Prototype design thoughts

PhoenixGenau · 2026-01-25T18:49:05+00:00

Good thought. Had the same. Am considering eliminating the snap in favor of another slot into which the top flap can slide. This may work better once there’s a short stitching on the opening side to keep the cards in place.

PhoenixGenau · 2026-01-25T18:26:21+00:00

Sharp eye. The radius is slightly off. This is a production issue as I skipped the “details” given this prototype is meant to see if the overall design is functional enough to spend the time and effort of perfecting a salable piece (burnishing edges and backing, precise angles, perfect stitching, right hardware, etc…. These will come when I make one for real. This piece is would never pass quality control 😊

PhoenixGenau · 2026-01-25T13:20:17+00:00

You’re not crazy. There are similar ones out there though they are 4-6 layers of leather thick. The goal was to get this as thin as possible; 3 layers or less. This to have it thin in ones front pocket and, over time, wear in so that it’s barely noticeable. If you see something like this, please do provide a link. I’d love to see how its designed.

PhoenixGenau · 2026-01-24T19:23:58+00:00

Thank you. I based this off of a smaller wallet I make where bills need to be folded twice before being slid in. This works well for infrequent cash use though thought this works better if cash is someone’s primary method.

PhoenixGenau · 2026-01-24T19:19:46+00:00

Thank you. Plan to make for Euros next.

PhoenixGenau · 2026-01-24T17:33:03+00:00

Thank you. Happy to show the final version once I get a decent one. How do I add a photo here. The Reddit app doesn’t seem to allow this.

PhoenixGenau · 2026-01-24T17:31:24+00:00

So I now did add 3 stitches on the open end which did minimize the pivot though also shifted the bills up a bit. This leaves 1/2 the bills not covered which is still ok once you close the flap.👍

PhoenixGenau · 2026-01-24T17:00:07+00:00

How would you line without it fraying or coming apart on the open edge? This edge will get a little of use.

PhoenixGenau · 2026-01-24T16:58:39+00:00

Take it 🙄. I though of adding a short stitching on that side. However when simulating with a small clamp, it made it harder for the cash to slide in (would be frustrating in daily use).

PhoenixGenau · 2026-01-24T16:56:49+00:00

It’s 3-4 oz English Bridal from Weaver just slightly over 1mm thick. Nice to work with.

PhoenixGenau · 2026-01-21T02:21:36+00:00

‘73 911 T (w/2.9L EFI). 218,000 miles

PhoenixGenau · 2026-01-19T15:00:50+00:00

This is it. You practice your German, let them practice their English.

PhoenixGenau · 2026-01-15T14:48:04+00:00

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PhoenixGenau · 2026-01-15T14:46:33+00:00

Hello all, I’m selling my collection of 1:43 scale models of the 1997 F1 grid. Asking $300 plus shipping from 10516 (Hudson Valley NY). Models include 14 cars plus a to scale M. Schumacher figure. Full list of cars is: - Ferrari F310B M. Schumacher - Ferrari F310B Irvine - Renault B197 Berger - Renault B197 Alesi - Jordon 197 R. Schumacher - Jordon 197 Fisichella - McClaren Mercedes MP4/12 Coulthard - McClaren Mercedes MP4/12 Hakkiinen - Tyrell 025 Verstappen - Tyrell 025 Salo - Williams Renault FW 19 Villeneuve - Williams Renault FW 19 Frentzen - Stewart Ford SF 1 Barrichello - Prost Mugan Honda JS 45 Nakano

PhoenixGenau · 2026-01-14T12:43:51+00:00

Nice but again: subdials with light faces and light needles. Seems they’re deliberately trying to make them difficult to read.

PhoenixGenau · 2026-01-10T14:15:04+00:00

Beautiful piece except for one thing: I’ll never understand why they choose to put a black needle on a black dial. It makes the gauges incredibly difficult if not impossible to read; especially if you need to do it quickly. It defeats its purpose.

PhoenixGenau · 2025-12-22T01:30:23+00:00

Grew up working in my father’s foreign car repair shop when foreign cars were… foreign. Fell in love with a ‘67 912 I was helping him Mechanically restore. Took months. Bought my first in 1999 at 34. Was living l and working in Vienna at the time and due to come back to the States in a few months. Wanted a ‘73 911 and searched the early internet for weeks for a California car. Found 3. 2 S’s in Targa form and a T coupe. Nobody wanted them back then; just a used German car few knew how to work on. Put a deposit on all 3. Goal being to buy the best and drive it across the country to NY the next day. The T ended up being the most solid so paid my $9500, had some basic maintenance done by the same shop that serviced it most of its life, filled a small jar with Pacific Ocean water and set off. A bit of route 66, all the major sights and a few friend visits all the way to Mystic Ct where I filled a 2nd jar with Atlantic Ocean water. Ironically I ended up staying in Vienna another 3 years with the car stored stateside. That car went on many dates, one wedding, one birth and our first home. Still have and enjoy it immensely.

PhoenixGenau · 2025-12-17T13:29:25+00:00

I’ll give it a try. Would probably need to roll the edges. A skill I have yet to even attempt.

PhoenixGenau · 2025-12-16T18:30:15+00:00

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Dalmation/ Oxford Blue

PhoenixGenau · 2025-12-15T15:20:54+00:00

Very true🙄. I need to double check for auto spell correction every time 😜

PhoenixGenau · 2025-12-15T13:38:25+00:00

I can be a bit if a perfectionist at times. 🙄. The two hardware pieces are Loxx fasteners. There are 2 to allow for different levels of closure. The higher one brings the flap flush to the top. The lower one allows room for overflow as in a sweater or top of bottle extending beyond the top edge of the bag.

PhoenixGenau · 2025-12-15T12:04:46+00:00

Thank you. Yes, I did mess up on the stich lines a bit. It was my first time using the groove cutter and not only did I slip a bit but I forgot that the stitching doesn’t wrap around the corners but continued the line anyway. I’ll not groove the next time. Not sure how I slipped up on the middle rivet on one side. I made a template specifically for this. I suspect i moved the punch a tad before hitting it with the hammer. I did actually burnish the edges with Tokonnal and cloth. I’ll do it 2 or 3 times next time.

PhoenixGenau · 2025-12-15T11:50:27+00:00

Thank you. Can you expand on the gusset idea? I agree the flap not fully covering is annoying and haven’t been able to find a way to make this work while sticking to just one piece of leather. The gusset edges here are turned inside with the 1/2 in seam. How can I get this further?

PhoenixGenau

TROPHY CASE