like the choice of fabric. Seems like there should be a good story to go with this one.
 
Karen, your eyes are fine. Yes it is green "Army Air Corp" green. It wasn't until the 1950s that the two Corps were split and the "Blue" for the Air Farce came about.

Around here, all the Air Farts are in Pickle Suites... [Green Cameo]. And they have their own guy doing framing at the ANG base..... But I have done some "re-frame" jobs that are interesting....... I'm not pointing fingers... but using ArtCare... then masking taping the photos to the back of the mount???? And he needs to get his Mat Maestro adjusted because the over cuts are . . . sorry, just poking some fun.

We have done some stuff for a retired Korean and VN jet jockey.... but he has never asked for "blue". The closest I remember was the Academy Grey Durango for his Academy stuff.

The Eagled frame is a "campaign" frame from WWII. Pressed tin and enameled. Four stitches [hanging loose] through the backing board in the frame. Once the frame was stuffed, then I threaded the stitches through the matching holes in the backer and pulled it tight.

McGyver, The dais is part of what I'll be teaching in the Advanced class at PPFA in Vegas on the Friday schedual.... If you're coming stateside. [The teacher can be bribed with a San Miguel ball cap... lost mine in a poker game..never got back to PI. :D
 
Very nice, Baer. I've done many shadowboxes for retiring USAF members and this is truly inspirational. BTW, the US Army Air Corps became the US Air Force on 17 Sep 1947.
 
Nice, Baer. I agree that the more varied and unregimented the way objects are placed in the box the more you are drawn to the contents. Varying the levels is one way of accomplishing this. The story that's told is much more intriguing and captivating.

I recently did a similar box for my UPS man who's father was a marine who served overseas during WWII. It included his uniform (Jacket, shirt, tie, hat) and dogtags, belt buckle, torn ripped pictures, medals, ribbons, a letter and several framed photos. It was quite large ...almost 3' X 4'.

This type of shadowbox can be the most rewarding framing experience ...often not monetarily because quite often the time involved and the disruption of other work is intense, but knowing you are preserving the memories of someone your client loved deeply for display daily is quite satisfying.
 
Baer, it looks really great!

I haven't really done any of these, so I have a question -- do you generally have to map out the placement of each object with your customer, or do the customers generally leave it in your hands to look nice?
 
PaulSF said:
do you generally have to map out the placement of each object with your customer, or do the customers generally leave it in your hands to look nice?
Click to expand...

All depends ... we get both types. It has ranged from people dropping off a box of bits with the request to "do something special", all the way to someone bringing an exact drawing of where they want things placed. The most challenging are those who want a "mock up" first, and then debate with their spouse the exact details ... such as let's say the precise angle for one object to lay over another.
 
Paul ...I know you are asking Baer, but he's at recess so I'll chime in.

I usually pull out a board and place the items on the board start moving things around to suggest a general idea of what I'm thinking for a layout to the customer. Once this general layout is approved the final design is left up to me.
 
Baer Charlton said:
Karen, your eyes are fine. Yes it is green "Army Air Corp" green. It wasn't until the 1950s that the two Corps were split and the "Blue" for the Air Farce came about.

Around here, all the Air Farts are in Pickle Suites... [Green Cameo]. And they have their own guy doing framing at the ANG base..... But I have done some "re-frame" jobs that are interesting....... I'm not pointing fingers... but using ArtCare... then masking taping the photos to the back of the mount???? And he needs to get his Mat Maestro adjusted because the over cuts are . . . sorry, just poking some fun.
Click to expand...

Glad to hear my eyes weren't playing tricks on me ;). I didn't know about the splitting of the two Corps - interesting. In 1968 (I think), the Canadian Navy, Army, and Airforce were amalgamated into the Canadian Armed Forces and everyone wore the same color of uniform (Canadian Forces green). I believe each section has reverted back to wearing different colour uniforms, although I'm not sure exactly when that happened.

I had a re-frame job last year that was a lot like you described. This one had scotch tape rolled on the back of badges, sewing needles to hold the Canadian flag pennant in place and clear packing tape to adhere the red velvet material to the masonite backing board :faintthud:


Dave: That sounds like exactly what I do when designing a layout for a military (or for that matter, any type of) shadowbox. Great minds think alike :D
 
Rarely does a customer have a clue or idea about the layout, and there is a "proper protocol" of placement, according to rank and importance of medal/pins/ribbons. I have a poster of military medals and ribbons identification, and it is layed out in accordance of the protocol That has really helped. Often, I will make a legend of medals' identification and put in a sleeve on the back, because the medals aren't always clear what their purpose was.
 
Val, where did you get the military medals protocol poster?
 
Go here:
Medals of America

It's called "Decorations and Awards of the Armed Forces" poster

Learned about it here on the G. I don't remember the cost, but it wasn't much. For this framer....priceless!

Medals of America
114 Southchase Blvd
fountain Inn, SC 29644
1-800-308-0849
www.usmedals.com
 
Oops, too late to edit, thanks Richard.

I can't find the specific poster that I'm referring to on their site right now. You might have to call them and talk with a human being. It is specifically labeled

"Decorations and Awards of the Armed Forces"
 
Paul,
Sorry, I was out at recess. The shop I work at has been around for 30 years. Between Shar and I, that makes 41 years of experience. Most are smart enough to drop off a box of a lot of stuff and we winnow it out.... arrange it, then call them to come look and approve. A few drop off and say "call when it's done."
One engineer and former Navy jet jockey... came in with a blueprint... with exact metric measurements... I just quietly gave him the stink-eye and went and got one of the pieces we had just finished.... I never said a word.

He looked at it crumpled up the blueprint that he had spent HOURS working on threw it over in the shops corner and said "yeah. Like that. Call me when you've made me look that good."
"Wait" I said "What's your budget?"
"Make me look that good, and keep it under the cost of a full set of dress blues."
I laughed, "Good thing you weren't a Marine with the cost of those swords."

He slapped his forehead, "Dang, thanks for reminding me... I have a saber that needs to go in there."

I left the next week to sail the Atlantic, so I didn't get a photo. :D
 
I think we got our poster from the PPFA, you may want to check them out.
 
Looks great!

I bet it was a lot of work - how much did you charge for that - about???
 
The mat I will be teaching in KC next weekend, and at Vegas in January...
Once you figure them out.. this one took about 40 minutes before I was hanging the medals.

The total was about $320.
 
Dave said:
Paul ...I know you are asking Baer, but he's at recess so I'll chime in.

I usually pull out a board and place the items on the board start moving things around to suggest a general idea of what I'm thinking for a layout to the customer. Once this general layout is approved the final design is left up to me.
Click to expand...

Dave, or anyone else this is not about the subject above but is about how to do a shadowbox. I am new and haven't figured out how to post a question. A customer has asked me to frame 2 plaster lion heads. Dimensions: H - 15 1/2", W - 11", D - 8". They are weighty, about 3-5 lbs each, have a wire on the back. I was thinking of a wood backed frame with an acrylic encasing cover but not sure how to put it all together. signed concord
 
Hi, Concord:

Here's how:

Go to the start of this thread: Picture Frame Design
At the upper left corner is a box: Post New Thread. Click on it.
Write in your title, fill out the post, and away you go.
 
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