Repainting old deocys, step by step with pics, part 2

[Bearman]

In case you missed part 1

http://forum.averyoutdoors.com/showthread.php?t=18830

My next step was to air brush (could be done by brush) the breast in....this is FME #8 Chestnut from LS&B mixed with some Krylon Brown to darken it...

http://img205.imageshack.us/img205/3874/1002472nm8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Then, I taped off the wings from the side pockets....

http://img205.imageshack.us/img205/3438/1002475sj8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Then I drew in where I wanted to stop the airbrush on the back and wings....

http://img55.imageshack.us/img55/982/1002477va8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Next I airbrushed in the wings and back with Krylon Brown....these are oils, and I found about a 50% thinning was required to get a good flow w/o too much over spray......

http://img205.imageshack.us/img205/7972/1002479gh0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img205.imageshack.us/img205/5190/1002480fj7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Then I attached the head, it makes a nice handle. The head I bought from Autumn Wings pre-painted, but it was a it green for me, so I painted the entire head with Parkers's #8 (from the mallard kit) and dry brushed in the dark stuff until I got the look I wanted. It is probably a bit dark, but that is what I see when I look at a mallard from +50 yards....I may take some yellow back in and give it some highlights, but, to be honest, this head looks awesome at 50 yards!!!!

http://img55.imageshack.us/img55/7558/1002481ws7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Then I painted in the white and black on the rump....

http://img55.imageshack.us/img55/4337/1002484jp4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Then I took a hog bristle brush, with some Krylon Brown on it, wiped most of the paint off on a towel, and dry brushed the vermiculation on the side pockets and back...

http://img55.imageshack.us/img55/8558/1002486mn2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Lastly, I took some paint I had experimented with years ago...it was some phtalo green, mixed with some black, mixed with some iridescent power, and dry brushed the back on the rump..this is the last step, let's hunt this guy!

http://img55.imageshack.us/img55/2651/1002489lg2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[Bearman]

I have atleast 4 head positions on these birds and will eventually post some on the water photos.

[Bearman]

Oh, here is the finished bird, almost forgot....

http://img93.imageshack.us/img93/5949/1002487ln9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Remember, I am just a grit trying to shoot a few birds, I do not have a photo studio, so the colors depicted in the photos are not actually what I see...trust me, when you see these guys on the water, they look very very good. I hope I have taught a few people a few things and I hope you have, at least, been entertained by this post.

[cootshooter]

Very nice decoy and post!

[Craig Boyd]

Looks great man!

[Rob Jepson]

Nice work Bearman and thanks for sharing and for the detailed breakdown.

[iawaterfowler88]

Looks good man!

[Drake]

Those look sweet.Thanks for posting up the pic's.

[Cory Johnson]

That is awesome!

[Daryl Neal]

That really looks great...thanks for showing us those.

[SMIGRATOR]

you did a great job thanks for showing

Sean