What's on your Work Bench ? OCTOBER 2018

Steve Sanford

Steve Sanford

Well-known member
Good morning, All~


Well, I just got back from a great time at the Tuckerton Show - and spent a few hours on "the bench" yesterday. It occurred to me that I worked on 7 different projects yesterday - 2 boat projects, 5 decoy projects - and, oh yes - a blind for Saturday's Duck opener.


But, George Williams, too, has been productive. He has completed his Grey Duck rig:


(as always, CLICK to view any image full-size)



View attachment GWilliams - Grey Ducks 1.jpg



Not sure how many in this herd all-told.


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He did mention he was a bit tired of all the stipplin' and tickin'.....


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He, too, is probably ready for a nap.


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I carved the Canada and Snow/Blue heads back in the Spring. I finished the White-front just before I went to Tuckerton.


View attachment sm 1 Three Heads - WF on body.JPG



It'll be a long while before I post a Tutorial on painting Specklebellies - but I will put the Behr colors on this image soon. Aging Barrel, Espresso Beans, and Ashwood are the major ones. Bill colors vary among the subspecies. The plain orange (Butter Rum) bill says this is of the Greenland persuasion.


View attachment sm 3 WFront 02 - FULL on bench.JPG



One key to getting The Look on this species is the darker tone between the White face mask and the grey-brown (Aging Barrel) head and neck. I use Espresso Beans at the edge of the face mask and around the eyes.


View attachment sm 4 WFront 03 - head on body THE LOOK.JPG



The White Pine head is loosely attached to the Homer Brant/Goose body. I photographed it on the pond at Tuckerton.


View attachment sm 2 WFront 06 - FULL on water B.JPG



All the best,


SJS





 
Baker's dozen. I just felt like doing one extra. Out of 25 I made in the past weeks, I wanted to keep one for my gaddie rig. We shall see.
Nice paint on the speck, Steve
 
Spent some time in Colorado last month with part of the family and didn't do a whole lot in the shop or studio.
Started painting this redhead sleeper, one of the remaining birds from my last carving frenzy, just this past weekend, and started planning the schedule for the coming months.
Won't be long before it will be time to remove/store the A/C unit in the studio and bring up the Oil filled heater

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Primed and on stakes yesterday afternoon, spent some time last night painting and will get an updated photo in the next couple days. I had a hard time mounting the stakes initially, switched rivet brands and things got easier. Looking forward to finishing up these 5 and picking up another sheet of plywood.
 
I have been messing around with the Coot casting, and have made a few dozen so far. I keep giving away and selling blanks a couple here and there and have to keep making more to keep my rig as I had intended. I will hunt 16 this season, on the spreaders I made.

I have been using a variety of 2 part foam suppliers, and have had mixed results. I have not nailed down the perfect pour yet, but most of the less than perfect bodies are still usable. I have not trashed anything yet!

I used a few of the worse bodies to try my hand at another "odd" duck.


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I played around with different tail shapes, and obviously a rather crude paint plan. These heads are also foam, I received from Bob Romstadt, when I traded some coot heads and bodies.
 
Cool Ruddies!!
I think you captured the paint scheme pretty darn well.
 
Great looking gaddies, you really captured their subtle beauty. Nice work!
 
Dave Diefenderfer said:
How is the feather shape achieved?
Click to expand...

Dave,
If asking me = Pattern is outlined w/ prismacolor pencil, then edges are shaded with slightly darker mix of base color utilizing "deer foot" & "cat's tongue" brushes to blend wet (Traditions extend/blend medium) Spatter was applied over the shaded base. Defined some feather edges toward the rear end with a liner. Darker colors (breast & tail coverts) were painted in after that; then I washed with a very light & watery raw umber, skipping around as I went so the wash wasn't uniform.

Nice Ruddys!
 
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Thanks Carl. That was a fun group. Hadn't done a gaddie sleeper in forever, so that was a first. Glad to have them done. The ticking on heads-spots for the drakes is a bit of a tedious task. Thank Heaven for opera on Saturday![whistle][w00t]
 
Ya did Good DecoyMonsterMachine.

The birds eye view of the Gray Duck Decoys tells the tale.

Side views are for contests and Rib On's.[;)]

HHHEEEEeeeeHHHHHeeeeeeHHHHeeeeeeee
 
Not really DR, but sometimes a moment away for family is good too. Our son got married out West, where he lives in the great state of South Dakota a couple months ago. Today, they are back here for the "Ohio" reception. I made this for everyone to sign as a keepsake.View attachment 20181004_155026.jpg
 
Senor George - I think you are finally slowing down...

Steve - Great heads! Are they made to be interchangeable on the Homer Body?

Thanks! Pat
.
 
Naah. Steve hasn't posted up the images of 8 new teal. Had to restock hens and I made the drakes just for a change of coloration. Dotterage has not found me, YET[;)]
 
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