Since I have neither the time, experience nor the money to make my own scales or even comission them from one of the pros, I've been consoling myself with digital mock-ups of some scales I'd wanna make.
The unsuspecting victims:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v504/exfish/old.jpg
On top, a lovely Bockla blade that came sans scales but with a layer of rust thicker than the Governator. Below it, a not-so-lovely Stahlichnaya blade, unremarkable except that it's of Soviet manufacture and hence of historical interest. Last but not least, the mighty Creutzberg 6/8. It's one of my three best shavers and sees regular action, but the scales are hard rubber and we all know how wonderful those smell the minute they encounter any heat. Something a bit more...fragrant would be nice. Like say, no fragrance at all.
For the Bockla, I'm thinking something classy in a darkish wood:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v5...ish/Bockla.jpg
Note the silver inlaid Soningen coat of arms, echoing the blade etching. I don't even know if that can be done but a guy can dream, right? Probably onyx or copper butt spacer.
Next up, for the Creutzburg I want something with pizzaz:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v5...Creutzburg.jpg
Slightly untraditional scale shape, and some nice in-yer-face spalted maple. Bright brass or Nickel butt spacer. No inlays, they'd get lost in the spalted maple's figuring.
Two different ideas for the Ruski razor:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v5...talichnaya.jpg
For both I'm thinking Chinese style laquer and paint. Brass/bronze for the star inlay in top one, brass for the bottom...or, yellow cedar scales and the star shape stencilled out from the laquer. Cedar might not be good scale wood, but anything yellowish will do. Red banded jasper for the spacer.
One day... *sigh*