June 2023 • Nebraskaland 21
The quality of the paint job is more for self-satisfaction,
and for impressing others in the boat.
The EssenƟ al Airbrush
With those factors in mind, I invested about $40 in the
favored tool of crankbait painters: the airbrush. It's certainly
not a high-end model, but works well for the task. Thankfully,
I already had an air compressor in the garage to power it.
Another $20 for a set of assorted airbrush paints, and I was
on my way.
I'm partial to crankbaits that look like common prey in
nearby lakes — young-of-the-year bluegill, yellow perch,
pike and bass darting in and out of shallow vegetation, or
schools of shad rising to the water's surface.
The college science professor who got me going on
this hobby noted that almost all vertebrates have a pale
underbelly. With that in mind, white makes a logical base
coat.
Adding colors above the belly is where the artistry begins.
With just a little practice, an airbrush can create the subtle
transitions between colors, as do the scales of fi sh.
A few common tricks can help make that clear piece of
plastic evolve into something resembling an aquatic creature.
Scales can be emulated by painting over mesh material
wrapped around the crankbait's body and secured with a
clothespin or paper clip. Sure, you can buy mesh material,
but it also exists on a wide variety of surplus clothing and
other items. My go-to is the material from a synthetic loofah
— you know, the sponge-like product found in many a bath
and shower.
Create stencils to paint in details such as fi ns and scale
patterns. Serious crankbait painters use stencils created by
a 3D printer, but one low-budget approach also works well.
By placing the actual crankbait blank on a copy machine,
the start of a true-to-size 2D stencil is created. Fins and such
can be cut from the paper image with an X-Acto knife, and
irregular black lines and spots such as those on a largemouth
bass or crappie, can be created with a wood burner (don't set
the house on fi re). Once the holes are made in the paper, just
hold the stencil over the crankbait while painting.
Painting over mesh material to creates a scale pattern.
KIERA HAAG
Starting with a white base coat and taped bill, the process
begins.
Stencils are used to paint hard-edged details. KIERA HAAG
