Steve Sanford
Well-known member
All~
In response to numerous requests - and having the opportunity to rehab and re-paint an LL Bean's Coastal Canada Goose of late - I have put together a step-by-step tutorial on my website:
http://stevenjaysanford.com/painting-canada-goose-gunners/
Below is an abbreviated version of what's on my site. I started with a bird presented to me by Bill Ferraro at the SSWA Duckboat Show & Waterfowl Festival in late October. It was Bill who presented me with a forlorn Bean's Drake Pintail a year ago at the same event: http://www.duckboats.net/...7s%20Pintail;#266063
This bird had good, original paint but a serious problem with its neck.
This head had "enjoyed" numerous fractures over its working lifetime....
This repair was more challenging than most because I could not easily remove the dowel.
So, I notched a block of White Pine, lined up the grain, and epoxied it on - around the dowel - with U S Composites 1:3 epoxy + Fairing Compound (microballoons + fumed silica). One big spring clamp applies enough pressure for a job like this.
Here it is carved down. The head is primed with Black Gesso - BEFORE I varnish it. This helps to show less wear as the outer layers get worn off with use.
I also carved a shallow eye channel, installed new black eyes, and burned in some bill detail.
As with other Bean's birds, I round the hard edges on the keel to protect rigmates. I seal the whole bird with a heavy coat of spar varnish - getting it into the many nooks and crannies of the black cork - to keep water out.
I replaced the rusty steel "locator pin" with 1/8-inch brass rod then set the head in a non-adhesive but paintable caulk. I do not use 3M 5200 or PL because I want to be able to easily remove the head if future repairs are needed.
Plenty of squeeze out will keep water out AND prevent anchor line from wedging between the body and head.
A longer (2-inch) s/s panhead screw and a fender washer - set in caulk - draw the head down firmly.
Eroded edges got filled with the epoxy + Fairing Compound mixture.
In addition to Flat Black and Flat White, I used 3 colors - Behr Ultra sample jars from Home Depot:
Aging Barrel - PPU5-2
Mocha Accent - 720D-5
Graceful Gray - PPU 18-12
For the first - simpler - paint job, I used these 3 brushes:
As always, I begin painting at the stern. There are numerous ways to depict the tail end of a Canada Goose. I opted for one that had the wing feathers reaching all the way aft to the tail feathers. I did this because I think the body looks a bit small for the head on these decoys - so the "apparent size" of the body is larger. But, I think a clear Black & White pattern at the tail is an important identifier to other Canadas.
Blending is critical to painting Canadas. Here I show Mocha Accent being blended into the Aging Barrel behind the neck.
I had fun with the trademark chinstrap. It should start just behind the bill, in front of the eye. It ends slightly above and behind the eye. Shapes vary lots.....
I like Grey bottom paint. It looks clean AND a felt marker can put the owner's name on easily.
Here is the simpler paint job - ready to hunt on the Hickory Swamp. This paint job is entirely adequate - and attractive if you need to paint a big rig.
IF you want to go that extra yard, I also describe each step in adding some details. I try to keep the job well within the realm of gunning style. For example, I do not put in every feather. Rather, I add only as many as needed to suggest a plumage with more "depth".
Note how the feather edgings get closer together as you move forward on the bird.
The length, curvature and orientation of the edgings on the sides also change as you move forward.
As long as you've gone this far, you might as well give it lower eyelids. Use Graceful Gray and a fine, round brush to paint them from 3:00 to about 8:30around the eye.....
Once again, ready to hunt.
See many more photos and instructions at:
http://stevenjaysanford.com/painting-canada-goose-gunners/
All the best,
SJS
In response to numerous requests - and having the opportunity to rehab and re-paint an LL Bean's Coastal Canada Goose of late - I have put together a step-by-step tutorial on my website:
http://stevenjaysanford.com/painting-canada-goose-gunners/
Below is an abbreviated version of what's on my site. I started with a bird presented to me by Bill Ferraro at the SSWA Duckboat Show & Waterfowl Festival in late October. It was Bill who presented me with a forlorn Bean's Drake Pintail a year ago at the same event: http://www.duckboats.net/...7s%20Pintail;#266063
This bird had good, original paint but a serious problem with its neck.
This head had "enjoyed" numerous fractures over its working lifetime....
This repair was more challenging than most because I could not easily remove the dowel.
So, I notched a block of White Pine, lined up the grain, and epoxied it on - around the dowel - with U S Composites 1:3 epoxy + Fairing Compound (microballoons + fumed silica). One big spring clamp applies enough pressure for a job like this.
Here it is carved down. The head is primed with Black Gesso - BEFORE I varnish it. This helps to show less wear as the outer layers get worn off with use.
I also carved a shallow eye channel, installed new black eyes, and burned in some bill detail.
As with other Bean's birds, I round the hard edges on the keel to protect rigmates. I seal the whole bird with a heavy coat of spar varnish - getting it into the many nooks and crannies of the black cork - to keep water out.
I replaced the rusty steel "locator pin" with 1/8-inch brass rod then set the head in a non-adhesive but paintable caulk. I do not use 3M 5200 or PL because I want to be able to easily remove the head if future repairs are needed.
Plenty of squeeze out will keep water out AND prevent anchor line from wedging between the body and head.
A longer (2-inch) s/s panhead screw and a fender washer - set in caulk - draw the head down firmly.
Eroded edges got filled with the epoxy + Fairing Compound mixture.
In addition to Flat Black and Flat White, I used 3 colors - Behr Ultra sample jars from Home Depot:
Aging Barrel - PPU5-2
Mocha Accent - 720D-5
Graceful Gray - PPU 18-12
For the first - simpler - paint job, I used these 3 brushes:
As always, I begin painting at the stern. There are numerous ways to depict the tail end of a Canada Goose. I opted for one that had the wing feathers reaching all the way aft to the tail feathers. I did this because I think the body looks a bit small for the head on these decoys - so the "apparent size" of the body is larger. But, I think a clear Black & White pattern at the tail is an important identifier to other Canadas.
Blending is critical to painting Canadas. Here I show Mocha Accent being blended into the Aging Barrel behind the neck.
I had fun with the trademark chinstrap. It should start just behind the bill, in front of the eye. It ends slightly above and behind the eye. Shapes vary lots.....
I like Grey bottom paint. It looks clean AND a felt marker can put the owner's name on easily.
Here is the simpler paint job - ready to hunt on the Hickory Swamp. This paint job is entirely adequate - and attractive if you need to paint a big rig.
IF you want to go that extra yard, I also describe each step in adding some details. I try to keep the job well within the realm of gunning style. For example, I do not put in every feather. Rather, I add only as many as needed to suggest a plumage with more "depth".
Note how the feather edgings get closer together as you move forward on the bird.
The length, curvature and orientation of the edgings on the sides also change as you move forward.
As long as you've gone this far, you might as well give it lower eyelids. Use Graceful Gray and a fine, round brush to paint them from 3:00 to about 8:30around the eye.....
Once again, ready to hunt.
See many more photos and instructions at:
http://stevenjaysanford.com/painting-canada-goose-gunners/
All the best,
SJS
Last edited:
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