jigflipper

Don Iovino out in California is an expert on vintage Ambassadeurs. Check out his website at www.iovino.com. Hope this helps!

Our local Bass Pro Shops here in Jackson, MS, carries the RC models, so I'm sure you can get them from a local BPS or from their website. Good Luck!

I truly appreciate all of the very informative responses that I've received. Looks like I've got a lot of " 'sper-a-mint-in " to do!! We'll see how things turn out, then see if I'm brave enough to post some pix of the results!!!

Watching your 12 year old son catch a 3 1/2 lb'er on a spinnerbait that he "helped" you make! His selection of head/blades colors and config. as well as his choice of skirt type and color. I kept thinking... I really don't think that's what I would use...., but decided to let him have at it. Today we walk over to the pond by our house. He makes maybe 4 casts and WHAM! I'll tell ya folks, there's not a better feeling in the world! TIGHT LINES!!

I'm interested in learning what color/combination of colors y'all might be using in a baby bass pattern on a crankbait. I'm trying to get as close as I can to the old style Bagley's pattern # LB4 (Little Bass on White). Thanks in advance and DOUBLE thanks for such an awesome site!!

Does anyone know where you can get hook bonnets (or covers) in specific sizes? The only place I can find them locally is at Academy and you get all different sizes in a package. I end up using only about 1/3 of the package. I'm needing covers for #2, #4 and #6 trebles. Thanks in advance!!

William, I, too, am fairly new at using the ol' airbrush. I've used it long enough, however, to know that I wouldn't want to mess with trying to shoot epoxy through it. Call me lazy, but the cleanup time wouldn't be worth it to me. It's too simple to just mix your clearcoat of choice and brush it on. Perhaps other might know of a way that's easier that would help us both. HAPPY NEW YEAR! Jigflipper

Hi folks, and here's wishing everyone a safe and Happy New Year! I've just moved into a new home (still unpacking, actually, so you see where my thoughts/priorities are: 1. Get computer set up 2. Get lure working area set up, 3. Unpack food and clothes!!! ) I will actually have my very own "hobby room" for my lure painting. At our previous home, my work area was in a corner of my boys' playroom (it's OK, water based paint only!), and I kept the airbrush compressor (small Porter-Cable model) out in the attic with the airbrush line running under the door. Was actually a pretty neat setup...didn't have to listen to the compressor kick on and off. Now I'll probably have to have it in the room with me. Does anyone have any suggestions as to who makes the quietest compressor. Will that compressor be quiet enough to have sitting right beside you (more or less) when you work? Sorry to be so "wordy"! God bless, Jigflipper

Was wondering if anyone knows where to get the best price on Gamakatsu treble hooks. Till now I've been buying them at Wally World for $5+ per 11 hooks. Where can I beat that? Hope everyone out there had a wonderful Christmas. I was very fortunate to be able to spend some time with my family, something that there seems to be too little time for these days. All my best, Jigflipper

Thanks for the help, folks. I will give these hints a try and (hopefully!) will soon be able to post some pics with the results. Tight lines, Jigflipper.

I would still have to classify myself as a "rookie" in this world of custom lures, but "lovin' every minute of it"!!! (I just posted a pic of some of my early airbrush efforts) One frustration I've been having is getting a good scale effect when I paint. I've followed Funny Farms tutorial, but I can't quite get that good, clear scale look. Where does everyone get the netting/material that you use? What I've got is a very fine mesh, and I think that may be part of the problem. Any and all advice would be appreciated! HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!

Coley, when you say they have a "hub" built on, are you referring to the style of props that were on the old vintage topwaters like Pflueger's and Creek Chub's? I know that the Lucky Craft type props have a ball bearing "hub" on them as well. I've got tons of the props that come on Devil's Horses, Boy Howdy's, etc., but they're just stamped metal. If they might help, though, I'd be glad to send you some. Just let me know! Jigflipper

Hi folks! I've got several baits that I painted a while back, and have decided that I just do NOT like the finished products. The lures were coated with Devcon 2 Ton. I'm wondering what would be the best way to remove the D2T in order to get to the paint. Would sanding be the way, or is there an easier "chemical" method? Thanks in advance! Jigflipper

Bigbrown, you really need to follow Richoc's advice. I learned the hard way that the 5-minute Devcon will yellow in a matter of HOURS in the sunlight, not days or weeks. This was on a topwater bait I had painted in a beautiful Pearl White color......left it sittin' on the front deck of the boat, and by the end of the day, one side was more of a nice, golden brown. Great for fried chicken, terrible for Pearl White topwaters!! The double barrel syringes of 2-Ton are in every Wal Mart I've ever been in, check the paints section. $1.97 a pop, and that will do quite a few lures. HAVE FUN!!!

