my conversion

[Indiana Bugs]

This has been a long time coming, but I finally finished my cowboy conversion. Its a very old Bailey. The pics show the story.

We went from this:



to this:



And this:



to this:

[binkmeisterRick]

Nice job, scotty! It still looks a bit characterized from the side, but to be honest, I like it.

[Mitch LaRue]

Very impressive.
And obviously a lot of hard work.

[Indiana Bugs]

Nice job, scotty! It still looks a bit characterized from the side, but to be honest, I like it.

Thanks, guys. Yeah, the bow is a but much, especially the lower rear. I did another flying V on another hat yesterday and it came out much better so I may re-do this one.

Being a cowboy hat, the felt is very thick, so it was kind of rough to work with, but it came out ok. Im gonna use it as a work hat so I dont continue to subject my Fed IV to the rougher stuff.

[Dangerman009]

Great job! It's got a character all it's own. Well done.

[hulkamad]

And this:

Hmm... Gryffindor!!

(Great job!)

[Indiana Bugs]

um, ya . . . =o) That was a comment made a while back on FL when I posted that picture there under a western hat thread. <hehehe>

The hat needed a reblock. The top was a mess and was completely stretched out at the sweatband line due to it being 2 sizes too small. Its still a bit tight now but much more wearable, and its not all stretched out. I just smeared some shea butter on the sweat, and it slides onto my head easier. Of course, after wearing it a while while Im working stretches the sweat, and then it fits fine.

[hulkamad]

um, ya . . . =o) That was a comment made a while back on FL when I posted that picture there under a western hat thread. <hehehe>

oh, uuhhh. yeah. Guess I wasn't as clever or original as I though... lol. Seriously, though that is a really great looking hat, you did a wonderful job. The compliments are well deserved!

[Indiana Bugs]

A heartfelt 'thank you.' Although the front of the crown was, in that picture, only 4 1/4" high, it still looked to high to me from the front. Every other angle looked good, but the front view was bothering me, so I soaked down (again), and brought the whole thing down a bit more. Pics to follow soon.

[Indiana Bugs]

Here it is. The front is still the same height, but everything around it has been massaged (compare to OP). Im very happy with it now.

[Yojimbo Jones]

Man, that's one cool lid. Echoes Indy plus just oozes it's own style. Awesome work.

[Indiana Bugs]

Thanks, TR and YJ. Thats high praise, indeed, especially from the likes of the two of you.

[kwad]

Nice job Scotty!!

You done made yourself a silk purse out of a sow's ear!!

[Noah]

You did a great job! Very impressive