Novice decoy carver needs help

[chad austin]

Here's one pic from my phone of my progress as of tonight.

[Laska]

You'll need a back stabilizing fin to make it swim right, otherwise it will wobble quite a bit. Looks great otherwise! Ive been working on a clear finned walleye and a new Jaws Northern Tribal firetiger for myself once I get them done Ill post some pics. As for filler as mentioned above, scrap that idea, use Apoxie Sculpt 2 part putty. You can find it thru VanDykes Taxidermy or Mckenzie Taxidermy, $33 for the big tub and it will fill over 200 decoys. Its hard as a rock and can be painted while its still curing.

[MJ1657]

Very impressive Chad. Love the ripple detail on the fins

[Gordie]

Looks great Chad and when that pike comes in to look at you should be very proud of your accomplishment,

[merkman]

Very nice!!!!

[jasonmichalski]

The filler i use is latex based a dries fast can be sanded and painted in melts when you burn it, so i can match scale detail 100% its at most hardware stores for a few bucks.

[jasonmichalski]

Hows your decoy coming along?

[chad austin]

As of right now I have a JAWS decoy, when I put it in water everything but the dorsal fin goes under lol. I have been really busy at work the last few weeks, coupled with the bathroom remodel (done) to keep my wife happy for the up coming ice season , I haven't had much down time lately.

[jasonmichalski]

I understand you must keep the wife happy before spearing season.

[merkman]

I worked on my first decoy again this weekend.

I "cheated" and went to a profesional carvers workshop for some guidance with the weighting and finning.

He actually recomended larger fins but I like the way the front fins look.

I don't like the look of the back fins, but I ran out of time.

Finned and weighted... Painting next.

It swims and sits "right" but it is a screamer... very fast.... If I don't like how fast it is later, I will take some weight way from it to slow it down some later... or not (larger fins would have slowed it too I guess)

[MJ1657]

Looks good Merk!

So when are you going to start taking orders?

[Gordie]

Looking good merk and this past weekend it was the fast decoys that produced for me.

[mrklean]

nice job merk

[jasonmichalski]

Nice work merk, the last two days a fast decoy I didn't care for is now the hot decoy, its good yo have a wide range.

[merkman]

So when are you going to start taking orders?

I don't think so....

I take enough orders from my wife, thank you very much....

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[shamalex72]

Looks good merk. More often than not, I like a faster decoy. But yesterday, they like the slow swimmers. Is it bru-ell fast? You can really get them zipping around the hole.

[Laska]

Great job on the decoy Merk! Looks really cool!

[merkman]

Looks good merk. More often than not, I like a faster decoy. But yesterday, they like the slow swimmers. Is it bru-ell fast? You can really get them zipping around the hole.

I should be spearing by the end of the week...

I will take some videos.... Hope to have a nice look and release vid with it... we will see.

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[Gordie]

Any thoughts on color?

[merkman]

Any thoughts on color?

some...

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[BOUNCED]

Any thoughts on color?

I think finger paints only come in primary colors

[MJ1657]

Hah!!!

[merkman]

I think finger paints only come in primary colors

That is it..... it is settled..... In honor of this post... I am goint to paint it with crayons..... then clear coat.

It is white now, but I will put some color on it.

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[BOUNCED]

The wax from the crayons may seal well enough you won't need clear coat. Just bring the crayons with you, if the decoy gets hit you can just touch it up.

You might be on to something????

[benbosh]

That is it..... it is settled..... In honor of this post... I am goint to paint it with crayons..... then clear coat.

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Oh jeez, will somebody please supervise him to make sure he doesn't eat the crayons