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Description
I hope you like the first half of my chess set! XD Now for the background story: A while back I became completely enamored with the Clamp chess set; It had already been out for well over two years, but many places had knocked the price down to $10 a three set (from 30 before) so I finally decided to buy them. Slowly (I think over about half a year?) I gained the whole set and I loved the idea of being able to play a game with my figures. At some point or another I got it into my head that I'd like a Hetalia chess set as well. It stewed there for a long time while I simply mourned my inability to carve anything. This summer however, I found myself with a very unsure schedule, where I couldn't really commit to getting a part-time job because I didn't know when/if I'd be traveling. So I figured it was as good a time as any to give carving (something I could easily drop) a try. I had many... uh... learning adventures. Once I cut my thumb and a few minutes later found myself nauseous and unable to stand without everything spinning. While I was carving the wood in a vice, I used my other hand to steady it; interesting to note: once you cut your hand a couple of times it automatically moves out of the line of fire... after that I bought gloves and was always careful to put the left one on before carving.

SO- here are the (first half) fruits of my efforts~ These guys are the first things I've carved, and with that in mind I'm personally quite proud of them. They're painted with acrylics.

I decided that I'd go ahead and upload the Axis/Black side because I was done with them :3
The Allies/White are almost done. I've got all the pawns done on that side plus 6/8ths of the characters done; though I only have the plans drawn up for the other two so I don't know when I'll finish D:

Hungary was carved using just knives, as well as most of the tomatoes, Prussia was carved using chisels and knives, the rest were carved using chisels, knives, and a "hand" rotary tool. After putting in the time and effort involved in doing the first two characters and then getting the power tools- I got massive respect for power tools. I love my rotary tool <3

From Left to Right with Explanations:
Rook: Finland- He'll be opposite Russia, who's also a Rook. Since fighting Russia was the reason Finland joined the Axis, it seemed fitting.
Knight: Japan- Samurai = Knight in my head o3o
Bishop: South Italy- Vatican city's in Italy~
King: Italy- While it's a weak piece it's the most important, and everybody else has got to protect it LOL
Queen: Germany- Most powerful piece on the board and it's job is to protect the king- so this always puts Germany and Italy together at the start of the game n_n
Bishop: Austria- Being music oriented and artistic struck me as more bishop like then any other piece
Hungary: Knight- Hungary kicks butt! Plus this puts her between Austria and Prussia
Prussia/East Germany: Rook- Strong end game piece: Knight's Templar

And~ pawns are tomatoes because Italy's the king

I've passed the halfway point! Now I just have to finish the Allies!

Description
I hope you like the first half of my chess set! XD Now for the background story: A while back I became completely enamored with the Clamp chess set; It had already been out for well over two years, but many places had knocked the price down to $10 a three set (from 30 before) so I finally decided to buy them. Slowly (I think over about half a year?) I gained the whole set and I loved the idea of being able to play a game with my figures. At some point or another I got it into my head that I'd like a Hetalia chess set as well. It stewed there for a long time while I simply mourned my inability to carve anything. This summer however, I found myself with a very unsure schedule, where I couldn't really commit to getting a part-time job because I didn't know when/if I'd be traveling. So I figured it was as good a time as any to give carving (something I could easily drop) a try. I had many... uh... learning adventures. Once I cut my thumb and a few minutes later found myself nauseous and unable to stand without everything spinning. While I was carving the wood in a vice, I used my other hand to steady it; interesting to note: once you cut your hand a couple of times it automatically moves out of the line of fire... after that I bought gloves and was always careful to put the left one on before carving.

SO- here are the (first half) fruits of my efforts~ These guys are the first things I've carved, and with that in mind I'm personally quite proud of them. They're painted with acrylics.

I decided that I'd go ahead and upload the Axis/Black side because I was done with them :3
The Allies/White are almost done. I've got all the pawns done on that side plus 6/8ths of the characters done; though I only have the plans drawn up for the other two so I don't know when I'll finish D:

Hungary was carved using just knives, as well as most of the tomatoes, Prussia was carved using chisels and knives, the rest were carved using chisels, knives, and a "hand" rotary tool. After putting in the time and effort involved in doing the first two characters and then getting the power tools- I got massive respect for power tools. I love my rotary tool <3

From Left to Right with Explanations:
Rook: Finland- He'll be opposite Russia, who's also a Rook. Since fighting Russia was the reason Finland joined the Axis, it seemed fitting.
Knight: Japan- Samurai = Knight in my head o3o
Bishop: South Italy- Vatican city's in Italy~
King: Italy- While it's a weak piece it's the most important, and everybody else has got to protect it LOL
Queen: Germany- Most powerful piece on the board and it's job is to protect the king- so this always puts Germany and Italy together at the start of the game n_n
Bishop: Austria- Being music oriented and artistic struck me as more bishop like then any other piece
Hungary: Knight- Hungary kicks butt! Plus this puts her between Austria and Prussia
Prussia/East Germany: Rook- Strong end game piece: Knight's Templar

And~ pawns are tomatoes because Italy's the king

I've passed the halfway point! Now I just have to finish the Allies!