Kevin70

Those are sweet. I love that baby trout. I may have to steal that pattern.

I'm still back in the stone ages using Apple Barrle craft acrylics. I thin them with windsheild wiper fluid (.99 cent per gallon). They are not the best performing paints on the market, but the allure of the 40 cent pricetag (2 ounces) is more than I can stand.

I just use .40 cent goldfish dip nets from Wal-Mart. They come in a few different sizes (patterns).

Do you do your drilling with a handheld or a drill press? I'll be glad when I'm able to carve some stuff like that. Very nice.

Oh yes. The Barlow's mags in the bathroom. I don't do that anymore because my kids would take it upon themselves to use MY bathroom to take baths and flood my magazine stash EVERY TIME!!

I use this dual action from harbor freight tools. It works just as well as the $70 Iwata I use to have. I got it on sale for $12. I'm a beginner myself, so I'm still playing around with the different pressures and flow adjustments. I'm using .44 cent acrylic paints at the moment (from Wal-Mart craft section) but hope to upgrade to Createx soon. It's good to have you here, by the way. Welcome to the forum. http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=95810

Very sweet. I'm also a newbie, but you can tell when you have found a hobby that will "stick". And I am stuck, stuck, stuck.

Lesson learned last week. I had to get my poor wife to fish out my trigger spring thingamabob out of the desposal. I now clean my brush in a sink-full of warm water.

Oh no, no, NOOOOOOO!!! When I say 8, 9, and 10. I mean the only the one's I would accually show to others. If you only knew how many paint jobs I have stripped off with acetone, and I won't even get into the "chrome spray paint" fiasco that nearly got me beaten with a rolling pin. But I will keep plugging away, and I thank you guys for the engouragement. P.S. If you ever see chrome paint at your local hardware retailer....for your own sanity and safety.....leave it on the shelf.

These are numbers 8, 9, and 10. I still have a long way to go before I'm kicking out respectable work, so don't laugh (I'll take a few giggles, but please don't point and laugh hysterically). I just started with the fins using stencils, but I need to use clear stencils so I can better see where to place them. http://www.tackleunderground.com/photos/file.php?n=2206&w=l http://www.tackleunderground.com/photos/file.php?n=2205&w=l http://www.tackleunderground.com/photos/file.php?n=2204&w=l

JESUS!!!

In addition to the new interest in lure making, I have been painting landscapes in oil for 15 years. Although my skills in lure making are not as honed as painting, I still take just as much pride in a fishing lure that took three hours to paint as I do a painting that took three WEEKS to paint. A paint job on my lures has little to do with some fish in a lake, but much more with the pleasure, relaxation, and pride that comes with the hobby. Not to mention being able to get on a forum like this and share your work, ideas, and questions with others with the same passion. (God, that was gay) I have painted exactly ONE lure that I looked at afterwards and thought to myself "Man...that kinda' looks like a real fish," yet all of them have been as much fun to paint as that one. I get a warm-fuzzy when I slap on a couple coats of Devcon and see all those colors pop out, and yet another when I get them rigged up with hooks and they become functional pieces of tackle for myself or someone else. It’s also great to be able to post a picture on this forum of my super-inferior work and know that the only criticism from the "Masters of the Craft" will be only the most honest and helpful criticism you can find.

I got this compressor from HF on sale for $89. If you have the room, I would suggest it. http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/photos/40400-40499/40400.gif I painted 4 lures with it, and it only ran for 30 seconds. Plus you can use it for many other things. Consistency of airflow is great.

I like darker greens, like a Baby Bass

I'm sure this is one of those "I could tell you, but then I'd have to kill you" questions, but I was wondering if you could divulge a few pointers on how you put the spots on that spectacular jointed trout lure of yours. Both the smaller spots on the bottom and the larger faded spots on top.

Also, poly is very brittle unless it's impregnated into a cloth. I would stick with the epoxy.

I started out with enamels used for model cars.....never, ever do that. What a nightmare. I now use Apple Barrel paints (44 cents at my Wally World) and I am much happier with their performace in the airbrush and especially the water clean-up.

My first post and my first four lures. I started off with the clear plastic blanks and a $6 airbrush from harbor freight tools. It is clear that I need LOTS more practice, but you gotta' start somewhere.