How to paint a LM Bass Replica Part 2 of 2 Reproduction Fish Taxidermy

Part 2 in this 2 part series, I show you how I finish painting a LM Bass. This happens to be my wife's personal best largemouth at 10lbs 11oz and I came out of retirement just long enough to do it for her.
Part 1: • How to paint a LM Bass...

[@michaelcastle2048]

When are we going on a fishing trip to Florida.

[@yaimbenjo]

this is by far the most realistic paint job of a LM I've seen

[@kstenzel2010]

Thank you for your kind words.

[@davesch1512]

I would have to agree!!

[@michaelcastle2048]

There is no doubt that this type of artistry is only achieved with hard work and love of the species.

[@michaelcastle2048]

Thank you so much for taking time to make these video's. They are greatly appreciated.

[@kstenzel2010]

Thank you for watching!

[@caseycaldwell89]

Wow. You’re a true artist

[@kstenzel2010]

Thank you for the kind words.

[@jeffbyrd2803]

Kevin another great job brother. Congrats to the wife personal best.. being a taxidermist myself. I'm never to old the learn new techniques. I really appreciate you for sharing your knowledge.

[@kstenzel2010]

Thank you

[@dogalex63]

Congratulations on being retired! Thank you very much for sharing so much information over the years! Your wife has a beautiful keepsake of that HOG!

[@geronimosrifle2913]

Thank you very much for your unselfishness and taking the time to give us such valuable information for free. You truly are a master

[@kstenzel2010]

Thank you so much for the kind words. It's comments like yours that keep me going

[@geronimosrifle2913]

@kstenzel2010 OOORRAAHH!! Always wanted to be a taxidermist growing up but there was no way i could afford the equipment, the tools, and everything needed. Now I'm older getting close to fifty, i'm reverting back to my childhood And you're helping make a dream come true haha!!👍👍

[@mainetroutwhisperer]

Awesome job! Would love to see you do some trout

[@kstenzel2010]

Thank you. Perhaps in the future if I see enough interest.

[@country2085]

I really appreciate your videos. Thank you for sharing your talent and experience. Your work is beautiful. Congratulations to your wife. That is an awesome bass.

[@kstenzel2010]

Thank you for watching!

[@kevinamack6]

Nice job. When I first started doing repros you were a very helpful reference. My fish improved a lot by watching you.

[@kstenzel2010]

Good to hear. Thank you

[@billybooth6737]

Thanks so .uch for sharing your knowledge and skills on painting a large mouth. Look forward to more of your painting videos and tips.

[@charlystaxidemy7585]

Thank you. for sharing your experience. All this information has helped me a lot.

[@tedlincolnsfishinglife]

awesome! It's alway great to see artist in different disciplines at work and to see the cross overs in techniques.

[@tedlincolnsfishinglife]

oh and NICE PB!

[@tedlincolnsfishinglife]

I have my fishing channel but I have one good art video on my other channel. You might see what I mean 🖖 kzbin.info/www/bejne/nnOmk31_mNdnbNU

[@metalwood7225]

phenomenal work!

[@kstenzel2010]

Thank you for your kind words.

[@amberquintal2371]

I'm so glad I came across your video I was thinking about starting doing replicas in your video is so informative it goes step by step and shows how the process is done I really really like it you got a new subscriber out of me

[@kstenzel2010]

Thank you for watching!

[@garydecew5379]

Thank you Kevin. I will carve possibly my first and last fish, a LMB for a grandson's HS grad gift this coming June. I like your technique as it revels the controlled chaos in reproducing a natural animal.

[@kstenzel2010]

Glad you liked it and hope you learned something from it. Best of luck to you.

[@Cw81Deut6n4]

Awesome thank you!

[@HardKnocksTime]

Your work is impressive Sir. Thank you so much for sharing this!!

[@kstenzel2010]

Thanks for watching!

[@HardKnocksTime]

@@kstenzel2010 I don't do a lot of them and have a client that wants 3 done. If I said I wasn't nervous, I'd be lying hahaha

[@spicysocks4492]

Thank you for sharing your knowledge, it helps a beginner like me just starting out!

[@joakos1122]

Great work thanks for sharing!

[@kstenzel2010]

Thanks for watching!

[@3rdDayOutdoors]

Thank you for sharing your knowledge and experience with us!

[@kstenzel2010]

Thanks for watching.

[@KadeSteppe]

Awesome video! Really enjoyed seeing it come together.

[@DreamOfMines]

Looks great!

[@kstenzel2010]

Thank you.

[@SammysBaits]

Beautiful!

[@kstenzel2010]

Thanks for watching

[@frankortolano5886]

Excellent

[@dinerdude44]

Kevin, I just retired from owning a diner the last 38 years and have done some fish for my kids years ago because I couldn't afford it. After every one, I vowed not to try it again! :-) Well, now I have 10 grandmunchkins that like to fish and...oh well. I still have my ol' Paache and after watching your excellent video I feel a bit inspired! Actually, I am touching up some fins on a nice walleye from many years ago and need to do some paint work...the clear coat I used is yellowing. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated! Thanks for taking the time to share your expertise! Paul

[@kstenzel2010]

Thanks for the kind words. I started doing fish as a teenager, because at the time didn't have the money either. I retired a few years ago and also find myself getting sucked back in. As for the yellowing on your fish, you'll probably have to repaint (at least the white areas) and re-gloss with a better product. Best to test a small area on back side first to make sure there are no incompatibility issues with the products you use.

