My topographic maps are painstakingly drawn and designed in my home with my CAD (computer-aided design) program. Wood is sanded and coated, then laser-cut and assembled in my work shop. Most of my maps also include frames hand-made by myself. Deeper frames for some of my 3D maps are sourced from my uncle Larry Pettinga’s store The Framery and Gallery . It takes untold hours to design a 3D map and several days to build one.

My laser-cut topographic maps begin as an idea. My wife Wendy and I enjoy kayaking and hiking in the wilderness that West Virginia has to offer. In our short time here, we’ve already hiked miles and kayaked for hours around the New River Gorge and Summersville Lake, hence the subjects of my first two maps.

Once the region to be mapped has been identified, it’s time to sit down at the computer and spend hours drawing and editing the contours that will eventually become the parts of the map. Drawings are also scaled to size depending on the thickness of the wood used to make the map. Prominent rivers and creeks are added along with significant roads, landmarks and interesting/informative text. Finally, it’s all broken down into smaller parts that the laser-cutter can accommodate. The design stage of laser-cut map making is the most tedious and time consuming!

Once all the CAD work is finished, it’s time to hit the work shop! Wood is sanded and stained as necessary to achieve the desired effect on my finished map.

Prepared wood sheets are then loaded into the laser-cutter for the magic to happen! It takes about forty-five minutes to cut one sheet — longer if there is text or other intricate detail work.

The parts begin to pile up, but it all comes together as I assemble them one-by-one.

Some of my 3D maps with stacked contours require a special frame deep enough to accommodate the thickness of this type of map. Fortunately, my uncle Larry Pettinga owns his own store The Framery and Gallery in Trenton, Michigan where he offers his expertise and supplies me with proper, first-class frames, framing materials and glass.

I’ve now acquired the equipment and materials to make my own frames of wood adding even more to the uniqueness and value of my laser-cut wood maps.

Brannon Ritterbush keeps a variety of my topographic maps in stock at her Wild Art Wonderful Things gallery/gift shop in nearby Fayetteville, WV.

Maps are also available at Tamarack; The Best of West Virginia art gallery here in my home town of Beckley, West Virginia.

Special Edition painted frame to match the lake. Will build to suit on request.

My first ever retail map, here is Issue No. 37 with frame made of pine. This one is finished in a medium darkness main wood layer, clear coating on the pine frame and medium blue river layer.

Here's a 14" x 24" of The Rapids of the New River; Light blue river with clear polyurethane on the main wood layer and on the pine frame.

Here’s my 14” x 24” “The Rapids of the Gauley River” in a pine frame that has been stained dark. This is an example of map with a clear coating on the main wood layer, a darker blue river/lake layer and a dark-stained frame.

This rendition of The Rapids of The Gauley River illustrates another color combination with a medium-darkness main wood layer, darker stained pine frame and light blue river.

This is an example of an epoxy pour lake/river. Main wood layer has a medium/dark stain treatment. Clear pine frame.

Here’s a closeup of the epoxy pour on Summersville Lake.

This 14” x 24” of the rapids of the New River has everything I can throw at it! Epoxy pour river, walnut frame and frame within the frame for you to insert your own 4” x 6” white water photo!

Walnut frame.

Your photo here! No disassembly required. Simply mount your picture to the included mat board and tape it into the cutout in the back. Simple instructions included.

Another rendition of the Rapids of the Gauley River with personalized photo insert. Medium/dark main wood layer, dark stained oak frame.

26” x 14” flat lake map of Sutton Lake, West Virginia. This one shown with poplar frame with dark stain.

The first of my stacked contour, 3D topographic maps, this one depicts the New River in the region of the New River Gorge. Now on my 5th edition, this map is priced at $550.00.

My latest: NRG3D-6. This time, natural wood (clear polyurethane-coated) with a painted frame. $550.00

Here’s a rendition of my New River Gorge 3D map, only in a smaller, more economic 18” x 24” size. $400.00

My Summersville Lake 3D maps feature the lake, the Gauley River and the Summersville Lake dam that created the lake in a 22” x 28” frame with glass. Price: $550.00

Here’s the second edition of my Summersville Lake 3D map. For this one I treated all the layers with the same coating for an all-natural appearance to the wood. Price: $550.00.

I was commissioned to make a more economical, flat version of my 3D Beckley map, and this is the result. Just about 32” square, this flat version incorporates the Beckley city limit cut from a separate, contrasting sheet of wood providing contrast and interest. This frame is made from alder with the knots filled with resin, but I can do walnut, oak or just about anything.

One of my first custom maps, it was a pleasure to work with the owners of Valley to make these maps of their business. I was originally contracted to make one piece, but family members liked it so much they ordered three more.

Finished CAD rendition with all the various elements (contours, roads, creeks, text, compass) ready to be sent to my laser cutter. Each and every line, spline, curve, corner and intersection has been hand-drawn in my CAD program with thousands of mouse clicks.

A completed, custom flat map in 20” x 24” frame (with glass) also hand-made by myself.

Customers are thrilled to have a custom map of a part of the land dear to their heart.

20” x 24” Garretts Bend, Lincoln County, West Virginia. Oak frame with dark walnut stain, clear polyurethane on wood base layer.

20” x 24” Little Coal River, West Virginia. Oak frame with pecan stain/polyurethane, slight oak on main wood layer.

22” x 22” custom map of the state of Wisconsin in frame of cherry wood.

Huntington Watershed with Commander’s Coin embedded in the map presented to Colonel Jason Evers at his retirement ceremony.

