abufletcher

The trick with the "routed" groove is to make each arm from two parts. One part has a "slot" cut in it, which is a lot easier to do than making a groove. I start the slot with a dremel cutting wheel then file it out. Then slotted part is glued to an unslotted part and the two halves are shaped (and drilled) together. I can't remember where I learned this optical trick but it works for all sorts of "3-D" parts. It's similar to the way GTM does the scale control horns on his Fokkers.

Re the pile of "snow," the bizarre truth is this was actually chipped iced that was being pumped through large pipes onto the hill from the top of the ski area. So it's actually one giant snow cone! Later this piles will be spread out to form a base.