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Ive been asked to make a replica of a Bob McGaw bluebill for a chapter of Delta Waterfowl here in VA to raffle off at their banquet. Ive never carved in the classic upper bay style and I must say, carving a ducks head in someone else's stlye isnt easy. I started on it last night and this is where Im at. The other pic is the original I had to copy. Its the only reference I had to go by.

Looking pretty close to me. Nice work.

Thanks J. I know Im a little low on the upper tail. I had my drawknife grab and huge chunk and rip it out. I just had to make that one last adjustment. Tell you what though, if you wanted to turn out a spread of these to hunt over this pattern is the way to go. I only have about an hour and a half in this bird from board to what you see. I'll hit it with the spoke shave and sand it tonight. Then on to paint....the wet on wet paint technique they use up there is something Ive never tried either. Should be interesting.

Shortened up the tail a little to match the original better and hit the body with a spoke shave. Tonight is sand and primer.

That looks pretty cool. I wish I had the tools and the time to do that stuff.

You get any paint on it yet?

Goldfish wrote:That looks pretty cool. I wish I had the tools and the time to do that stuff.

Well quit wishing and write a check

To write a check requires more working, which negates the time required. Is a viscous circle I've dug myself into.

sent from a phancy fone

assateague wrote:You get any paint on it yet?

Im sure the wife was happy this morning when she smelled the sweet smell of oil paint in the kitchen and porch.

Poor pic but I'll get one in natural lighting this weekend.

Goldfish wrote:That looks pretty cool. I wish I had the tools and the time to do that stuff.

You can go to a cabinet shop to cut out you patterns. Ive never heard of one turning someone down. Sometimes they will charge a couple bucks. This bird was done, other than the bandsaw with a $70 drawknife and a $35 dollar carving knife. The wood is the largest cost really. The wood in just this bird was around $40.

You going to "antique" it or leave it pretty?

Pretty. I'll let the steel shot, dogs, and boats antique it.

nice decoy