I appreciate the words of encouragement.....after I screw up a bunch of baits with the airbrush, hopefully I'll get comfortable enough with it to post some more photos in the future. Thanks again!

Let me start off by saying how much I enjoy and appreciate this board. I've been registered for quite a while, and post only occasionally. I've finally worked up the guts to post a pic of some of the lures I've repainted. These were all old lures that were in various stages of decomposition in either mine or my father's tackleboxes. So far, I've used only spray-can paints and paint pens, but my Paasche VLS and Createx paints just came in the mail yesterday. Hopefully, and I emphasize HOPEFULLY, in time I'll be able to create some lures that BEGIN to come close to some of the works of art I've seen on these pages. Please feel free to post comments, both positve and....uh... constructive! Yeah, that's it! Thanks, Jigflipper P.S. I (obviously) did not paint he 3 topwaters in the top right of the photo, just tied the feathered trebles.

The product that I think most on this forum use is Devcon 2-Ton epoxy. It's readily available at Wal-Mart, usually near the paints section. Be careful, though, Devcon 5-minute is hanging right beside it and the packaging is very similar on both. Just be sure to look for "2-Ton". I'm not familiar with the foam product you're describing, but the Devcon should fill the pores just fine and create a nice, smooth surface for you to paint on. Good Luck, and WELCOME TO TU!!!

Thanks, guys! Sorry to be so tardy in posting this, but......it was almost 70 degrees here today and sunny----where do you think I was??

Hi, folks. I feel a bit silly posting this as I'm sure it will show everyone just what a klutz I am with a computer, but here goes..... When I surf the Hard Baits board and someone mentions, "Here are some photos of my lastest such and such......", I'M NOT SEEING IT! Are they referring to the Club Gallery, or is the picture supposed to be there on the post? Any help/advice would be greatly appreciated. Please keep the sneers and giggles to a minimum! THANKS!!

Bob, That is one nice looking lure. Can you give a few details.......like how big is the lure overall, sinker/floater, weight, etc.? It looks like the tail is from a Zoom Super Fluke or similar. Is that correct? If so, how is it attached? Again, excellent work! God Bless, Jigflipper

Siscoe is right, the lure was a Rebel Pop-R, which is made out of plastic. Guess I should have made that clearer in my original post. I have already replaced the original hooks with #6 EWG Gammy's. From now on I'll coat all (plastic!) topwaters with Envirotex. That's part of the fun of this hobby for me......learning as you go! This web site is AWESOME for a newbie like me, and I can't tell you all how much I appreciate all of the shared knowledge. God Bless, Jigflipper

Hi folks....I have a question regarding which clear coat would be best to use on hard topwater baits like Pop-R's, Spooks, etc. I repainted a Pop-R recently and was very proud of how it turned out. Coated with one coat of Devcon, but when the time came to try 'er out in the water, the danged thing slowly sank! "And then....depression set in"! Would Envirotex or something similar be better (i.e. lighter)? OR, I am just totally missing something here? Definitely wouldn't be the first time THAT'S ever happened!! Any input would be greatly appreciated! Jigflipper

Based on the responses, I think I'm probably not mixing either product long enough. I have had better luck with the Devcon, and I'm sure it's because it comes in the double barrel syringe. Thanks for everyone's help, and I would like to send my best wishes to everyone on this wonderful site for a safe and happy holiday season!

Hi folks! I'm a new member of the TU gang and I must say I've learned alot by just sitting here and reading what all the experts are sharing. This is an AWESOME site! I am a newbie to repainting hardbaits, but I'm really enjoying it. However, sometimes when I clearcoat them with either Devcon 2-ton or Envirotex lite, the lure stays "tacky" for a couple of days or more. I'm feel I'm probably not measuring equal amounts of resin and hardener. What's the best way to know you're mixing precisely equal amounts. Thanks in advance! Jigflipper