I've got a full strut turkey drying and I used the actual legs. They're injected and look -- to me -- like they should. But should they be painted? I can't tell much color difference from the ref. photos but I'm not sure if that color will fade over time and painting is required. Little background on the bird. It was killed in SD last spring and has been frozen since about 12 hours after the kill.
Thanks all.
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Even though your turkey legs look good, they should be painted and sealed. legs that are not painted often leak a sticky goo (fat). It is a good habit to get into. Some guys don't paint birds with black legs and feet, but they should be painted too.If you enter a competition it is essential.
Tony
If I seal them, will it "set" the color or still need to be painted? I know you said to paint but wasn't sure if that meant color plus seal. Also, if it's simply sealing what do you suggest as a sealer?
Thanks for the info. Also, not a comp. mount. It's going atop an octagonal bookcase. Should be pretty cool.
After I paint with laquer paint, I apply washes. These are done with different media depending on the affect I want to achieve. For dry looking legs like some upland birds I use water base acrylics deluted with water. On waterfowl with dark scale detail I use minwax stain deluted with mineral spirits. when finished a topcoat or finish coat with Krylon matt spray or others will seal it.
Tony
For most turkey legs, they are best painted with an acrylic in the proper pink/magenta as a base coat and then washed with an oil base paint. I perfer the Windsor Newton Alkyd paints for a number of reasons, the foremost of which is it's faster drying time. Use Alizarin Crimson for the staining over the acrylic base - thin with mineral spirits. When the Alizarin stain is dry (4-6 hours), use a fine sable brush (0-1-2) to add pearescent tips to the scales with Jacquards pearl white transparent. Use burnt umber with a touch of alizarin for staining the pads and interstetial areas, and a bit of Payne's Gray for definition. The nails are done with ochre to burnt umper shading with an overwash of Payne's Gray......the end result is one nice turkey leg and foot.
Good luck
Once again, the taxi.net folks have provided great answers. I'll paint, wash and seal as suggested. Maybe someday I'll be good enough to offer some tips and advice to you folks and return the many favors.
Always appreciated.