[Paul_Guraedy]

Just came from the galleries and saw an excellent carving by MADA of a goshawk and woodpecker. Ran back through the posts and see that in early Feb this piece was listed as one of the largest undertakings by MADA.

It sure would be interesting if you would do a post with details of this carving MADA (wood, size, inserts, species of woodpecker, etc.). It is beautiful and well carved.

[BobD]

Paul,

MADA had some problems uploading the photo, so we uploaded it for him...that's why there is no description yet

Bob

[MADA]

Hi all.
First i would like to send thanks to Bob and Rob for helping me with the pictures.
I have now figured out wath was wrong, they was to big.
I usually use .mix files so i did not think of that one (not that i know anything abouth theese machines, just use them.....) so i had to start READING the message boxes, what a bummer.

This is suppose to be an Hønsehauk (goshawk) with "green wood pecker".
The lady is made out of American eastern white pine (get for free at work).
She is life size.
Total heigth with base is abouth 180 cm (ca 6'), i wanted her to look straigth in to your eyes.
The wings/tail are made seperately and glued/screwed in place.
I could not find the right color on the eyes i had on hand so i painted some clear ones.
The green wood pecker is a native bird to nortern europe and the wings are made seperately and the feet are from Delise (flicker feet).
The pattern is from Stiller.
The paint is acrylic.
The paint job is done in veeery close co work with Rignes (Norways best beer) hahaha.
Averall i am abouth 75 % satified with her and her prey.
Will never get satisfied i guess?
I should have used an stone to teksture alle the soft feathers, the beak should have been "slimmer", the talons should have been longer, i should ziged when i zaged and so on.
I am just gonna paint the talons and then give it to pop/mom because they are satisfied with it.
Oh yes, my favourite critic my niece is also satisfied (uncle is GREATH).
I am allready i start on a new one, goshawk hitting an fieldfare on the ground.
Gonna have a lot of trouble with that one as i want the fieldfare (eropean trush) to be abouth 15-20 cm up in the air an support the goshawk on it's back.
Anybody ever seen pewter feet/cast beaks for Goshawk and Golden eagle?

Magne

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

great birds Mada.....as for the pewter feet, good luck, I never could find any larger feet, wanted some for my Great Blue Heron but ended up having to make them.......nice carving!

[Paul_Guraedy]

MADA, I talked to a number of carvers about using pewter feet. The big problem is getting them to perch correctly on the base. They will not bend very much at all. The best bet is to use something like epoxy putty on a brass or copper armature to make the feet. This way you can put them in whatever position is called for by your carving. I am experimenting with making the legs and the feet out of quickwood. I have used it for talons which are hard to carve so that the sharp point meets the base perfectly and are not too thick. Had great luck and satisfaction there. Your carving is wonderful. You should be satisfied with it and remember only you see most of the things you don't like.

[Kenny_S]

MADA< Me not being a bird carver but like what I see, That is One OUTSTANDING hawk with his kill.I like the way you have it looking forward or straight on and the wing spanned outward. How long from tip to tip? Guess I need to reread your discription of the hawk. Anyway, I like it for sure. Hugh has one on the Gallery and I like that one also. Need to put my vote on both of them.

[MADA]

Paul
I am not going to use them on the carvings i am just want them as an study aid.
I use pewter feet on small birds (sometimes) but mosty i use the same method as you describe.
Is that Red tailed hawk of your country about the same size when it comes to shoe size?

Magne

[Paul_Guraedy]

Magne, it's more of a style (shape) than size difference among hawk shoes. Goshawks and red-tails are in the same size range. The Woodcraft Shop www.thewoodcraftshop.com has pewter feet for the red-tail. Also, a friend of mine, who instructs carving birds of prey, had some feet (cast in plastic) that he used and may have some left. He can be contacted at marlend@hotmail.com. I am going to use Marlen's cast feet as models for a gyrfalcon I am working on (toe length will have to be changed some). I contacted a couple of museums with bird study collections. When I told them what I was doing and what I needed, they had someone actually go and take the leg, foot, and toe measurements from one of their specimens for me. This will make it easier to use the red-tail casts and adapt them for other large hawks.

[Callynne]

Magne, really terrific work, I'm glad you got your pictures posted and that Paul brought them to our attention! I totally agree, beautiful job! Thanks for sharing!! Callynne

[birdcarver7]

thanks for the info paul,i,ve always been looking for hard to find stuff,like birds of prey cast feet,to carve by,good stuff