Will Always Remember Her First

On the day before New Year's Eve, my niece's full last day in California, I decided to take her our fishing in an attempt to get her her first fish.  I knew Mission Viejo Lake had recently stocked the day prior and I called my mate to see if he could get us in.  Without hesitation he obliged.  Since I do not own any fishing equipment other than fly I asked if he could bring his spin gear and some powerbait.

I planned on both Chul and I fish flies and Juliette mess around with the spin gear.  It was not long before we were on a fish.  Chul had casted the rod for her and in no time at all was on a fish.  He handled the rod to Juliette and guided her on fighting the fish.

We landed the 15 inch Tailwater stocker in my new Brodin net.  We ready our selves for pictures to text back to her parents.  After a few I lost the grip of the rainbow and as it flopped around in the boat it scaring her somewhat.  But it was not long before she regained her confidence and began admiring her first catch.

The fishing essentially shutdown after that and both fly fishermen came home without a catch.  After two hours we called it a day.  I've never seen Juliette so proud and excited.  When we came home she could not help but let everyone know how she did and to show off her first fish.  We had planned to watch the new Star Wars movie together in the afternoon but decided to memorialize her catch and make a gyotaku print of the fish instead.

Copic Airbrush

Recently while at the local fly shop Jaime let me know about the Copic Airbrush system.  This airbrush is unique in that instead of using paint it uses markers.  Advantages are seemingly endless, no more cleaning nozzles, or paint jars, and it's quick drying.  The system uses Copic markers, which hundreds of colors exist. 

The system is power either by compressed air from their proprietary air canisters or by an air compressor.  To use the latter one must buy the system with the air adapter which is simply an empty air canister, that acts as a grip, with an attachment point at the bottom.  There one can attach the air hose assuming it's the right size.  Unfortunately I have an old Badger 180-11 which uses a completely different size.

For the past few days I have been running around the county looking for an adapter. The local hardware stores, art supply houses, hobby stores, and craft stores were all no help.  It was not until one mentioned I look into a particular airbrush store did I finally find an adapter.

The adapter that was so hard to find.

The store was an interesting place, the employees were all tatted up with side ways caps, the patrons looked to be gangbangers ready to tag up the freeway overpass.  Even though they had something like six employees all doing nothing I stood around for ten minutes waiting for them to at least acknowledge me.  Finally I was helped and I was able to buy this $4 part.  It's a Badger to Iwata adapter.  Iwata uses the same fittings, Badger uses a smaller one.  So if you have an Iwata compressor you're probably good to go.

Just a couple of my old man's handmade and painted lures.  He probably made over forty.  Some Z plug types and such.

I've been playing around with the airbrush for the past couple days and despite getting a faulty but semi-functional unit (they are sending me a new one and I still get to keep this one I have).  My initial intention was to use it for poppers but I've noticed that many are using airbrush for feathers and other fly tying material.  So I plan on making some colorful patterns on my flies in the future.  It's been awhile since I airbrushed, I used them back in middle school when I built WWII model tanks.  When I stopped building models my old man used the airbrush to start painting his handmade lures that he used to chase big Stripers in our local lakes.  I need some more practice to make my painting look right.

Some More Art

Monarch Of The Glen, 1851.  Edwin Henry Landseer.

Scene in Braemar, Highland Deer.  Edwin Henry Landseer

The Deerstalkers' Return, 1827.  Edwin Henry Landseer

Returning from the Hill, 1868.  Richard Ansdell.

Huntsman and Maid Having A Chat In The Kitchen. After 1850.  Franz Von Defregger

Poachers in a Mountain Cabin, 1876.  Franz Von Defregger.

Mini Purdey of King George V

I was watching the youtube video I posted of a Discovery Channel's look into Purdey and for whatever reason I forgot about the mini Purdey that was presented to King George V in 1935.  So I decided to search for my information on the internet.  The gun is fully functional, breaks down into its own guncase and it even has cartridges made by Eley-Knoch, that are just under a half inch long loaded with 1.62 grains of powder and 2.02 grains of dust shot.  According to the video the King used it to shoot moths.  It's a fascinating piece of art for sure.  I wonder if the Purdey were to make one today what the cost to manufacture would be, assuming they could even recreate it.

