Painting bluebills

[Mean Gene]

Been working on figuring out paint on a couple dozen bluebills I carved, but I have had WAY too little time as I've been trying to get ready for the bluegrass festival I'm putting on in a week. I have been doing a ton of experimenting on these guys, some stuff has worked well, some, not so much. However, I think I've finally decided on how to get from point A to point B in a way that I can live with. I've got this preener ALMOST done...still have some dark color touch-up, but he's close. I kind of like this one with his bill tucked under his feathers. The others are gonna have to wait awhile until I get back from Susanville.

[Feelin' Fowl]

That. Is. AWESOME. Looks great MG.

[3legged_lab]

Very nice! Foamer?

[Mean Gene]

Very nice! Foamer?

Affirmative. Restle coated it first, then burlapped, then sealed with marine spar varnish, base coat of Rustoleum, then two coats of flocking and airbrushed. Gonna experiment later with adding a coat of two part epoxie (pool paint). Objective is to make the toughest, most durable carved foam decoys in existence.

[Olly]

That's pretty amazing. Thanks for sharing.

[jehler]

What do you use when you burlap it? (For the sticky)

[flight control]

Very nice work Gene. I remember your work from a couple of other forums, you must have quite the spread by now.

[aunt betty]

I have the wife paint them with her tongue when my bills err balls get blue.

Sorry, couldnt resist. Forgive me plz?

[flight control]

What ever hapened with your fiberglass experiment? I'm pretty sure that was you. They looked pretty tough.

[(MT)Montanafowler]

that looks fantastic! great job man!

[Mean Gene]

What do you use when you burlap it? (For the sticky)

Acrylpro tile adhesive.

[Mean Gene]

Very nice work Gene. I remember your work from a couple of other forums, you must have quite the spread by now.

I don't really have that many. I kept a couple dozen of the ones I made last year (bluebills...big fatties), but all the ones I've done this year I've sold. Down side is I still only have a couple dozen bluebills decoys. Upside is duck season will be paid for in advance next year.

What ever hapened with your fiberglass experiment? I'm pretty sure that was you. They looked pretty tough.

Never really did anything else with it. Didn't really want to mess with the resin.

[flight control]

Cool. Are you looking to make a buisness out of it or is it just a hobby that pays for itself? I had a few people try to buy mine but I've become attached to them.

[Flightstopper]

Do you use the pink insulation foam board from home depot? Anything special to glue pieces together? Can see the foam in pics just making sure of the right source. Blocks look amazing.

[Redbeard]

Lookin good Gene

[bill herian]

Thats out of control, Gene

[teb]

Nice work.

[Mean Gene]

Cool. Are you looking to make a buisness out of it or is it just a hobby that pays for itself? I had a few people try to buy mine but I've become attached to them.

It's somewhat of a business. Maybe more of a glorified hobby. I've got orders for about 5 dozen more duck decoys, and I've got 16 full body specs in the shop waiting to get flocked and painted. Let's just say I'm getting busier than I thought I would.

[Mean Gene]

Do you use the pink insulation foam board from home depot? Anything special to glue pieces together? Can see the foam in pics just making sure of the right source. Blocks look amazing.

Yep, that's the stuff. You can put it together with a couple small spots of 5 minute epoxie if you want to work on it immediately, or you can gorrilla glue it if you can wait overnight.

[The Duck Hammer]

Very Nice!

[Flightstopper]

Do you use the pink insulation foam board from home depot? Anything special to glue pieces together? Can see the foam in pics just making sure of the right source. Blocks look amazing.

Yep, that's the stuff. You can put it together with a couple small spots of 5 minute epoxie if you want to work on it immediately, or you can gorrilla glue it if you can wait overnight.

I'm diving in, those look too damn cool. Been reading on workingdecoy. Is that burlap or restle? Flocked?

[JGUN]

Nice looking bird. Good job!

[Woody]

That is pretty sweet!!!!

[Mean Gene]

I'm diving in, those look too damn cool. Been reading on workingdecoy. Is that burlap or restle? Flocked?

All of the above. Restle, then burlap, then flocked. The "shell" finishes hard as a rock.

[rebelp74]

Wow that's badass!

[Flightstopper]

I'm diving in, those look too damn cool. Been reading on workingdecoy. Is that burlap or restle? Flocked?

All of the above. Restle, then burlap, then flocked. The "shell" finishes hard as a rock.

Wow, I bet!

[Reelcranky]

Awesome job those look to nice to hunt with!

[jehler]

Well hello reel cranky

[Reelcranky]

Well hello reel cranky

Hello to you jehler

[Mornin Beef]

Well hello reel cranky

Hello to you jehler