How are fish scales painted?

Hi. I have been searching for info on painting fish scales. There are some great posts showing some outstanding paint jobs, but little info on the techniques used. I sure would like some tips on how this stuff is done.

 

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How do you keep the fish still while you are painting it?

 

Duh, you have to use velco and seal-all.

 

Man are you guys off base. he means how do you get those dam scales flat enough to paint .probably a barracuda

 

Take all the weights off so the scales are even...thought everyone knew that.

 

Comedians have term describing an audience that won't laugh at any of their corny jokes. They call it "a painting". Looks like you guys are pretty familiar with this.

 

Airbrush and a half moon stencil made from cardboard, manilla folder, poster board, etc....

 

Thanks. Sometimes the simple explanation is the best. I saw a photo of a car with rows of discs stuck to it. I thought that was how it was done.

 

I use old photos cut in a half moon shape. The photo paper seems to not "role up" when it gets paint on it.

 

Water based paint! what else would ya use?

Bill

 

Like this.

 

Be sure to measure the paint by the ounce?

 

Do you want to borrow my underwater gun?

 

you use a template, cut to the desired size,and simply hold it where you want it, and paint lightly around the edge

 

Did this in about 3 minutes after seeing this thread...so it's kinda cheezy

And I even used water-based auto paint...and voila!
'course now it'll take me 10 minutes to clean my airbrush, lol

 

Don't take it personally. You gotta admit that the way you stated your question did lend itself to a bit of fun.
But, seriously, when I first saw fish scales, well, I was hooked!! (smile dammit...if it ain't fun...quit)

 

Man, these guys are all feeding you a line. Don't you know you're sunk? At this point they're just trolling for compliments. Anyway, it's a whale of a project. Remember, if it sounds fishy, "carp'e diem".

//Etc. etc.

 

You guys are funnnnnny!!!hahaha!!

 

Looks aren't everything.

 

Good example!

I was gonna recommend a thread on the jockey journal that was recently posted on this topic. It covered lacing and a few other things too.

NICE!!!

 

i did it with rattle cans

 

Was laughing, now have fish for dinner

 

If it seems that I was floundering with all of your funny jokes, it's only because I felt I was up a creek in trying to find out how this painting is done. Next time, I'll rise to the occasion.
Thanks for all of the replies, and vntodd, thanks for the cool example.

 

Where I used to work, there was a tannery the was just up the river from us. They used to dump their tanks twice a day, and it painted everything in the river gray. Probably the fish too.
I heard that they moved to China, so maybe Speedy Bill will sell you painted fish scales?

 

Those tanneries in New England all but spelled the end for the native brook trout. They tried to blame the fisherman!

 

So.... Wait for it........ let me get this straight, you want to do spray tans on fish?????

 

No, you've got me confused with your girlfriend.

 

That was a good example, because it shows that it takes a bit of practice, and you don't want the overlays merging into each other.

 

...Back in the mid 70's I painted fish scales on the roof of a friends '66 Chevelle with a six pack of beer cans and a rattle can of primer....wasn't the first six pack that night....