I just won an ebay auction for an Iwata HP-C for $87, and ordered a 1/5hp compressor to back it up. I can't wait to start paintin'. I also ordered $140 worth of skirts from fishingskirts.com...I didn't mean too...I just couldn't decide what all I needed to compose the ideas I have in my head. I'm actually more excited about the skirts than the airbrush...I just know I've got some good ideas for some skirt color combos. I'm not going to pour my own football heads, but after two weeks of searching and checking out different options...I found someone that has the exact mold that Picasso has for their 'Fantasy Football Jig'. Not just 'like it', but THE mold. It's my favorite football head...it has the textured bottom and this guy paints them in several colors. I'll post up some pics in a few days, but I'm already excited. About the painting...I'm fairly artistic...took some art classes in high school and college, so I expect good results from the get-go and will be ticked even if my first baits don't look good. It sounds like high expectations based on what I've read, but I'm tough on myself and have quite a bit of confidence. I'll gladly eat humble pie if they turn out less than perfect, and I will post a pic of my first baits regardless of how they turn out. I've said I 'keep it real', so that pertains to myself as well.

Good luck.  I'm waiting for those pics.

You're gonna love making your own jigs, Natural.......you'll wonder why on earth you ever paid so much money to buy single manufactured jigs!  

paitently waiting those pics.  Tap Tap Tap. ;D

paitently waiting those pics.  Tap Tap Tap. ;D

I had some budweiser confidence built up when I posted that last night  ;D.  Crap...I better produce!  Hopefully my brush and compressor will be here by Friday and I can do some painting this weekend.  

I've been thinking about making my own cranks but I've got so many hobbies now I cant keep up and my artistic skill is zero

As soon as I can afford a new melting pot to replace my broken hot pot II, I'm diving right back into making jigs. I'm almost out of my own stuff and had to break down and buy some Oldhams trailer hitch jigs and football jigs today.  At least I like those.

At the end of the summer when I move into my new house, I'm going to start screwing up perfectly fine cheap blanks in hopes of one day making my own, perfect flipping stick.  Looks like we're thinking alot alike The_Natural.  I don't know about painting cranks, though I might start etching and staining some and see what happens.

Natural, that's a good brush you got.     I recommend that you get Wildlife Colors airbrush paint and you'll be on your way.   You will also need a drying wheel to turn your baits while the clearcoat is drying.

Have you picked a product to use as a clearcoat?   All of the products have stengths and weaknesses.   You just have to find 1 that works for your needs.

Right on! Looking forward to seeing the goods.  

Well, my airbrush got here Wednesday, but my dam compressor isn't here yet  >.  I was pumped to do some painting this weekend  

I've been thinking about making my own cranks but I've got so many hobbies now I cant keep up and my artistic skill is zero

When you think about it G...you don't really have to artistic.  The more basic paint jobs like chartreuse shad, sexy shad, tenessee shad, etc. are really comprised of just painting lines, but you are obviously varying width and paint flow.  Scale patterns are done with different forms of webbing, so you don't have to be a master detailer.  Good fades are probably not as easy as the look, but I bet you could do it.