Flea Cowboy Roping A Steer Sculpture

25. Attach .030-inch wire to a drill to twist to create the cowboy's rope.

26. Coil up a piece of rope wire, lock it into the vice, and weld it onto the left hand.

27. Hold in place and roughly shape the rope. Weld on the left hand and weld the rope to the left arm (figure K).

28. Create a lasso loop and weld to the end of the rope.

29. Add the steer's head to the body. Hammer the egg shape for the cow's head and weld onto the neck.

30. Create a rod shape for steer neck using 1/16-inch rod. Fill in both sides from a 3/32-inch rod. Add a hump on the back of the steer.

31. Back to the head.

• fill in underneath
• roll rod and create the lower chin using 3/32-inch rod
• shape and fill in the jaws
• add a bull nose ring
• shape and fill in the nostril shape around the nose ring using 1/16-inch rod
• add eyes and pupils
• weld on horns using 1/8-inch rod
• add ears

32. Create mounting pins in the vice using 3/32-inch rod and weld on two rear legs using 1/8-inch rod.

33. Attach the body and adjust the angle or posture.

34. Create cloven hooves using 1/16-inch rod.

35. Fill in the back legs and add shape using 3/32-inch rod. Fill in the ankles, knees and blend into the body and add hip bumps.

36. Form a pointy bottom and add a tail.

38. Roughly position both pieces of the sculpture together, adjust or bend the rope to suit spacing or action.

39. When sculpture pieces are cool, dip in clear gloss lacquer, or spray, let dry.

40. Cut a 2-1/2" x 14" redwood base piece on the table saw.

42. Spray the base piece with clear gloss lacquer and sand prior to the third coat (figure M).

43. Clip 3/4-inch mounting pins. Position both pieces (steer and cowboy) on the base and press into the wood to make indentations. Drill holes with a 5/64-inch drill bit. Gripping above the hooves with pliers; pound mounting pins into the base (figure N).

E-mail: greg@originalflea.com

Website: www.originalflea.com