Suggestions for kids to paint crankbait blanks for fun?

[snake95]

I have a young daughter who is an enthusiastic and prolific artist that I'd like to paint some crankbait bodies with.

 

She has creativity, patience, focus, and commitment well beyond her years.  She likes to fish for bass with me.

 

That said, she is only 8!

 

I'm not at all looking to produce great crankbaits like I see on the board. 

 

Not even necessarily looking to fish with the baits we produce.

 

Just looking to have a little fun with her, and maybe in the process further encourage her interest in bass fishing.

 

Any suggestions on what gear to get for a relatively simple painting setup to have a little fun painting crankbait bodies?

 

[Fishes in trees]

 This is a very interesting question and deserves and thoughtful answer.  So here is mine. . . .I googled paintable crank bait blanks and got a bunch of different options.  As far as colors go, option #A might be to use Testers modeling paint and brushes.  Maybe get a fly tying vise to make it easier to paint all sides.  Option #B might be to go to Michaels or Hobby Lobby or somewhere like that and get a cheap air brush.  Maybe do both.   Maybe just buy a bunch of different colored Sharpies - I don't know - I suck at arts & crafts stuff, which doesn't stop me from trying different things from time to time, with mixed results,  but I know that I suck at colors & design and stuff and I don't have an eye for it.

I know people who don't suck at arts & crafts stuff and they tell me that decent gear makes a big difference, quality of brushes, quality of paints, how adjustable is the compressor on the air brush, whatever, JUST LIKE FISHING, DECENT TO GOOD TO GREAT GEAR MAKES A DIFFERENCE.

 

I'd be mindful that you can probably paint over the crank bait bodies more than once - or dip them in a white or bone color and start over.

 

I'd go to Michaels or Hobby Lobby and find out is there is anyone there that can tell you about modeling painting or painting on plastic in general.  There are quite a few custom crank bait painters out there - call one or two of them, explain your issues and get their advice.

 

My advice (and this is advice from a guy who doesn't have children, doesn't want children, has many? probably more like some,  friends and acquaintances,  who have children, and grand children, and adopted children and grand children. Personally I don't  mind children in small doses when they are well behaved & I have very little use for children who are whiney and ill-behaved )   would be to purchase a dozen or so blanks and lead off with Testors modeling paint & brushes - see how that goes.  Get a fly tying vise - you wouldn't try to paint cranks without a fly tying vise and you shouldn't expect a child to.  Maybe you might, I don't know.  Then a few weeks after your first couple of attempts, get the child a decent entry level air brush & paints.  It's only money and your child ain't going to be young forever.   It is a good way to find out and encourage if your child has any art skills.

 

My younger sister was playing with my mom's air brush when she was around your daughters age.  Of course, over time, she tore it up, misusing it and not understanding its limitations.  Mom just bought another cheap air brush compressor and again went over the parameters of what to do and what not to do.

 

Hope this early am musing helps.

 

 

[BassNJake]

I bought some topwater blanks from https://cedarrunoutdoors.com/lure-building-and-craft/unpainted-blanks/

 

This was just an experiment to see what the quality was on these cheap knock offs

I was pleasantly surprised by the quality

Not a painter at all- 

I raided the wife's nail polish and the baits turned out pretty good based on the success I had with them

 

Now I'm looking at the starting cost of getting a compressor, air brush and some paints

 

[looking45]

There's no need to buy an airbrush to get started. you can use water based airbrush paints and apply them with a small brush. Before she paints, scuff up the body with a Scotch Brite scouring pad, so the paint won't run. It doesn't take much to scuff it, just rub it a little. If your daughter doesn't like the results, she can wash it off. If she likes it and wants to fish with it, go to Walmart and get a can of Rustoleum  2X Clear Gloss spray to seal the paint. A cheap pair of forceps clamped to one of the hook rings will hold the lure securely so she can turn it as she paints. Have fun

[islandbass]

Paint brushes like they might still use in school And those cheap plastic palettes to hold and mix those paints.

 

acrylic paints you find in Michaels or joannes or Walmart that cost like $0.99 each color. let your daughter pick the colors.

https://www.walmart.com/browse/arts-crafts-sewing/acrylic-paints/1334134_5899871_7445675_5577403_8242343

 

buy 2 ton epoxy to serve as the final coat. 
 

don’t worry about how they’re painted. 
 

I used to do this with my daughter when she was that age and the neighborhood kids. She’s now 20. 

[islandbass]

@snake95: I forgot to say good on you for doing this. It can be a great bonding time. 
 

I forgot to mention that I used plastic body cbs. I primed all of them with white and let them have at it. 
 

top water bodies are another good option

 

for drying, no problem. All you need are paper clips and old mono. Convert the 2 clips into an S. Tie the line to both, no more than say 10”

one clip will be used to hang on something like a horizontal dowel if you want to get fancy, and the other to the plug via their wire body where they attach the hooks. If the blanks don’t have those, no big deal. Just get some tiny screw eyes. 
 

you can also use this same system to help the epoxy balance out over the bait. Pm me when you get there. ?

[Mbirdsley]

Harbor frieght has a awesome air brush and compressor for 75 bucks.  It’s what I bought when I got back into model Aircraft building.  It does the job and if she decides she doesn't like it your out relatively cheap.  A lot of the model guys buy the harbor freight compressor to go along with their $200 air brush 

[snake95]

15 hours ago, Mbirdsley said:

Harbor frieght has a awesome air brush and compressor for 75 bucks.

Great tip, thanks.  I might start with the brushes but at that price will also consider the air brush.  She's genuinely hard core about art so it might not be overkill.  

[looking45]

If you are looking for an airbrush, you take a look at this one. 

https://www.amazon.com/Master-Airbrush-Multi-Purpose-Airbrushing-Compressor/dp/B00BF0MW9G/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=master+airbrush&qid=1580941857&sr=8-3

[Michigander]

3 hours ago, looking45 said:

If you are looking for an airbrush, you take a look at this one. 

https://www.amazon.com/Master-Airbrush-Multi-Purpose-Airbrushing-Compressor/dp/B00BF0MW9G/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=master+airbrush&qid=1580941857&sr=8-3

As a first airbrush, the Master kit is hard to beat. I was lucky enough to start with Badger and Iwata but doing it all over again I would pick up the Master.

 

You can strip the paint off of them by soaking overnight in Simple Green and using a toothbrush.  Ultrasonic cleaners also make short work of the job.

 

Lastly,  Janns Netcraft has pretty affordable  blanks.