Thanks guys for the kind words. The oversized drake was inspired by my friend, Jim Schmiedlin.
Dave, on the Ducharmes, a little blow torch to the head really gets that grain to stand up.
Redheads up next... pg
It's not the best image, but a mallard for my rig. Out of of the 50 or so this year this is the only one that's made it to my rig. View attachment image.jpg
Frank, 50 birds this year. Your a machine. The polt in the background of the mallard shot gives me perspective of size. How did you do the legs?
Tx, Phil
Only one more shot of that bird - it's off to the races already.
But, here are some from some earlier birds. I am guessing that you want more detail on the back feathers - from the upper tail coverts right through the scapulars. As you can see, I take a slightly different approach each time.
Here's one from 2013:
This is the Pineapple Effect I strive for on several drake puddlers - with the scapulars drooped/fanned out:
I painted the vermiculation on the cape and sides:
This is from last December - probably my favorite approach on the tertials and scapulars.
And here's the simpler gunner job I've been doing on some Bean's birds of late.
Just finished up a prototype flattie decoy. I've been going to make some for years but only recently got around to it.
I kept it as simple as I could. 2x western red cedar body and a 1x head. Primed with flat rustoleum and painted with latex. It floats up higher then I thought it would. Now I need to get some more wood to make 3 or 4 more Buffies...and a couple Goldeneyes...then maybe some teal...and maybe even a Merganser or two.