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Painted polystyrene sub floats

Posted: Wed Oct 14 2020 18:36
by JoeNickel
Inspired by the recent thread on subfloats, I bought some cheap white poly floats and painted them, the intention being just to break up the outline a bit. It took longer than the job really deserved, but I'm very pleased with the outcome!

Re: Painted polystyrene sub floats

Posted: Thu Oct 15 2020 14:11
by Mike F
JoeNickel wrote: Wed Oct 14 2020 18:36 -
Inspired by the recent thread on subfloats, I bought some cheap white poly floats and painted them, the intention being just to break up the outline a bit. It took longer than the job really deserved, but I'm very pleased with the outcome!
Nice one, what did you paint them with? :thumbs:

Re: Painted polystyrene sub floats

Posted: Thu Oct 15 2020 14:53
by JoeNickel
A random set of acrylic paints from Wilkos that the missus had. Little tubes.

I've done a further set for a mate, just messing about with different colours.
Subfloats2.jpg
Pale one is intended for fishing in shallow water, where fish are more likely to be looking up and seeing the float against the surface.

Re: Painted polystyrene sub floats

Posted: Sat Oct 17 2020 12:50
by MarkBerrisford
I made these as sunk floats poly eggs painted grey hopefully to make them less obvious against the surface
55827403-8CDA-4650-BBC0-F1DAA0D81A55.jpeg

Re: Painted polystyrene sub floats

Posted: Sun Jan 03 2021 18:49
by Kevin O'Keeffe
if its camo you want.... surely the clear plastic fox rage ones are unbeatable? If they don't fall apart?? or the Drennan?

Or maybe a brown stick seems more in keeping than a bubble in the water?

Battleship grey mark? :idea:

Re: Painted polystyrene sub floats

Posted: Sun Jan 03 2021 18:55
by davelumb
Kevin O'Keeffe wrote: Sun Jan 03 2021 18:49 -
if its camo you want.... surely the clear plastic fox rage ones are unbeatable? If they don't fall apart?? or the Drennan?

Or maybe a brown stick seems more in keeping than a bubble in the water?

Battleship grey mark? :idea:
How often do you notice the back of road signs? They're a mid-grey. :wink:

Re: Painted polystyrene sub floats

Posted: Sun Jan 03 2021 19:28
by Bob Watson
davelumb wrote: Sun Jan 03 2021 18:55 -
Kevin O'Keeffe wrote: Sun Jan 03 2021 18:49 -
if its camo you want.... surely the clear plastic fox rage ones are unbeatable? If they don't fall apart?? or the Drennan?

Or maybe a brown stick seems more in keeping than a bubble in the water?

Battleship grey mark? :idea:
How often do you notice the back of road signs? They're a mid-grey. :wink:
They're also on the other side of the road :laughs:

Re: Painted polystyrene sub floats

Posted: Sun Jan 03 2021 19:32
by davelumb
Bob Watson wrote: Sun Jan 03 2021 19:28 -
davelumb wrote: Sun Jan 03 2021 18:55 -
Kevin O'Keeffe wrote: Sun Jan 03 2021 18:49 -
if its camo you want.... surely the clear plastic fox rage ones are unbeatable? If they don't fall apart?? or the Drennan?

Or maybe a brown stick seems more in keeping than a bubble in the water?

Battleship grey mark? :idea:
How often do you notice the back of road signs? They're a mid-grey. :wink:
They're also on the other side of the road :laughs:
If they were painted dayglo yellow you'd notice them. :grin:

Re: Painted polystyrene sub floats

Posted: Sun Jan 03 2021 22:42
by Mako234
on the subject of poly eggs balls and sticks where do you get them from ? went to hobby craft and their poly balls and eggs were soft would soon get chewed up in the quiver

Re: Painted polystyrene sub floats

Posted: Sun Jan 03 2021 23:51
by Cyprio
Mako234 wrote: Sun Jan 03 2021 22:42 -
on the subject of poly eggs balls and sticks where do you get them from ? went to hobby craft and their poly balls and eggs were soft would soon get chewed up in the quiver
Nothing wrong with hobby craft polly balls. Coat them with ZAP epoxy = Hard as nails :thumbs:
(See float thread below for examples)
To be honest I also make ledger stems using catfish pro poly balls as they have already been painted green with acrylic paint. They have been in use for 2-3 seasons without much deterioration, small dents along the way but still good.
Have a look on Eddie Turners banner he also has foam ones.

Re: Painted polystyrene sub floats

Posted: Mon Jan 04 2021 01:58
by Mako234
thanks for the information cyprio i came across some poly balls in a physics lab that were that hard you could stand on them but that was 20 years ago and i am about out of them and the ones about know seem a bit flimsy just seeing if there are any like these about anywhere thanks all the same

Re: Painted polystyrene sub floats

Posted: Mon Jan 04 2021 08:37
by Nige Johns
Mako234 wrote: Sun Jan 03 2021 22:42 -
on the subject of poly eggs balls and sticks where do you get them from ? went to hobby craft and their poly balls and eggs were soft would soon get chewed up in the quiver
I got some 40 mm ones from Lumby

Re: Painted polystyrene sub floats

Posted: Mon Jan 04 2021 17:31
by Kevin O'Keeffe
davelumb wrote: Sun Jan 03 2021 18:55 -
Kevin O'Keeffe wrote: Sun Jan 03 2021 18:49 -
if its camo you want.... surely the clear plastic fox rage ones are unbeatable? If they don't fall apart?? or the Drennan?

Or maybe a brown stick seems more in keeping than a bubble in the water?

Battleship grey mark? :idea:
How often do you notice the back of road signs? They're a mid-grey. :wink:
Ah but that's because its grim oop north Dave.... down south we have em sky blue :laughs:

I do think its a different ball game under water. I read that the clear plastic ones actually look pearlescent like a bubble underwater and stick out like a sore thumb :shrug:
Having done some diving.... bubbles are pretty obvious. Looking from above and below could be different :shrug:

Maybe we should make fish shaped sub floats if we are that worried :laughs:

Re: Painted polystyrene sub floats

Posted: Mon Jan 04 2021 22:52
by MarkBerrisford
Kevin O'Keeffe wrote: Sun Jan 03 2021 18:49 -
if its camo you want.... surely the clear plastic fox rage ones are unbeatable? If they don't fall apart?? or the Drennan?

Or maybe a brown stick seems more in keeping than a bubble in the water?

Battleship grey mark? :idea:
Like grey on my painted floats, not as standout

Re: Painted polystyrene sub floats

Posted: Mon Jan 04 2021 22:54
by davelumb
... down south we have em sky blue

I can believe that. It's a strange world south of the Mersey. There's this bright light in the sky all day long. :scratch:

Re: Painted polystyrene sub floats

Posted: Tue Jan 05 2021 13:46
by Kevin O'Keeffe
MarkBerrisford wrote: Mon Jan 04 2021 22:52 -
Kevin O'Keeffe wrote: Sun Jan 03 2021 18:49 -
if its camo you want.... surely the clear plastic fox rage ones are unbeatable? If they don't fall apart?? or the Drennan?

Or maybe a brown stick seems more in keeping than a bubble in the water?

Battleship grey mark? :idea:
Like grey on my painted floats, not as standout
The navy have it right mate...

Re: Painted polystyrene sub floats

Posted: Tue Jan 05 2021 13:47
by Kevin O'Keeffe
davelumb wrote: Mon Jan 04 2021 22:54 -
... down south we have em sky blue

I can believe that. It's a strange world south of the Mersey. There's this bright light in the sky all day long. :scratch:
:laughs: :laughs: :laughs: