[Hamish Young]

Yup, build up a smooth underbody (not too much obviously......) then simply wind the floss and herl in butting turns as one along the body.

Unless someone beats me to it, may try and post a piccie or two of what I mean 

[Barry Robertson]

Would be most appreciated if someone could as iam getting no where quick here 

[Sandy Nelson]

Right, had a wee play.

Stripped natural quill, wound with spaces left to let thread show through, almost use the herl as a rib, keep it even and you get pretty close.



Looks quite nice in orange



Doing it in Touching turns, make a nice quill body, but doesn't look like the fly you want.
I tied in the herl by the tip and then made a smooth underbody with one layer of silk down to the bend tying in the herl, and one back up to the head.
Then in open turns wound on the herl, once its varnished it looks smooth.
I reckon the Actual fly is done using synthetics as a natural herl tapers and the photo of the fly does not

Sandy

[Barry Robertson]

Very nice , bravo 
Just kidding, only wish my ones looked like that!
Will persevere and post my pic later 

ok excuse the amateur here , when you say silk, does it matter if i use utc thread? or are they both the same?

[Sandy Nelson]

"silk"

Figure of speech, Baz Sorry, i was using 6/0 unithread.

Was i close enough then, as what you was describing you do, was pretty much what i did

Sandy

[Barry Robertson]

Exactly the same but for some reason your Natural quill is alot lighter in colour than mine, looks like i will have to pop round to the shop AGAIN!
thanks for taking the time out anyway to do the demos 

[Sandy Nelson]

Are you using Eyes?

The eyes give you much better quills.

Sandy

[Barry Robertson]

They are quite short fibres at the eye, to be honest i was using the fibres about an inch down from the eye!
Do you think there is that much difference?

[Derek McLaren]

[Sandy Nelson]

Nice

[Barry Robertson]

I will take 5 please derek 
What you been using for the cheeks 

[Barry Robertson]

That pic is awesome , how did you manage and i cant lol
Thats exactly how i want mine to look 

[Jim Doyle]

Pop round and I,ll see what I can find quill wise , there must be some upstairs!!  try a black flexi floss body ribbed with quill.  jim

[Derek McLaren]

I will take 5 please derek 
What you been using for the cheeks 

Red goose biots for the cheeks, sparton black thread and stripped peacock from the one that wanders about down the road  

[Barry Robertson]

Ok well i got there in the end  Not the best pic but i can work on that later!