TH, i just sent you an email, regarding the price of a 1084 rainshadow blank. if it's not to expensive i may buy one from you in the next month or two, for a winter time project. never built a rod yet, but couple guys i work with, and my dad have built quite a few rods, so i'm thinking what the heck, might be a good winter time project. also, what rainshadow blank would be as close as possible to the rod i originally started this post about, the loomis 1173, curious as to how much that blank would cost, too. if prices are resonable, i may end up building two rods this winter! of course this will all have to be passed through my wife first!