H. G. Muller wrote on Tue, Oct 21, 2008 11:20 AM UTC:
As the Elephant is a piece that occurs in very many Chess variants (including Xiangqi),
be it in the form of the original Alfil, or as a modernized variety, it would be very nice
to have a standard shape for it, which combines well with other Staunton-style pieces. I am
exploring the possibilities to make a cylindrically symmetric design, which would allow
manufacturing on a lathe, just as most other pieces. That it would require some
operations afterwards is no poblem: Other Staunton pieces need this as well.
Currently I have a design which I do like, and which should be nearly as easy to manufacture as
other pieces. As I do not own a lathe, I made a clay model, to make sure it would work in
3 dimensions (in particular the attachment of the tusks). Never mind the finishing looks ugly
and the color is all wrong! I think it sould be about 10% smaller, though, to match with the Knight:
I was able to buy Chess pieces at €0,50 a piece in a Chess-materials shop here in Amsterdam,
so that I could actually put together my design for the Cannon. Add the Elephant, and I would be
all ready for Xiangqi (the piece in the background is a Veteran fom the Superchess set):
be it in the form of the original Alfil, or as a modernized variety, it would be very nice
to have a standard shape for it, which combines well with other Staunton-style pieces. I am
exploring the possibilities to make a cylindrically symmetric design, which would allow
manufacturing on a lathe, just as most other pieces. That it would require some
operations afterwards is no poblem: Other Staunton pieces need this as well.
Currently I have a design which I do like, and which should be nearly as easy to manufacture as
other pieces. As I do not own a lathe, I made a clay model, to make sure it would work in
3 dimensions (in particular the attachment of the tusks). Never mind the finishing looks ugly
and the color is all wrong! I think it sould be about 10% smaller, though, to match with the Knight:
I was able to buy Chess pieces at €0,50 a piece in a Chess-materials shop here in Amsterdam,
so that I could actually put together my design for the Cannon. Add the Elephant, and I would be
all ready for Xiangqi (the piece in the background is a Veteran fom the Superchess set):
Chancellor and Archbishop were even easier: