The Mouse Factory
@mousefactory.bsky.social
A guitar builder, artist, pilot and aircraft engineer. Sometimes not in that order. Based in Durham, UK. Warning: may contain nuts.
Day 4... Brazilian Imbuya cap getting glued on to the blank. The headstock of the Ibanez neck has been resculpted too...
February 11, 2026 at 4:39 PM
Day 4... Brazilian Imbuya cap getting glued on to the blank. The headstock of the Ibanez neck has been resculpted too...
The most difficult part of guitar building for me is the initial design. Coming up with a cool shape, which isn't a direct copy of something else, but is still usable.
Today I made the template for this, the poplar blank and ordered some expensive wood for the cap.. fun times ahead.
Today I made the template for this, the poplar blank and ordered some expensive wood for the cap.. fun times ahead.
February 7, 2026 at 10:48 PM
The most difficult part of guitar building for me is the initial design. Coming up with a cool shape, which isn't a direct copy of something else, but is still usable.
Today I made the template for this, the poplar blank and ordered some expensive wood for the cap.. fun times ahead.
Today I made the template for this, the poplar blank and ordered some expensive wood for the cap.. fun times ahead.
30 years ago, I was given a guitar for Christmas- I still have it. This Encore strat copy was never very good, but recently, I have set it up properly... its OK! Frets crowned and polished, truss rod adjusted and action lowered.
January 28, 2026 at 9:24 AM
30 years ago, I was given a guitar for Christmas- I still have it. This Encore strat copy was never very good, but recently, I have set it up properly... its OK! Frets crowned and polished, truss rod adjusted and action lowered.
The most relevant guitar I've made!
January 26, 2026 at 7:14 AM
The most relevant guitar I've made!
30 years ago, I had the opportunity to fly with Fred Cabanas in his Pitts S2B. What a ride! I didn't know which way was up for 45 minutes, then we overtook a DC3 on base leg into Key West, inverted...
I drew this a long time ago.
I drew this a long time ago.
January 21, 2026 at 8:17 PM
30 years ago, I had the opportunity to fly with Fred Cabanas in his Pitts S2B. What a ride! I didn't know which way was up for 45 minutes, then we overtook a DC3 on base leg into Key West, inverted...
I drew this a long time ago.
I drew this a long time ago.
I feel like I need a flying topic today, so here's a couple of images of my local area from a couple of thousand feet up.
January 20, 2026 at 11:08 PM
I feel like I need a flying topic today, so here's a couple of images of my local area from a couple of thousand feet up.
Reposted by The Mouse Factory
Danish MEP Anders Vistisen to Donald Trump :"Let me put this in words you might understand: Mr. President, fuck off."
January 20, 2026 at 3:56 PM
This guitar was made from a slab of antique oak and an old RAF packing case from a DeHavilland Dove hydraulic pipe... pickups by Warman.
January 16, 2026 at 11:21 AM
This guitar was made from a slab of antique oak and an old RAF packing case from a DeHavilland Dove hydraulic pipe... pickups by Warman.
Best come-back I've seen so far.
January 13, 2026 at 8:15 AM
Best come-back I've seen so far.
January 12, 2026 at 8:16 PM
A little bit of aircraft engineering from days gone by - this is a fuel drain on the bottom of a PA28's wing tank. Aviation gasoline is dyed blue, so leaks show up (also why most aircraft are painted white). Spot the crack which was hidden under a few layers of paint... That crack is 4mm long.
January 12, 2026 at 11:38 AM
A little bit of aircraft engineering from days gone by - this is a fuel drain on the bottom of a PA28's wing tank. Aviation gasoline is dyed blue, so leaks show up (also why most aircraft are painted white). Spot the crack which was hidden under a few layers of paint... That crack is 4mm long.
The latest build I've done was a modification rather than a pure build.
An ibanez gio body, inlaid with a fairy design, rewired and fitted with a hardtail. Replaced the pickups and routed a new cavity which changes the positions, capped off with a 25.5" scale length neck.