[@dinerdude44]

Thanks Kevin! I spoke with a local retired taxidermist and will show it to him to get some ideas. He mentioned possibly going with Createx products to bring er' back. @@kstenzel2010

[@danielelkins3583]

Job well done!

[@kstenzel2010]

Thanks for watching!

[@Glock-1]

Absolutely amazing, I was totally shocked of how little green you had to use and how real it looks, I would love to get one made just for a man cave decoration but I bet they are very pricey

keep makin' the videos man. You'll build the subscriber base. Sub'd.

[@kstenzel2010]

Thank you

[@chrisgallagher85]

Absolutely incredible. Question: Do you use a car clear coat with an accelerator?

[@kstenzel2010]

Thanks, I prefer a fast activator with my automotive clear coat.

[@mikelepori707]

Wow that is beautiful!!! I’m waiting for a half cast blank to get here so I can practice. Thank you so much for posting these videos!!! Where did you get those paints at? I am not finding them on the site I get all my paints from. What an amazing job on that! I look forward to more videos

[@kstenzel2010]

McKenzie taxidermy supply or Matuska should have all the paints you would need.

[@mikelepori707]

@@kstenzel2010 thank you! I have another question, why do you use lacquer paint to antique the blank instead of an acrylic?

[@mikelepori707]

Hi Kevin, do you offer any kind of training or class on reproduction taxidermy? I’m really wanting to learn how to do my own reproductions and for close friends and family. Not looking to make a business. Wanted to see if you offered any kind of class possibly.

[@VictorSandoval-l8f]

Impressive

[@kstenzel2010]

Thanks for watching!

[@CoulRanch]

This is great thank you

[@kstenzel2010]

Thank you for watching

[@Idaho_hunters]

Love the videos on this amazing fish. I was wondering what brand of paint your using and do you dilute it at all?

[@kstenzel2010]

Thanks for the compliment. I use mostly Polytranspar, but others as well. The Wildlife colors are heavier pigmented and I like for certain applications, and they can be used straight out of the bottle. Most others require some thinning to get them to flow smoothly.

[@sarahholm1795]

Soooo beautiful. Lovely finished replica. What color are you using to do the bars and the cheek and the stripes on the back?

[@kstenzel2010]

I mix depending on ref photo. Usually black and brown umber, but don't be afraid of experimenting.

[@sarahholm1795]

@@kstenzel2010 Thank you for the reply. Your work is incredible. I am doing my first bass replica in the next few weeks. So excited but a little terrified tbh! You are my inspiration!

[@WheelerHomestead]

This is great

[@kstenzel2010]

Thank you

[@thereeldeal6113]

The mount turned out excellent what airbrush do you use?

[@kstenzel2010]

Thanks. I had better airbrushes before I retired, but now I just have an old Badger Renegade for details and an old Pashe H for broader spraying.

[@christophergentile7464]

Please do more videos

[@kstenzel2010]

I plan to, stay tuned

[@christophergentile7464]

@@kstenzel2010what paint schedule

[@Bleas128]

Do you add any kind of medium to your powder to tip the scales? Like dip your brush in water etc? Or just apply a dry powder

[@kstenzel2010]

I prefer applying dry as it gives you a more subtle look. Thanks for watching!

[@benwhite7010]

hey im the airbrush artist / painter for joe bucher outdoors . i’m doing a mailbox of a bass right as we speak and some new concepts for musky lures . where do you get your blanks ?

[@kstenzel2010]

I get my blanks from a number of different suppliers, as well as making my own. This particular blank however came from Ken Bauman. Thanks for watching.

[@thats.grantastic]

Beautiful work! This is one of the most realistic replicas I've seen. Are you taking on new customers? I'd love to get a smallmouth created.

[@kstenzel2010]

Appreciate the kind words, but I am now retired and enjoying it. Thanks

[@steve56565]

Where the best place to purchase blanks

[@kstenzel2010]

There are many. Some of my favorites are McKenzie Taxidermy Supply, Lake Country Replicas, Kenneth Bauman Taxidermy and New Wave Taxidermy. Thanks for watching!

[@danielleward6833]

The bear saw that fish and thought it was real. He couldnt even tell. Lol.

[@kstenzel2010]

Ha. Thanks for watching!

[@ga627peach]

on average how long does it take you to paint one fish start to finish? how long should a beginner expect to spend painting one?

[@kstenzel2010]

As a beginner, you should take the time to do it right. The more experience you get the faster you will become. A lot of taxidermists have multiple airbrushes set up with different colors and work on multiple fish at a time, which speeds things up considerably.

[@ga627peach]

@@kstenzel2010 - ahh the multiple airbrushes helps a ton im sure! as im finding the color switching is fairly time consuming! Ive been tinkering with my first bass for weeks now. my husband is a taxidermist (mostly ducks and other feathers and deer) and we have a 9 month old boy so ive been going in stages, referring to your video a lot and he said so far so good on what ive done so far! ive painted his duck bills with pastels for years now and have recently been trying my hand at fish too! Its been fun!

[@kelhenrycunningham2792]

Can u buy the mod in Australia

[@kstenzel2010]

I don't know, but thanks for watching

[@johnaustin3108]

Wow:)

[@kstenzel2010]

Thanks for watching!

[@danreid6712]

The back needs more Dark Green on it....

[@kstenzel2010]

The beauty is you can paint your fish as light or as dark as you want. Thanks for watching!

[@hfdennycheng9010]

I WANT A BIG FISH COFFIN