An elevation map with forty-some layers of mat board. This was for an engineering firm for planning and development.

Top view. Features inset, navy blue marine-grade vinyl with inset cream colored “Mountain State” logo.

Brass latches keep the game securely closed for transport and storage.

Like any quality backgammon game, the two halves of this game are hinged.

This is a complete piece including fifteen checkers (plus extras included), dice and dice cups.

Brass hinges are inset for a compact, professional finish.

The checkers are laser-cut from 1/4” clear acrylic. Art work is laser-engraved through the paint on the bottom surface. Fifteen checkers plus extras are included.

The playing surfaces are maple veneer plywood with laser-engraved art work and playing points. Multiple coats of polyurethane provide a deep, durable finish!

The dice cups are custom-made with West Virginia art work.

Bottom view. The bottom of the case features the Wild, Wonderful logo familiar to all those who know West Virginia.

Frames are made from scratch including the dado and miter cuts.

Frames are assembled in a precision, heavy-duty corner clamp on my workbench specially made for building frames.

Top two frames: clear pine coated with clear polyurethane. Bottom frame cherry with polyurethane.

Top: darker frame is walnut. One coat clear polyurethane, sanded, waxed. Bottom: lighter frame is cherry. Two coats clear polyurethane, sanded, waxed. .

Same cherry frame as above.

Walnut frame.

I began with the CAD drawing of the wing from the Great Planes Quik-V6 ARF and “filled it in” with my own structure. 3/4 oz. fiberglass cloth, vertical grain shear webs and carbon fiber spar stiffeners inside. Available in single-servo version (while my supply of DuBro torque rods lasts) and dual-servo version.

Single servo wing (shown covered in clear MonoKote with red MonoKote trim)

Built-up, all-wood wing kit for Quik-V6/7 Q500 pylon racer. Features 3/32” wing skins with 1/16” balsa sub-sheeting in middle of wing with 3/4 oz. glass cloth in between. 1/4” x 1/4” balsa main spars with carbon fiber strips and laser-cut, notched spar web. This is not a short kit! It is a complete wing kit including laser-cut balsa ribs, sub TE and sub LE, all sticks/sheeting, wing bolts, fiberglass cloth, CA hinges and cardstock templates for wing tips. 36 page illustrated full-color instruction manual in PDF form sent via email. If interested, contact me for a look at the instruction manual to see how it goes together.

$125.00 for dual servo version with fiberglass control horns

$145.00 for single servo version with DuBro 6-32 torque rods

Shipping not included. Shipped in 6” x 6” x 26” cardboard box.

Don’t be a schmuck using a cardboard box (or your lap!) as an airplane stand! Laser-cut from 1/8” birch ply (not lite-ply), these airplane stands slide and snap together, so no glue needed and may be disassembled for transport. Available in four levels of finish as described below - all ready to use with silicone cradle tubing installed. Unless you specify, polyurethane-coated stands will be randomly clear-coated or stained slightly darker. Currently available for the following Q40 pylon racers:

Sweet 1/Too Sweet

Vendetta

Sweet Vee

Strega

BC Ashley

Small Wonder

Miss Foxy Lady

PRICING:

Basic stand; sanded on both sides, coated on outward-facing surfaces with polyurethane: $25.00

Same as above, with your name and district number (16u, etc.) engraved on sides, airplane name engraved on front cradle: $30.00

Same as above, but with engravings painted black for maximum contrast: $35.00

Coated with polyurethane on all surfaces: Add $5.00

Shipping not included (typically about $10.00 in a padded envelope)

Stands are made-to-order, but can usually be laser-cut and shipped in a couple days (or delivered to a race for free).

Acrylic or wood start line boxes. Custom-made to your specifications for your equipment (transmitter, glow battery, tachometer, starter, etc.).

RC pylon racing Pit Stand. This is a conventional pit stand with two sides and a central box fastened with 1/4-20 nylon thumb screws. Each side comprises two “legs” that are a sandwich of 1/4" veneer plywood between outer layers of 1/8” birch ply. The four leg assemblies have holes for 1/8” dowels to keep alignment while gluing together. This “core” construction system allows for an inset channel in the top for the foam cushioning and tabs that align and stabilize the legs when joined to the box and cavities for “key-in” fueler hooks that attach to either side of the stand. Breakdown for transport is quick and easy. The box is 1/4" birch ply, but the sides are doubled-up. If requested, I can line the bottom of the box with vinyl and even add a simple logo (such as JRPropo, Futaba, etc.). Under the box is a slide-out tray. The dimensions of the box are 14” across x 12” front-to-back. The cradles are about 23” from the ground.

Stage 1 (kit form) $175 Complete kit, unassembled: Includes all laser-cut wood parts, foam strips for cradle, nylon bolts, alignment dowels.

Stage 2 $225 Same as above, but assembled/glued together. Requires filler, sanding, paint.

Stage 3 $450 Turn-key, completely finished, two coats brush-on, clear spar urethane, buffed smooth, marine-grade vinyl box bottom liner. Vinyl graphics $20 additional.

Stage 4 $575 Turn-key, completely finished, painted with single-stage, colored automotive paint. Marine-grade vinyl box bottom liner. Vinyl graphics with your name, district # included.

Shipping not included

Here is my own pit stand finished with two coats brush-on lacquer, sanded/buffed smooth.

My other passion is radio control pylon racing. Several weekends take me all over the mid west where my friends are competitors and competitors are my friends.

Bear Wood Gallery downtown, Charleston, WV.

Studio B, Fayetteville, WV