Bob,
Glad i could help. The poplar does carve pretty decent. As you get to the point of wanting to produce things to keep or sell, hardwoods will give you a nicer result with less work to clean it up. Dan just started a thread today showing a clock face that he produced out of oak, and claims no sanding needed. I have been lucky with several that way in cherry, maple, and oak. Oak is a little more open grained, so it wont hold intricate detail quite as well as the other two, but it sure finishes nicely.
Good luck, and thank you for your service to our country (the agent orange comment) I assume you are a veteran.
Happy Carving,
Ron