Well done cousin, and thanks for posting your step by step process, it was quite interesting indeed. I have not gone through the 'Jock Scot' process yet with my new diced fawn Balmoral, and technically, I would have to perform the same procedure for 4 other Mackie Balmorals that I currently own! Many of which I have owned for many years and have already begun to 'break in' and conform better to my head naturally. I don't think I am going to put my bonnets through the re-shaping process; don't get me wrong, I love the look of yours, as well as Jock's, and not to mention, my grandfather has an old lovat blue Balmoral with dicing that looks along the same lines and is very broken in. I suppose that I am quite content with the way the Mackie Balmoral's arrive. Of course, I do a wee bit of manuvering and shaping whilst putting the bonnet on my head, and I tend to think that they don't look too much like a 'flying saucer'! I'm just fine with the way they are and tend to believe that they will reach the 'broken in' look once they have had years of wear and tear. Much thanks to you and to Jock for the ideas and step-by-step analysis.

Yours in Clann Mhuirich aye,