Started out wanting these to be baby bass.  Turned out more like a frog look.  Oh well.  I like them and the fish likely won't care.

 

An attempt to mimic Megabass's chartreuse viper pattern.  Airbrush got away from me around the eyes.

And the real one.  Someday I'll get there

Finally attempted a bluegill.  It came out darker than I wanted and as a result I lost some colors underneath the green.  I went without a basecoat just to see how it turned out.  Need to work on my stripes and go lighter all around.  I'll still clear this one and fish it.

First craw with stencils. Stencils are a work in progress.  (Made them from painters tape and qtips...)

 

Nice job

1 hour ago, pawpaw said:

Nice job

Thanks.  

On 10/22/2016 at 9:08 PM, Ringonu said:

First craw with stencils. Stencils are a work in progress.  (Made them from painters tape and qtips...)

that looks great!

Nice....

They look awesome! I would love to be able to do anything remotely like that.

5 hours ago, thebillsman said:

They look awesome! I would love to be able to do anything remotely like that.

Go grab a cheap airbrush from amazon, compressor (if you don't have one) from harbor freight and some paint with the 40% off at hobby lobby.  I don't have an artistic bone in my body.  Just spray and pray.  Lots of trial and even more error.  My second and third craws weren't very good so it's hit and miss for me.  I'll be getting quality blanks once I can get more consistant. 

Pimpin

let me know if you need someone to test them out!

Those are awesome, the bug has hit me and I want to learn how to paint like that. I just don't know where to start. Good look'n work for sure.That bluegill and olive craw are sexy.

excellent work for your first try's. If I ever get an airbrush and some blanks I hope mine come out close to yours,..and I am a painter. I have experience in airless, and hvlp, even painted my long gone work van using my compressor and a airgun.

 

 Very nice work, I must say, I'd use those,.. Need a tester??? lol

I need to work on replicating now.  See if I can get the same results.  The garage has cooled down to the 40's/50's so it's time to pack up the paint and wait till it warms up.  Guess it's time for fly tying.  

Great looking baits! 

For shad dots my buddy uses binder hole reinforcement stickers to make them uniform and circular. 

And vacu-formed stencils for the different patterns, cut out with a dremel. 

On 10/22/2016 at 8:08 PM, Ringonu said:

First craw with stencils. Stencils are a work in progress.  (Made them from painters tape and qtips...)

 

 

I just bought all the equipment to start doing my own earlier today.

 

those random black dots on the body of bait, are those part of the stencil effect or is that something you free handed with the airbrush?

I turned the air pressure down low and took off the end of my airbrush and flicked the trigger or whatever you call it on the brush.  It makes a splatter effect.  I would use a toothbrush in the future though.  It's hard to control and I only wanted on the top half.  Others use black glitter

I actually seen the way of doing it with a toothbrush earlier today...

 

pretty cool. I am looking forward to giving it a go next weekend when I get home.

1 hour ago, Karma said:

I actually seen the way of doing it with a toothbrush earlier today...

 

pretty cool. I am looking forward to giving it a go next weekend when I get home.

Be sure to post your results.  I'm ready for the garage to warm back up so I can get to painting more.

The term for that splatter technique is "stippling" if you want to search it on YouTube or whatever. There are several ways to achieve that look, one being the way that Ringonu went about it. (also the way I do it) It takes a bit of practice to get it perfected. Turn the PSI way down and pull back to load the tip with paint. Then press the trigger down to make it spit. If you hold the airbrush still it makes round spots. Movement can leave little comet trails. After playing around with it you can tell how much PSI and distance to your project you need for the look you are after. 

The bluegill looks great!

17 hours ago, gripnrip said:

The bluegill looks great!

Thanks!  I still haven't clear coated that one.  I was debating repainting it.  Guess you helped make up my mind.

2 hours ago, Ringonu said:

Thanks!  I still haven't clear coated that one.  I was debating repainting it.  Guess you helped make up my mind.

I bet when you clear it the color will pop.