SpecialAdvisor’s Mad Labs - Mars Leather Mods Plus

[SpecialAdvisor]

Croc templated and cut out. Next to punch the stitching holes and decide what adhesive to use. I used plain ole glue stick on the nose bridge. At the end of the day the stitches at both sides hold it in place. Now from what I see the wings are held in place as much if not more by the glue. Hmm…

 

[Yo Flawch!]

Yes, I think you need the right glue for the sides. Everything looks great Robert! I call dibs on the rattler skin!

 

[SpecialAdvisor]

You and me both Brother! I’m think the Diamondback is a must for the soon to be Coyote Crater

For the wings I’m going to start with glue stick to get the form and trimming done…my nuclear option is Barge. But don’t want to start with that. I also have carpet tape and Magic Badge. Going to start low and move up in tenacity. I just see changing these too often with my mood to start with Barge.

 

[SpecialAdvisor]

Cranking em out! Need at least four more…for now

 

[SpecialAdvisor]

Uh…DANG! That was challenging.

Ain’t sayin it’s perfect (far from it!), but I’m happy with it. Still need to reinforce the glue and trim the temple side top and bottom (a teeny tiny bit) but it’ll work for me!

…and yes, I did the back side of the wing the same way as the back side of the nose bridge which ain’t OEM. I was lucky to get that much done. Maybe as I progress I’ll try the back side the same way as the front.

For now GEFGW!

I’ll sew the other wing later today after a whiskey…

 

[SpecialAdvisor]

Back side glue reinforced and temple side and seams trimmed down. I ain’t sayin they are good…but they are also not near as rough as I thought they’d be.

Bear in mind most folks won’t see the back side at all or be looking at em with an iPhone 15 Pro macro lens either

 

[SpecialAdvisor]

Drum roll please!!!

It’s a wrap!…one Croc-Wrapped Crater! Many thanks to my O-Brothers who listened to my plans, helped start me down the path, and provided morale support. Y’all know who ya are

…so now. Need to keep pushing…finish up the green sting ray on the stunt double? Start the kid skin Olive Drab project for the Mars Standard, or jump into the Diamondback Rattler for the soon-to-be-Cerakote H-268 Coyote Crater. Decisions…Decisions

 

[Yo Flawch!]

Beautiful work. Do you anticipate thinner leather to be easier to work with? I guess it would be easier to cut, at the very least.

 

[SpecialAdvisor]

Beautiful work. Do you anticipate thinner leather to be easier to work with? I guess it would be easier to cut, at the very least.

Thanks Brother! This size croc actually fine (very small crocs)…the buckskin was way too thick no doubt. I have incredibly sharp sewing scissors. Cuts this like butter.

Most of what I have now is about right…sting ray, lizard, and even ostrich. The diamondback is actually the thinnest…so probably a good option for a Mars standard wrap where it will need a backing of carpet tape (or similar) since no option for stitching. I also got some incredibly thin veg-tanned kid skin in Rapid City. The cool thing with that is it takes both dye and stamping.

We shall see

 

[SpecialAdvisor]

Settled on a practice day.

Probably wait till my Crater 1 and Mars Standard get their refinishes before settling on leather options for them. But the odds on favorite for Coyote is Diamondback.

Today I’m doing Icelandic Wolf Fish leather on the Stunt Double a/k/a “The Replica”. Good opportunity to try a more tenacious adhesive than glue stick as well