LL Bean restoration

k folkman

k folkman

Well-known member
These were given to me free of charge due to their condition. I repaired the bills by cutting off the bad wood and glueing and dowling a newly carved bill. The bodies were repaired with Gorrila Glue, Titebond and wood flour. I then gave them a base coat of Ronans. Not sure yet what to paint them as. Any suggestions?......................Kevin



"If someone can put these pics inline I would appreciate that"

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Since you cant make up your mind I think that you should send them to me I have the perfect paint scheme in mind. bwaaaa those look really nice great job restoring them. Paint em up as black ducks.
 
Real nice job. You are inspiring me to re-do my father's 7 LL Bean blackies he gave me. They aren't nearly as bad as what you started off with.

I vote black duck.

Bill Stahl
 
Dear Kevin,

I love to restore old LL Bean decoys. Helps me endure the long offseason!

Excellent job on these two. As you are in the Atlantic Flyway, the odds on favorite would be Black ducks.

Mallards would be nice, too. Either way, you can't go wrong, floating those beauties. I don't think there was ever a production cork decoy that could match those done by George Soule, when he owned/ran the Decoy Shop in Freeport, ME.

Good for you!

God Bless,

Mark
 
Mark, I used to carve with a man named Richard Parks from Harpswell, Maine that hunted and carved with George Soule. For Christmas this year, "Dick" sent me a very old George Soule (LL Bean) cork Blackduck with one of the first generation wood heads. It was a two piece with a "flat" spot on the back. I will try to post some photos of it very soon. dc
 
Thanks guys. I love these Soule decoys. I have a dozen now and plan on filling and re-painting all of them soon. Looks like either black or mallard.........................either way I will post pics of them painted...................Kevin
 
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