A few weeks ago, I was at a bison auction and met some very interesting people. One of the people I met got me in to roping on a dummy calf with a Lariat. It was a fun leisure activity to pass some down-time, and I thought it was such an interesting skill to have. That experience inspired me to create my own dummy calf.
After looking online, I was astounded by the price you have to pay to get a dummy calf. The cheapest models were a few hundred dollars, and I even found one listed at $4,800. I looked at a few of the simpler models, and realized I could very realistically build one myself. I decided the best way to make it would be out of PVC pipe. PVC pipe is fairly cheap and easy to work with, and I plan to use it as a “blank slate” so that I can create the structure and then add the aesthetic.
This is an example of what I plan to make mine look like. The basic structure will be very similar, and then I will branch off aesthetically. I was surprised when I found out even this model was priced at $200. I know I can make one for much cheaper.
My goal aesthetic is going to be paint splatter. I plan on painting the whole thing in a CU gold color, and then getting black paint and splattering it on top. I think this will give it a fun look, allowing it to look finished but still imperfect. I think this is the right mood for a project like this. Typically, this is something that would be kept in a barn or just outside, so I wouldn’t want to give this a super classy look. Paint splatter will be really fun and colorful while still being a little rough around the edges.
This is similar to the aesthetic I plan on implementing in to my project. Obviously I plan on using different colors, but this unfinished look of paint just thrown on is what I want.
Photos:
- http://www.ssroping.com/dummies/
- http://julianatakespictures.tumblr.com/post/116043309071
7 Comments. Leave new
I never would have guessed that you were interested in roping bulls! I hope the pvc piping will be rigid enough to withstand the roping over time. Giving the bull some character and volume will be a nice addition.
This was a super creative idea. The black and gold paint splatter fits well with the overall idea too as you are a Ralphie Runner. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a moving dropping dummy before but I’m sure it will be a lot of fun to mess around with once you are done
The CU paint splatter aesthetic is perfect for this. I hope at the end of the year you demonstrate to the class how to rope a calf with your finished project.
As a former 4-H member, love this idea! Great aesthetic- very Jackson Pollock with a CU western twist. A gold or black lasso may look really cool with the paint. Good job!
It’s great how the things we are involved in can inspire us. Love that you are a Ralphie runner creating a project like this. I think it’s great that this is something you can use too. I think the black and gold splatter paint will look fantastic too. Good job!
Great presentation, funny back story behind how you decided to choose this. It seems like all your projects are related to cowboy or farming things, which is a cool aesthetic in its own.
You should look at ropes that match the dummy calf. That way, you have a full kit that matches. Also, you should work your beer cowboy hat into the mix.
When you are done with it, it could make a great display somewhere in your house. What are you planning on doing with it when you are done?
Cool project. I have seen roping dummies before, but made out of wood rather than PVC. I liked your idea about possibly using wheels to make the dummy around to make it dynamic. A possible addition is to a basic motor to the head to get it to rotate back and forth to make the target harder to rope.