What's on your workbench ? MARCH

Pat, that is an interesting perspective shot of that decoy, or is it two decoys? Your finish sanding work is impressive in itself!



View attachment Preener redhead 006.JPGView attachment Preener redhead 002.JPGView attachment Preener redhead 001.JPGView attachment Preener redhead 004.JPG

This redhead drake preener was born from a band sawing mistake I made on the head. This head had to have the bill tip shortened, so I decided to finish it and spin it around to become a shoulder imbedded preener. I wanted something that would not take several pounds of lead to balance it out, when floating, so no dropped should and splayed spread primaries. ...and no pattern to work off. I did roll it a bit and angle the tail. I was going to cut a channel into the shoulder for the bill but realized cutting an insert well would work better for sealing and painting. I still have some finish sanding to do prior sealing. I will cut a plug to insert into the bill's "well" to look like tufted feathers
 
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Good morning, J~


Clever idea - well executed ! (Does the dogbone "bait" in other Labradors ?)


I just re-furbished a Wildfowler Canvasback given to me at the LI Decoy Collectors Show. It's a balsa-bodied Superior model. The head was loose and it was missing an eye - and it had been repainted. So, I felt free to have my way with it (with no loss of collectible value).


View attachment sm 01 Wildfowler Can BEFORE loose head.JPG





The head just needed some glue and some overnight clamping. And I replaced both eyes. The original remaing eye was amber but the bird now flashes pinpoint pupils and red irises.



Note how I have blocked out the areas of major color and reduced the amount of black on the ends of the body. Among his close relatives (the pochards, genus Aythya), the Can shows the least dark fore and aft. But, the face is much darker than the rest of the head.



View attachment sm 02 Wildfowler Can - marked up.JPG



The paint is pure Sanford gunner. I did not try to replicate the original paint job - mostly because Wildfowler commonly used an air brush. I'm strictly a "bristle" brush guy. The light areas on the body are stippled with 2 Greys and a White over a light Grey base - trying to get that heavy canvas look.


I painted in the primaries and tail feathers as an homage to the original - but in my own style. I would not normally put these in on a diving duck gunner.



View attachment sm 03 Wildfowler Can Drake FULL rolled 01.JPG



I topcoat my gunner bills with satin spar varnish to give a bit more protection to the paint - and a bit of eye appeal.



View attachment sm 04 Wildfowler Can HEAD 03.JPG



The bottom has been lightly sanded - very carefully around the Quogue, LI , NY seal - and coated with satin spar varnish, too.


View attachment sm 05 Wildfowler Can Drake QUOGUE stamp.JPG





Not sure what lies ahead for Mister Canvasback. He'll probably ride a shelf as I (sadly) do not live or hunt near his haunts.


All the best,


SJS







 
Terrific job as usual, Steve!

I really like the smooth lines and the overall silhouette of that toy duck. I'll bet he will look just gorgeous on the water, especially in a light chop!

I think perhaps, you may have to send him my way next fall, so he can get a little "water time"... (hint, hint)...

(While Cans occasionally pass thru our area, we don't really see an abundance of them around here. I just think would look good and happy bobbing around with the rest of my play ducks!).

Jon
 
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The reference photo: Courtesy of Larry Eckart, taken several years ago off Tawas. When I read or hear the term apple head applied to a redhead decoy, these are the poses that immediately come to mind... If you look in the center of the photo, the puffy head drinker pose is evident. The preener, in more simplified form is evident, as well as a hen redhead that is quite striking, laying with her head well back across the length of her body.
 
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Good morning, Ric (and Larry) ~


I think that Hen is reaching for her oil gland. Great postures all around.



But...it looks to me like Larry's got his decoys rigged way too close together!!!!


All the best to you both,


SJS

 
He posted a string of photos of several rafts resting birds, many in a variety of interesting poses; all in focus.

You found that shot! I have never seen a duck invert its head to do that...
View attachment redheads row.jpgView attachment TawasBay cans and redheads.jpg

From what I recall of that original post, Larry took these in late November-early December, over a holiday visit. For a carver, they are great reference photos of one of my favorite birds to hunt, as well as observe!
 
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It will usually go where you want it to, but doesn't always come back. The best part is that it doesn't whine, shed or poop. I am considering making another to see if I can breed them. Puppies would stay without breaking.
Red heads are nice.
 
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