Balsa Pattern

[2TBone]

Need some help.

Is there any other way to make a bait pattern other than tracing around the bait. I have done it but, it dosen't look like the bait most of the time. Has anyone tried making a 1/2 body mold of the bait that could be placed on the wood and then traced. Any help is appreciated.

Thanks

Terry (2TBone)

[BobP]

I still trace an outline of the bait on paper and transfer it to a plastic sheet from which I cut out a pattern. Where the new body differs from the original is usually in how you contour the blank afterward. You can also do a pattern of the top of the bait to help the contouring process along but it still takes shaping by eye to get the body right. A half-body mold could help in shaping if you used it as a "try the fit now" while sanding but I don't see how you could fit a square edged blank into it.

[Vodkaman]

Place the body on a piece of paper, on the floor, directly under a ceiling light. Trace the shadow.

Dave

[koop]

In the past, I used to use a shape copier (a wood workworker's tool for reproducing moldings). It has a series of movable wires that move to get a fairly accurate copy of the shape. I liked to use it for copying the vertical profile of a bait and then make a layout of side view, top view, as well as cross sections at various points along the bait. The simpler methods already mentioned work well for only a side view.

Kent

[2TBone]

Thank you Guys

I guess the old paper and pen is the way to go. I will try the light that might help with my inability to draw a line.

2TBone

[RayburnGuy]

If you have a photo editing program you could take a picture of the bait, open it in your photo editing program, size it to your specifications and cut out the picture with a pair of scissors to use as an outline. You would need to take the picture at as close to a 90 degree angle as possible to maintain the true ratio aspects of the lure. This could also be done for the top of the lure.

[benton B]

Put the bait on a copy machine, that and taking a pic are the best two methods I've found. I then glue the copy onto 1/32 lexan and cut it out.

[Beto]

Hi,

I also use the photo printing and paper template. I usually print to self adhesive paper (the one used for labels), then I cut my template with scissors and stick it on to the timber. Using this method I don't have to actually trace the outline of the bait.

Hope this helps

Greetings from Oz

Beto

[2TBone]

Guys

It is amazing to here the great ideas yall come up with to get things done. Thanks for all the ideas on this issue. Tight lines to all.

Thanks

2TBone (Terry)