There's a first time for everything..........

jode hillman

jode hillman

Well-known member
Not a common bird in my parts, but really liked the idea of making one with a little NJ flair. Lifesized or a little bigger, hollow cedar painted with Old Hollands.






 
Nice Jode!!

I was helping Kyle with his pinewood derby car this morning for a bit and I bumped my GWT drake. Broke the bill.... Oh well, it's a gunner. See you next week.
 
Nice Jode!!

I was helping Kyle with his pinewood derby car this morning for a bit and I bumped my GWT drake. Broke the bill.... Oh well, it's a gunner. See you next week.
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Mike no worries, bring it down and we'll fix it.

I've been finished up Ethan's Derby car the last few nights. It's our first one but so far seems to be OK. I'm sure we'll get whipped on by the more experienced ones, but hey we all have to start somewhere.
 
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Jode, if you haven't done it already, put the axles (nails) in your drill and polish them to a VERY SHINY surface and then lube them with graphite. Makes 'em fast! Trip.
 
Jode, if you haven't done it already, put the axles (nails) in your drill and polish them to a VERY SHINY surface and then lube them with graphite. Makes 'em fast! Trip.
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Trip, thanks for the tip. I did remove the burrs from the underside of the nail heads, and polished with 0000 steel wool. Should I go finer.........?
 
great bird jode!

kinda funny but i was looking at some photos of these the other day thinking "a fella could do some cool stuff with their sidepockets".....and, you did.

justin
 
I wouldn't think so, but look real close. When all the burr is gone and the nail really shines, put the wheel on (without lube), spin it and see how long it goes. If you think you can get more spin, polish some more. The spinning wheel also polishes the hole in the wheel to some degree. Then add lube. Been there, done that. Fun, isn't it! Trip.
 
I wouldn't think so, but look real close. When all the burr is gone and the nail really shines, put the wheel on (without lube), spin it and see how long it goes. If you think you can get more spin, polish some more. The spinning wheel also polishes the hole in the wheel to some degree. Then add lube. Been there, done that. Fun, isn't it! Trip.
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Thanks, I'll check and make sure it's spinning free.

It is fun.here's a pic, my son is really excited. Derby is Saturday.


 
Thanks Justin, It was more a creative shot in the dark if you know what I mean as I've never handled a real Fulvous before.
 
I told my wife that I was going to drill the hole in the tires a bit to clean them up. She's all paranoid that I am "cheating" One thing else that I did was take a metal triangle that carpenters use and checked the position of the tires. if your nails are crooked, the tires will be crooked like this / or \ need them to be straight like this l the triangle took a minute and only had one tire that was off but that is the difference between winning and first loser.
 
Next year you can have him carve a little mallard head to stick out as the driver. Or do a pointy beaked merganser dart car. It would sure be one of a kind! Trip.
 
Awesome bird Jode! I admire your work more and more each time I see it. Will you be at Westlake this year with Lenny? Hope to see you guys there and catch up a bit.
 
Nice bird Jode!
My buddie did an extensive stody in the lab at work and the best lube for your derby car
is Lemon PLedge. He had all kinds of exotic stuff but Lemon Pledge was the clear winner.
His Kids owned the Pine Wood Derby circuit for years. It's all in the wheels. Make sure
the axles are smooth and wheels are true! Good luck, John
 
Jode,
nice decoy...

too late to add, but let me give you a suggestion on the next derby car. take your sheet lead and put it on the BOTTOM of the car, down front , about 1/3 of the way back. you want even weight a bit, not too far forward, less stress on the axle so it spins freely. but with the weight down low it really seems to make a big difference on how fast they go.

If you can, find a small enough bit and polish the INSIDE of the wheels in addition to the nails and the tires. They did not allow crowning of the wheels for my son, but well polished was fine. I also have used some gear lube for fishing rods, something like hot shot or whatever, some high end stuff my buddy recommended. Seems to work a bit better than graphite.

funny how the dads almost like tinkering better than the boys.

either way, good luck.
 
Rich, Thanks. I appreciate coming from someone with talent as yourself.
Not sure on Westlake, I think I may not make it this year.

John Thanks, Pledge!? Who would of thought. I am just working on the basics now, making sure it runs true and that the axles are smooth. Once we get a year under our blt I'll pull out the secrets!

Dave, Old habits die hard, LOL. BTW my wife is a McCann as well.............


Eric thanks for the tips. i will have to try it next year. I thought with the weight higher up maybe I would have more potential energy? I am finding though it is making the front end squirrley as not enough weight on the tires.

Greg, It all depends on what your looking for, you can email or call me if you have something in mind.
 
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Beautiful decoy. Makes me wish I was in the "decoy acquisition" mode. Has Hitch seen it yet? I love to hear fulvous whistle while flying around in the early morning dark as we toss the decoys. They are a fun bird to have come to the decoys...which they don't do too readily down here...but they work, and work and work the decoys. They are a treat on the plate also... with wild rice and grilled vegetables.

Don't get all the information in this thread confused and polish the decoy with graphite...it would ruin a beautiful piece of art.
 
Thanks Ron, no don't think John has seen it yet. Tell me do the fulvous whislte like wood ducks or something totally different?
 
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