An ibanez gio body, inlaid with a fairy design, rewired and fitted with a hardtail. Replaced the pickups and routed a new cavity which changes the positions, capped off with a 25.5" scale length neck.
January 12, 2026 at 9:04 AM
The latest build I've done was a modification rather than a pure build.
An ibanez gio body, inlaid with a fairy design, rewired and fitted with a hardtail. Replaced the pickups and routed a new cavity which changes the positions, capped off with a 25.5" scale length neck.
An ibanez gio body, inlaid with a fairy design, rewired and fitted with a hardtail. Replaced the pickups and routed a new cavity which changes the positions, capped off with a 25.5" scale length neck.
A couple of years ago, I drew this. I have always loved the Bugatti Atlantic - the shape, the sweeping wings, the mad seam running over the body centreline.
Pencil on Bristol paper, a2 size.
Pencil on Bristol paper, a2 size.
January 12, 2026 at 7:08 AM
A couple of years ago, I drew this. I have always loved the Bugatti Atlantic - the shape, the sweeping wings, the mad seam running over the body centreline.
Pencil on Bristol paper, a2 size.
Pencil on Bristol paper, a2 size.
Risking life and limb to start a vintage aeroplane.
January 11, 2026 at 10:01 PM
Risking life and limb to start a vintage aeroplane.
Reposted by The Mouse Factory
WELKER: How do you justify an enforcement strategy that's making so many people feel less safe?
HOMAN: Because of the false media reports & members of Congress comparing ICE to terrorists
W: But these are protesters saying it
HOMAN: Because they're looking at media reports saying ICE are Nazis
HOMAN: Because of the false media reports & members of Congress comparing ICE to terrorists
W: But these are protesters saying it
HOMAN: Because they're looking at media reports saying ICE are Nazis
January 11, 2026 at 3:08 PM
WELKER: How do you justify an enforcement strategy that's making so many people feel less safe?
HOMAN: Because of the false media reports & members of Congress comparing ICE to terrorists
W: But these are protesters saying it
HOMAN: Because they're looking at media reports saying ICE are Nazis
HOMAN: Because of the false media reports & members of Congress comparing ICE to terrorists
W: But these are protesters saying it
HOMAN: Because they're looking at media reports saying ICE are Nazis
Reposted by The Mouse Factory
Well, those boots were not made for walking
January 11, 2026 at 12:30 PM
Well, those boots were not made for walking
A quick video of Wolf playing my Roman guitar. Home-grown guitarist playing a home-built guitar. Happy.
January 11, 2026 at 1:18 PM
A quick video of Wolf playing my Roman guitar. Home-grown guitarist playing a home-built guitar. Happy.
The glorious city of Durham photographed from a small aeroplane earlier last year. I so need to go flying again!
#flying
#landscape
#durham
#flying
#landscape
#durham
January 11, 2026 at 11:39 AM
The glorious city of Durham photographed from a small aeroplane earlier last year. I so need to go flying again!
#flying
#landscape
#durham
#flying
#landscape
#durham
Reposted by The Mouse Factory
But this is where my passion lies (4/4)
January 10, 2026 at 9:14 PM
But this is where my passion lies (4/4)
Professionally, I do this! (3/4)
January 10, 2026 at 9:11 PM
Professionally, I do this! (3/4)
Other times, I do this: (2/4)
January 10, 2026 at 9:00 PM
Other times, I do this: (2/4)
Sometimes I do this: (1/4)
January 10, 2026 at 8:56 PM
Sometimes I do this: (1/4)
From the outside looking in, the Orange Gibbon has played a master stroke. By picking on a blue state, which is known to retaliate against oppression, he has guaranteed violence on the streets. This will allow whatever version of martial law he wants. Goodbye midterms. Hello dictator. 1/2
January 10, 2026 at 8:35 PM
From the outside looking in, the Orange Gibbon has played a master stroke. By picking on a blue state, which is known to retaliate against oppression, he has guaranteed violence on the streets. This will allow whatever version of martial law he wants. Goodbye midterms. Hello dictator. 1/2