For the Silver Jubilee of King George V in 1935, James Purdey & Sons presented His Majesty with a miniature pair of hammer ejector guns, nos. 25000 and 25001. Built to exactly 1/6 the size of the king's pair of 12-bore guns, the fully working miniatures were supplied with fully functioning ammunition. The cartridges were .47 inches long, .18 in diameter and loaded with 2.02grns of dust shot. It is said that the cartridges cost as much to produce as the guns themselves.  The guns and a complete box of 25 cartridges are preserved in the Royal Gun Room at Sandringham.

More Art

 A Forester at Home. Ludwig Knaus.

In The Hut of Forester.  Vladimir Makovsky

The Vision of Saint Hubert (ca. 1617). J. Brueghel and P. P. Rubens, Prado, Madrid.



Preparations for Hunting (1836). Jevgraf Fiodorovitch Krendovsky                                                                               Hunter in Tyrolean Hat and Jacket with
                                                                                                  Percussion Rifle and Pipe.  Max Scholz.

 

Vogue Magazine and Shotguns? Now I've Seen It All

While searching the net, I found this cover of Vogue magazine from their October 15, 1936 issue which shows a lovely lady shooting a side by side wearing a brown hat and a pheasant tail.  At least the lady has style sporting a SXS with double triggers.  It's the only way to go for a true sportsman (or woman).

This cover made me think, would I ever see such a cover in my lifetime on the current Vogue?  I highly doubt it but I've been wrong before.  If they did though I'd buy it.  But I'm sure my $5.99 is safe from that.  I wouldn't doubt that those NY-types with the current Vogue have probably burned this cover and wiped out any evidence it ever existed. 

Anyways it would be interesting to see what the current Vogue equivalent of this cover would look like? 

Hagn Action Single Shot Is Complete

After about three years of waiting, my father's Martini Gunmakers Hagn action single shot in .30R Blaser is finished.  These are some pictures Ralf has sent him.  This rifle will be on display at the Dallas Safari Club convention in January 3rd-6th if you care to see Ralf's workmanship.  Afterwards my father will take delivery.  When he does expect more pictures from yours truly.

Martini Gunmaker Hagn Action With Claw Mounts In The White

My old man has sent me some pictures of his Hagn action single shot from Martini Gunmakers in the white. After about three years his rifle is now complete, these pictures are from Ralf during the building period. Finished rifle pics to follow.

Trout Gyotaku

I practice catch and release, I did not catch or kill this fish.  I found it dead.

Not long ago while fishing one of our local waters with Chul, we found a dead 10 inch brown floating in a small pool along the bank.  When we finished fishing, we backtracked examine the fish.  I was ready to leave it when Chul suggested I take it home to do a gyotaku print of it.  So I did and placed it in a ziplock bag and hiked out of there.  Within the next few days I tried to make a print of it but all them came out poorly.  So I simply put the fish back into the freezer for another day.

The rice paper I was using was simply too thin and had a propensity to tear.  I emailed Koji to see what type of rice paper his friend's were using in Japan.  He made a few suggestions but none were available, to my knowledge, here in the States.  When Koji made me aware that he will be taking a business to LA I asked him to bring me some of that paper.   I defrosted the trout and have begun using the paper Koji gave me.  It is thick and I've yet to tear it.  Although the paper is good my technique is not.  I am just beginning to get the hang of it but I still have a long way to go before I really make a great looking print.

Two of the better prints.

Meiho Fly Box Art

Last night I decided to add a little pizzazz to my Meiho fly box.  Since this box is my high sierra lake box, I chose a trout for the lid.  The box was actually put together with flies for large mutant looking brookies that inhabit that remote lake but I decided to draw a large male brown instead.  This art may not last long though as I found out that the plastic on this box will not hold the marker if rubbed hard or wet.  Unless I find a way to preserve it, this art may only be temporary.

Engraved Hagn Action

Hagn Action Engraved by Warren Smith

Ralf Martini sent my father an email letting him know that his action is back from the engraver Warren Smith and sent him some photos.  My father was surprised that engraving was different from the design he had chosen.  These things happen.  My father chose a very simple scroll and he is now deciding whether or not he wants to keep this design or have them redo another action.  Actually this design is more ornate than the one he had chosen and once case colored would look quite nice.

The decision is not mine as this is not my gun but my father did ask me my opinions about the design.  I told him, "you put a lot of money into this gun, especially since the dollar has weaken considerably against the Canadian dollar since ordering it, if you don't like it have them redo it."  I did tell him to have Martini send him a photo of a past action with the same design that has been case colored so that he can decided whether or not to go with this engraving.  I guess he has some serious thinking to do.