Steve Sanford
Well-known member
All~
I have always admired the E Allen decoys sold by Lou Tisch ( http://www.lockstockbarrell.com/ ). I have Mallards, Blacks and Wood Ducks but these Brant came to me for attention through another duckboats.net member.
The only concern I have had about my Allens is their smooth surface - which allows almost any paint job to shine in bright sunlight. So, I have been thinking about putting a rough surface on them for a while. So, this is a bit of an experiment.
I believe the master for these Brant was carved by member Paul Dobrosky from New Jersey. I had always admired Paul's birds when I would see them at the old U S National Decoy Show - and was pleased to meet Paul in person a couple of years ago. And, his leaning forward, swimming into the falling tide posture is the best for this species, in my opinion.
I have covered paint details previously: http://stevenjaysanford.com/brant-decoy-rehab-painting/
Here they are as they arrived.
It looks like about half the birds had been completely painted - others still needed work on the sides.
I do not know the original owner - but they did a nice job with the keels and ballast. The keel was very helpful - as a handle - during coating and painting.
I use marine epoxy thickened with Cabosil to keep it from running - and to give the epoxy time to soak into the fine sawdust. I work over a box of sawdust from my bandsaw. I sprinkle it over the wet epoxy then rap the bird with my hand to knock off any excess.
The birds hang to cure. I get about 6 birds out of 8 ounces of resin/hardener mix.
I'm not sure why the sides were not painted up to the molded-in "boundaries" carved by Paul.
White on the tail sections first. This is probably the most important field mark on Brant - and these would hunt well as is.
Next is the Black on the primaries and back feathers.
The back is a muddy Brown - blended into the Black aft. I cut the bristles short on an chip brush - to help push the paint into the rough surface.
The sides are a greyish-tan.
The side color is blended into the back just behind the neck.
I put 3 dark bars toward the rear of each side pocket.
Then some smaller bars up forward - just behind the Black chest.
The Grey barring should contrast a bit more - but will not flare any birds. The White upper edges are more important.
After the head and chest are painted Black - and it is good and dry - I paint on the necklace.
The owner's initials are W and A.......
Here is the flock - ready for lines and anchors.
Ready to go back home!
All the best,
SJS
I have always admired the E Allen decoys sold by Lou Tisch ( http://www.lockstockbarrell.com/ ). I have Mallards, Blacks and Wood Ducks but these Brant came to me for attention through another duckboats.net member.
The only concern I have had about my Allens is their smooth surface - which allows almost any paint job to shine in bright sunlight. So, I have been thinking about putting a rough surface on them for a while. So, this is a bit of an experiment.
I believe the master for these Brant was carved by member Paul Dobrosky from New Jersey. I had always admired Paul's birds when I would see them at the old U S National Decoy Show - and was pleased to meet Paul in person a couple of years ago. And, his leaning forward, swimming into the falling tide posture is the best for this species, in my opinion.
I have covered paint details previously: http://stevenjaysanford.com/brant-decoy-rehab-painting/
Here they are as they arrived.
![1%20Dozen%20BEFORE_zpsvwj1kd0g.jpg](/community/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fi1303.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fag159%2FSJaySanford%2FAbbate%2520BRANT%2F1%2520Dozen%2520BEFORE_zpsvwj1kd0g.jpg&hash=b81f917cf52d1402babddd6a01784784)
It looks like about half the birds had been completely painted - others still needed work on the sides.
![3%20Brant%20-%20BEFORE_zpsvpeeoihs.jpg](/community/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fi1303.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fag159%2FSJaySanford%2FAbbate%2520BRANT%2F3%2520Brant%2520-%2520BEFORE_zpsvpeeoihs.jpg&hash=37a4277bef5e9386317929b80c3cebd4)
I do not know the original owner - but they did a nice job with the keels and ballast. The keel was very helpful - as a handle - during coating and painting.
![3b%20Keel%20-%20handle_zpsekoku5eu.jpg](/community/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fi1303.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fag159%2FSJaySanford%2FAbbate%2520BRANT%2F3b%2520Keel%2520-%2520handle_zpsekoku5eu.jpg&hash=70a97be73cd7c61dba6aff5f2155d8b2)
I use marine epoxy thickened with Cabosil to keep it from running - and to give the epoxy time to soak into the fine sawdust. I work over a box of sawdust from my bandsaw. I sprinkle it over the wet epoxy then rap the bird with my hand to knock off any excess.
![3c%20Sawdust%20box_zps4sdw43y2.jpg](/community/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fi1303.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fag159%2FSJaySanford%2FAbbate%2520BRANT%2F3c%2520Sawdust%2520box_zps4sdw43y2.jpg&hash=61fbc15c18c896a2694ce9a437413b1f)
The birds hang to cure. I get about 6 birds out of 8 ounces of resin/hardener mix.
![4%20Brant%20-%20Coated%20_zpso49furwa.jpg](/community/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fi1303.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fag159%2FSJaySanford%2FAbbate%2520BRANT%2F4%2520Brant%2520-%2520Coated%2520_zpso49furwa.jpg&hash=0561e310ef38e4f8e2c3b8deb4cd7f27)
I'm not sure why the sides were not painted up to the molded-in "boundaries" carved by Paul.
![6%20Side%20pocket_zpsu63ikthp.jpg](/community/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fi1303.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fag159%2FSJaySanford%2FAbbate%2520BRANT%2F6%2520Side%2520pocket_zpsu63ikthp.jpg&hash=e4f6409718a464187ea080c752111690)
White on the tail sections first. This is probably the most important field mark on Brant - and these would hunt well as is.
![8%20White%20rumps_zpsga424wwo.jpg](/community/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fi1303.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fag159%2FSJaySanford%2FAbbate%2520BRANT%2F8%2520White%2520rumps_zpsga424wwo.jpg&hash=1be53e09442b7118d20872825e864e5f)
Next is the Black on the primaries and back feathers.
![9%20Wings_zpstlrq1cmv.jpg](/community/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fi1303.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fag159%2FSJaySanford%2FAbbate%2520BRANT%2F9%2520Wings_zpstlrq1cmv.jpg&hash=afe2ed9cf35460d1a12568b555bd2dcc)
The back is a muddy Brown - blended into the Black aft. I cut the bristles short on an chip brush - to help push the paint into the rough surface.
![11%20Back_zpsnjt4zt5m.jpg](/community/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fi1303.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fag159%2FSJaySanford%2FAbbate%2520BRANT%2F11%2520Back_zpsnjt4zt5m.jpg&hash=faa3ef6989f13c3691d2f54d49350549)
The sides are a greyish-tan.
![12%20Sides_zpsudz6lms9.jpg](/community/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fi1303.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fag159%2FSJaySanford%2FAbbate%2520BRANT%2F12%2520Sides_zpsudz6lms9.jpg&hash=1abf4d76603b6d7557cdcac0decec0b2)
The side color is blended into the back just behind the neck.
![13%20Back%20-%20neck_zpsyivcdehc.jpg](/community/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fi1303.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fag159%2FSJaySanford%2FAbbate%2520BRANT%2F13%2520Back%2520-%2520neck_zpsyivcdehc.jpg&hash=cf48791cb5e7f24d171800f879a2395f)
I put 3 dark bars toward the rear of each side pocket.
![14%20Three%20bars_zpsu3qfn9cz.jpg](/community/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fi1303.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fag159%2FSJaySanford%2FAbbate%2520BRANT%2F14%2520Three%2520bars_zpsu3qfn9cz.jpg&hash=c67ed70e29f1d0033ef726db894568f7)
Then some smaller bars up forward - just behind the Black chest.
![16%20Sides%20amp%20Edges_zpstlo5mrz0.jpg](/community/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fi1303.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fag159%2FSJaySanford%2FAbbate%2520BRANT%2F16%2520Sides%2520amp%2520Edges_zpstlo5mrz0.jpg&hash=91176957d4510adf8c277cd8dc442267)
The Grey barring should contrast a bit more - but will not flare any birds. The White upper edges are more important.
![16%20Sides%20amp%20Edges_zpstlo5mrz0.jpg](/community/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fi1303.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fag159%2FSJaySanford%2FAbbate%2520BRANT%2F16%2520Sides%2520amp%2520Edges_zpstlo5mrz0.jpg&hash=91176957d4510adf8c277cd8dc442267)
After the head and chest are painted Black - and it is good and dry - I paint on the necklace.
![18%20Necklace%20-%20port_zps4gczmgqo.jpg](/community/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fi1303.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fag159%2FSJaySanford%2FAbbate%2520BRANT%2F18%2520Necklace%2520-%2520port_zps4gczmgqo.jpg&hash=32450424c14cfa646109a0ad03d5bc18)
The owner's initials are W and A.......
![20%20Necklace%20-%20stbd%20-%20WA_zpsi0xeqhmh.jpg](/community/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fi1303.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fag159%2FSJaySanford%2FAbbate%2520BRANT%2F20%2520Necklace%2520-%2520stbd%2520-%2520WA_zpsi0xeqhmh.jpg&hash=ab6875880a25588b6d500c6ec9e1568d)
Here is the flock - ready for lines and anchors.
![22%20Flock_zpsofnzsxdp.jpg](/community/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fi1303.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fag159%2FSJaySanford%2FAbbate%2520BRANT%2F22%2520Flock_zpsofnzsxdp.jpg&hash=850becf9271df78ee599491ba1622849)
Ready to go back home!
![23%20Ready%20for%20lines_zps7ducbzvm.jpg](/community/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fi1303.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fag159%2FSJaySanford%2FAbbate%2520BRANT%2F23%2520Ready%2520for%2520lines_zps7ducbzvm.jpg&hash=8e8daf530972c440d0faf6617a12c615)
All the best,
SJS