Wanna see my butt?

Yukon Mike

Yukon Mike

Well-known member
Its just a prototype so far, but I've put lots of thought into it. Its going to be four full sized canvas swan butts eventually. You have to imagine it is white.

Any constructive criticism?

Mike

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Nice butt...........
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I wonder if that print is available in my size :0

Really though, I like it. What are you sealing your seams with? On that full swan, how are you going to attach the head to that plate on top of the back bone?

Here are some I am working on. Tring some with a 1x on each side, plus a 1x1 on the top edge to give the fabric a little more shape. Finish with a wire to round it out. I have been epoxying (90 second) the head on, then drilling and doweling through from the bottom.

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This picture is about two months old, the decoys have hardly moved, just had more projects piled on them...I almost have caught up to where I can have some fun!


Take care
Chuck
 
That thing looks great.

I still have my one swan sitting idle in my shop. I was supposed to finish it by January. Oops, a little behind.

Might have to make some dust tonight and mess with that darn thing.

-D
 
It looks nice, I really like the angle of the wires. I would only wonder how strong it is. I can see that tail loop kinking in the first good bump. I would use wood, even 1/4" plywood, for the tail shape instead of the wire loop.

Tim
 
Tim, good idea, I think that tail needs a little more strength. People will be grabbing them there all the time and a piece of plywood might be the thing. Or even a 3/4" board, tapered to the edges like a mink stretcher. OH! Old wire muskrat stretchers would be awesome for a tail wire!

Chuck, I think the last time a made a bunch of these, I sealed the seam to the bottom board with carpet glue or something, and the tail and breast seams got a shot of gorrila glue. I also seal the wood with four coats before I put the canvas on, just in case it springs a leak. I've attached heads a couple of different ways, and on these swans I wanted the heads to be removeable, so I used a steel rod. The two geese in this bunch will have fixed heads. Let me post some pictures..

Mike
 
The rod situation on the swans...

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I can't get the head to sit perfectly, but it is really close. I'm sure there are other ways you can do this too - maybe some keyhole hardware, magnets, some kind of latch.

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For the geese I'll put the canvas on loose, then screw up through these two holes into the neck, then pull the cloth down and tack it. A dab of gorilla glue on both sides of the canvas should help hold it all together.

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I love making these things. Its a nice change from carving.

Mike
 
Thanks Mike, that rod is nifty. I have been wondering how I was going to haul a dozen of these geese in the back of my car (with all the other stuff too). Plus I was having concern of the bill of one puncturing another. Removable heads might be in the future...no point in making any two birds alike.

Great work, as always.,

Chuck
 


Mike, as a swan biologist who has spent a lot of time staring at swans, I gotta tell you this is about the best representation of swan posture I have ever seen. The finished decoy must be striking.
 
Have you canvas deke makers ever come across a design that uses a metal rod for a spine to create a collapsible body rather than a stationary vertical wooden spine? I s'pose the other possibility would be to have a hinged wooden spine that folds to the side. I have a few crude sillies for now but I've been contemplating making a few canvas dekes for the one day per year I normally get/need to hunt swans. However, similar to what Chuck said, transport space as well as storage space is at a premium.
 
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I've never seen anything like that, but it would be a good idea. What about a pillowcase stuffed with ping pong balls and a wooden head?

MIke
 
Based on my experience with swans, that might work just fine...although it would be a bugger if the stitching broke.
 
Mike,

Wonderful idea...I am with Tim on the design...It seems you could remove the wiring and make the bulk of the profile using wood...Keep the main profile as for the side view as you have it...Bring the actual sides of the bird to meet up with the almost the point of the tail...Run the wire radially around the profiles in one big loop...With a little more detail if you would make the wire out of a material that could be brazed you could braze the loop together then wrap the wire with tape to remove any sharp edges. Cut notches in the wood and then place the wire loops in position by pressing over the bird in to the notches...Then canvas the bird...


Regards,

Kristan, or a Ballard calls aka "Special K"
 
Mike was that you who had posted pictures of a hinged floating silly wet decoy? A strip of canvas could be stretched over the back, but I think even without a canvas back that would be a good option for someone wanting to save room.

Tim
 
Naw it wasn't me, but I know what your thinking of. There was a redhead in the pool at Westlake last year that was like that. Very cool idea if you ask me.

Mike
 
Mike was that you who had posted pictures of a hinged floating silly wet decoy? A strip of canvas could be stretched over the back, but I think even without a canvas back that would be a good option for someone wanting to save room.

Tim
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The hinged floating silly would serve my needs well, Tim. Good idear even if you're just passing it along. Thanks!
 
Naw it wasn't me, but I know what your thinking of. There was a redhead in the pool at Westlake last year that was like that. Very cool idea if you ask me.

Mike
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Mike,

I don't think that Redhead was hinged, I seem to remember little wood supports/filler on the sides (maybe to make it look more full from head on?) Anyway, we were looking at that together and admiring the simplicity, and I told you Special K had made some...I haven't seen them, but he told me about them, maybe he can post a picture.

Chuck
 
Have you canvas deke makers ever come across a design that uses a metal rod for a spine to create a collapsible body rather than a stationary vertical wooden spine? I s'pose the other possibility would be to have a hinged wooden spine that folds to the side. I have a few crude sillies for now but I've been contemplating making a few canvas dekes for the one day per year I normally get/need to hunt swans. However, similar to what Chuck said, transport space as well as storage space is at a premium.
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Jackson Industries made a colapsable field goose decoy, wire frame with cloth over it. Check out Archie Johnson's Canvas Decoys of North America, there are I believe some concept drawings for other colapsable canvas decoys, some showing patent applications, some of which were never manfactured...very interesting book if you can get it without breaking the bank.

Chuck
 
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