Greenwings to Gadwall - Another Model 63 Conversion

[Steve Sanford]

All~

Unsure what to do with the 3 "non-standard" Model 63s I bought in a batch last fall, I decided to try them as Grey Ducks....

Compared with the original Herter's Mallard/Black Mallard heads - these have lower crowns and are just a bit too small for the Model 63 puddler body:

Original on left, newer on right.

As with the Wigeon I just did, I coated these with epoxy + sawdust (from my band saw) on the heads and bottoms - and epoxy + Bill Clark's ground (fine) corn cobs on the bodies.

And, I re-mounted the heads so the eye bolt was flush with the molded keel. Paint was my usual Behr flat latex.

Here they are ready-to-hunt. They lack the proud forehead on this species - but I think they will hunt.....

All 3 are now Gadwalls.

All the best,

SJS

 

[Craig F]

Outstanding work as always Steve. Grey ducks are becoming more and more prevalent in the areas I gun every year it seems. With a week to go in the season my log book puts them firmly in second for most harvested species for me this season.

 

[Capt J. Stieben]

Them are too nice to hunt great looking decoys!


On the matter of the non standard heads I think Herter's made a run of decoy heads that were slightly smaller and put them on teal decoys, I have seen them on new old stock Herter's decoys as well as just the heads. I think they had so many things going back then who knew what they were turning out.


Back to the topic - Nice deocys!

 

[Carl]

Outstanding!
To me the subtle beauty of the drake gadwall is just amazing. You captured it well.