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Ok,
here's a few teaser pics of the build so far.

I've only assembled the reel seat, grip, and winding-check;
and wrapped the butt section guides and hook-keeper.

After much experimentation with different thread colors,
on a whim, I stumbled across a nifty 2-thread combination of Dark Brown and Tan.
The result is something like a Jasper thread, but the 2 colors are a bit more separated and prominent.
From a distance, the mixed-thread just blend together taking on an appearance that "averages" the two,
but up-close, the detail and visual texture really pops.
It's totally in keeping with the colors of the reel seat and rod blank,
and results in a very understated, but quite classy composition, I think:

The cork was originally a full-wells shape, that I modified (by hand!) to remove the rear "lip",
and worked it down to taper and meet the NS check on the reel seat.

The 2-thread wrap isn't really all that hard to do,
especially with my new wrapping jig that has 2 thread tensioners on-board.
What's nice, is that I've been able to develop a technique for "tying-in" the 2nd thread color,
after a solid colored trim wrap is started; and then "tying off" that second color near the end of the wrap,
to enable a nice and thin second solid trim wrap where it terminates at the guide. (more pics on this later...)
I've chosen a Satin Spar as the wrap finish, to keep the sheen down to match Phil's "non-glare bamboo tan" blank:
(only 2-coats of thinned spar on this wrap so far, so the build will likely increase just a bit before I'm totally finished...)

The NS winding check above was only available in sizes that were either too loose, or too tight for this blank,
so I took the too tight one and hand-worked the inner diameter with a file to make it larger.
I was not confident that this would work, without me ruining the WC, but it did.
The hook-keeper is a dark TiCH, smaller sized single foot guide that Phil stocks in his shop.
I kind of like his idea to use this component for this use. Looks pretty good to my eye.
(Note: Since my Dad is a lefty, the HK was placed on the right side, vs. the normal location on the left...)

I'm really loving the looks of this rod so far,
I think my Dad will be blown-away with this gift.
There's nothing finer to me, then a darkened-NS reel seat,
with a walnut spacer. Down-locking, of course: