I purchased the Styx River Shadow Grass blind kit, and ordered four extra paint kits. I can tell you I used all of this paint and then some. I ended up adding some light and dark green to the pattern to blend in a little better in Florida. The more you paint the better you get, but I applied multiple coats of the grass pattern over the hull. The shadowing is key, it really makes the pattern pop. I was surprised by the difference, but the kits provide way too many black cans and not enough Sand or Fall Brown. You can match the sand color easily, but you will not find the Fall Brown. I had to go to Styx River's website and order some additional Fall Brown and Sand to complete the project. If you tend to be a perfectionist, this project will drive you crazy, because the stencils are good, but you will inevitably have a hard time holding the stencils in place and will get a few smears, and runs.

A couple of tips I wish I knew before I began:

1. Use the paint sparingly. Real quick bursts on the stencil is all you need.
2. Only spray the areas that the stencil is tight to the boat.( ti sounds basic but when you are doing the project it is tempting to get as much as you can out of each hold)
3. Use a heavy duty hanger to hold the stencil when you spray. Clean Hnage as soon as it begins to stick to the stencil- this will cause the pattern to smear!
4. Spend the time to make sure your tape is still holding. As soon as it starts to fall replace it. If you don't, eventually it wall fall and smear a part of you job, or cause you to get an uneven spray. Take the time and replace the tape. Tape the outside edges, and don't worry about taping behind the stencil- this doesn't work well. Use the hanger to hold it down.
5. When the stencil gets heavy and you begin to see the pain bleeding through your stencil onto your boat, stop and clean it. It only get's worse!
6. Go slow and take your time.
7. Don't be afraid to mix the colors and shadow as you go along (during the grass pattern) Add some Fall Brown and then some Black. Don't over do it, because you can always go back and add color later, but you can't take it away!
8. Have a large rectangular tub you can soak the stencils in paint thinner. This will make clean up a lot easier.
9. Don't worry too much about the first two patterns, because they are only going to be covered by the grass pattern. You get caught up in trying to make every coat perfect, and the reality the grass pattern is the one you have to be exact with.

I hope this helps! I was just trying to think of the things that I know now, that I wish I knew when I started! Good luck.

Nice...

Welcome to MMT too.... Post up a revue - that Trax hull looks
pretty nice wearin the PD - I saw you put the carb on and were
waitin fer paint cure to get out and cut up some chit....

Thats pretty impressive!

nice review man!! what color did you use for your base coat?? is it the original base coat that came with your boat??

giga, looks like he has been around a while.

nice looking rig!

What did you use for a rectangular tub? I used all the styx river paint and bought krylon paint from walmart. It is fusion paint. I wasn't able to get it off my stencils. I might try soaking.

Great review, it looks great
I tried to stencil my boat once, that particular day i didnt have much patience, looked like crap, and ended up repainting the whole thing the same color as before.
Good work on yours!!

Nice job. That had to take some work.

Do you mind if I ask what the bright green color you used was? Also, is that reddish brown the fall brown that comes with the Styx River kit??

I am still working on the basecoat, which has been a job unto itself when you include detergent wash, then acid etch with scotchbrite, then zinc chromate primer, then base coat, not to mention taping off since I did Steelflex on the bottom. Maybe by next week I will be ready for stencils, so thanks for the tips!!!!!

Giga- yeah this boat is 100% for Duck Hunting! Mods were just for load carrying ability. Looking forward to the opener I can tell you that. I am going to be scouting this weekend, and I will post a review of the Mikuni as compared to the stock modified.

Chessy- it was the Styx River light Green. I can't remember the name but you can look on their website you will see it. It does not come in the Shadow grass package.

Ben- I didn't have a rectangular tub to fit the stencils! I just wish I did! It would have made it a lot easier. It doesn't have to be rectangular just large enough to keep the stencil flat and submerged. Let it sit over night. You can also just let the paint completely dry and then bend the stencil, crack the paint and try to peel it off. I did it both ways.

Some

I was saying... Somebody was asking about the dark brown color. Yes it is the Fall Brown in the Styx River kit.

Sorry about all of the typos, I am writing this on my phone. You will get the point!