Painting Foiled Baits

[spoonpluggergino]

I made two baits with aluminum foil one using HVAC tape backed foil and another jus plain kitchen foil, I used a fish scale tool to make the scales both the scale are really visible, the plain aluminum its even more pronounced due to the lack of paper backing. I painted the baits using transparent paint and thinned out even more, after the baits are painted the scales really kind of disappear. I am thinking either not to paint the scales and just do the back/shoulder and belie to hide the seams, or just a very light coat of transparent paint on the aluminum sides. Looking for some suggestions

 

Gino

 

 

[RayburnGuy]

A picture of the bait would help Gino.

 

Ben

[spoonpluggergino]

Here is the bait and  a foil sample that I made for a crane bait

 

Gino

[RayburnGuy]

The first thing I noticed Gino was that both paints are dark colors. It looks like a dark green and black. Even transparent paints that are naturally dark will hide more of what's below them than lighter colors. Have you tried looking at the baits under natural sunlight? I've noticed that natural sunlight makes things appear much brighter and will even give the foil more shine. Even though the foil doesn't show through all that well in the photo's I'm betting it will still have some flash under sunlight. It may be muted, but that might not be a bad thing.

 

How are you reducing your paint? When I want a more transparent color I use a transparent base. Now this is for paints like Createx, Auto Air and Wicked that are water based. What the transparent base does is increase the transparency while not thinning the paint. The paint will still have the same viscosity, but will be more transparent. Unlike water you can keep adding the transparent base until you can't even tell there's any color in it.

 

I really like the way your scales look on the foil. Do you mind sharing how you did that? If not I understand completely.

 

Ben

[spoonpluggergino]

I think the mistake I made is that I used a paint reducer instead of a transparent base, I taught that the reducer would do the same. I do have a transparent base, I also will try a lighter color bait. The wall eye I basically use pearl gold than I shade it with transparent black very lightly until I get the right shade of my golden walleye

 

I do not mind at all to share some of my secrets, after all this site is always sharing, I learned a ton from you guys when I started three years ago

 

Any way the tool is called MAC-Z-SCALER there are a all bunch do not get maczi or macz2 the scales are to small and will not come out clear. The one I use is the macz3

you can purchase them at Wasco taxidermist supply or Mkenzie, they are abnout 35.00 dollars each

go to www.taxidermy.com

 

Gino

[JimP]

Gino:

 

I think a transparent paint will fix your problem. And even with the transparent paints use very sparingly.  Just a hint of color.

 

Also, thanks for the tip in the scale making rollers, good find!

Edited October 29, 2014 by JimP

[RayburnGuy]

While the paint reducer will make the paint more transparent it does so while reducing the viscosity of the paint. This limits you on just how much transparency you can achieve as if you reduce the paint too much it looses it's ability to stick to the surface being painted. You won't have this problem when using a transparent base. You may have to still "thin" your paint to get it to spray like you want when using the transparent base. If you do this just remember to add the transparent base first to get the level of transparency you want and then add your reducer to make it spray like you want. I think you'll find that you won't need nearly as much reducer when doing it this way.

 

I appreciate your sharing your scaling tool. Those are some of the best scale patterns I've seen. Your making musky baits aren't you Gino? What size do you think would be right for bass sized baits that are 2 to 4 inches at the most?

 

Ben

Edited October 29, 2014 by RayburnGuy

[spoonpluggergino]

Hey Ben

The tool would be perfect for bass baits due to the tool roller is only 1-3/8 wide by 3/4 diameter. on muskie baits that are not wider than 1-3/8 works fine, the length does not matter. I found that to make very good scales I put the handle of the roller in a vise than press the foil with my fingers ovr the roller and keep on rolling forward until the entire foil is done. I cut the shape of the foil first before I roll the scales

Gino

[RayburnGuy]

I was thinking about the size of the scales themselves Gino. Would the Mac-Z or the Mac-Z2 be a better choice as far as the scale size?

 

thanks,

 

Ben

[spoonpluggergino]

Hey Ben

I realized that right after I posted

 

The Macz1 the scales are  2 mm wide by 1.5 mm long the Macz3 5 mm by 4 mm. I would think the Macz2 would be some were in between the 1 and 3

 

Hopefully this helps

 

Gino

[spoonpluggergino]

Here is the picture of the roller

 

Gino

[RayburnGuy]

Thanks Gino. That's exactly what I was wanting to know.

 

Ben

[Rowhunter]

Paint the foil before epoxy on some areas , then over the topcoat for others ( belly) and maybe fins or gills on top for depth.

 

 Douglas