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Posted: 1/23/2015 11:27:58 PM EDT
[#1]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
All things considered, the bobcat's not looking too bad. I've seen worse-what I've seen from one local taxidermist is especially disappointing. I thought the ears were going to really suck, but after suggesting the boys go back and turn them out a bit more and even turn a split area, they turned out way better than expected. Once they get some detail work on the rest, it should be a decent mount. |
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Posted: 1/23/2015 11:43:14 PM EDT
[#2]
I thought I had this thread subscribed to  Keep up the great work and say howdy to my cousin for me please |
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Posted: 1/26/2015 4:59:23 PM EDT
[#3]
Teaser...... Moose cape is on. Pictures later.
Updated kitty pictures. Kids reset the left eye, and set the tail.  20150126_123716 by guns762, on Flickr" />
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Posted: 1/26/2015 5:53:37 PM EDT
[#4]
Update 1/26
Yesterday, I spent 8hrs working on this, as I didn't think I'd get the time today to get enough done. I'm glad I did, as this thing was a real bitch to sew up. The hair was as long as a grizzly bear, and the skin was thicker. The first thing I did was check for basic fit. I wanted to know how much cape I needed, and what I could cut off and get out of the way.  </a>20150125_121132 by guns762, on Flickr" />
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Posted: 1/26/2015 6:14:09 PM EDT
[#5]
Continued update 1/26
After seeing that I had plenty of cape, and the form did not need slimmed down at all, I went to work sewing up all the holes that we put in the cape. Here is the supposeadly "One shot". Later I found another shot behind his ear(don't lie to your taxidermist on how many shots it took; and yes, having to put a shot to the brain still counts  )
The hair around the entry wound needs cut out, as it's burned, so I cut it out in the shape of a "football"  </a>20150125_122709 by guns762, on Flickr" />
It's then sewn up to hide all evidence of the problem. I repeated the sewing on all the holes, although most of them ended up being cut off with the scraps.  </a>20150125_124113 by guns762, on Flickr" />
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Posted: 1/26/2015 6:23:38 PM EDT
[#6]
continued update 1/26
With all the sewing completed, except for the "bell", I soaked the cape in salt water and rinsed it out to get some of the excess tanning oil off. I went ahead and got the clay work started. First I set the eyes in the sockets, then applied some clay to the eye brows, and a bit under, as I felt like it was going to be needed to do to the fit of the skin on the form. It's always easy to push it out of the way if you don't need it.  20150125_135147 by guns762, on Flickr" />
 20150125_140619 by guns762, on Flickr" />
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Posted: 1/26/2015 6:29:48 PM EDT
[#7]
continued update 1/26
At this point, I need to apologize; I didn't take as many pictures as I should have. It was getting late, and I was tired. I kept forgetting to grab the camera; Sorry. 
Once the cape had some time to drip dry, I started working on getting the ear liners in the ears. This is the easy way to do the ears, but for some reason, the liners did not want to go in the ears. First, I was trying to put the wrong liner in the ear,  then, it was just tight. Even with the glue on there it just didn't want to go in. Once in, it was just a little short on one edge, so I stuffed some clay in there with a brush, and pinched it out until it filled the gap.
 </a>20150125_142052 by guns762, on Flickr" />
Lots of extra glue to act as a lubricant.  </a>20150125_142151 by guns762, on Flickr" />
You can see the lump of clay at the end of the ear in this picture.  20150125_142551 by guns762, on Flickr" />
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Posted: 1/26/2015 7:08:22 PM EDT
[#8]
Wow looking good. Your threads are always pretty interesting. Out of pure curiosity though,about how much does the cape weigh?
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Posted: 1/26/2015 7:19:52 PM EDT
[#9]
The moose is looking good! And thanks for the bobcat pictures.
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Posted: 1/26/2015 8:21:03 PM EDT
[#10]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Wow looking good. Your threads are always pretty interesting. Out of pure curiosity though,about how much does the cape weigh? Before I cut off all the extra, ?????? I figured@ 50lb-65. I cut a bunch off. My friend said when his dad got his sheep, they didn't get enough.  He told me he was never having that problem again. I was worried I needed to call someone to help me just pin it up on the form, it was so big and so heavy. Luckily, I just used a few finish nails as anchor pins and got it up there.
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Posted: 1/26/2015 8:48:03 PM EDT
[#11]
Awesome thread as usual op.
Hope it doesn't look like this when done
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Posted: 1/26/2015 10:02:09 PM EDT
[#12]
Please do the RoadRunner next.
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Posted: 1/26/2015 10:06:00 PM EDT
[#13]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Awesome thread as usual op.Hope it doesn't look like this when done
<a href="http://s99.photobucket.com/user/rgb03/media/image.jpg1_zpscngowyby.jpg.html" target="_blank">http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l302/rgb03/image.jpg1_zpscngowyby.jpg</a> A student who is not in my class brought in an honest to god book callled, "Crap Taxidermy". It's worse than the thread that pops up on arfcom. He's a funny kid and joked that some of my classes stuff must be in the book. 
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Posted: 1/26/2015 10:15:29 PM EDT
[#14]
Update 1/26 continued.
I got all ready to put the cape on the form and then remembered I forgot to sew up the bell. The wire will allow me to make the bell look like it's swaying a bit as the head moves.
 </a>
20150125_144205 by guns762, on Flickr" /> Here's where I started to forget to get photos. This is the second part of sewing up from the horn to the center of the head. It makes a small Y when finished.  </a>
20150125_153351 by guns762, on Flickr" /> This next photo shows both ends of the Y sewn up, and adding a large ball of clay to each ear but so it can be positioned later.  </a>
20150125_162423 by guns762, on Flickr" /> |
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Posted: 1/26/2015 10:19:46 PM EDT
[#15]
So, if I follow your 1/26 update correctly- your form is actually undersized for the cape? Or is that just how taxidermy goes? Still an impressive animal, either way!
Keep up the good work! |
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Posted: 1/26/2015 10:22:28 PM EDT
[#16]
Update 1/26 continued.
Once I started sewing up the back, I failed to get many pictures. It was long and boring. It took more than 3rd to finish. It was thick and hairy. I added hide paste under the neck and around the face, leaving the mouth and nose for later. Once all sewn up, I rolled the cape back and added lots of paste all the way down the form. 
20150125_191740 by guns762, on Flickr" /> I ended the evening trimming the back all the way around to fit the rocks. Normally, this would be pulled tight and stapled, but with the rock it had to be cut exactly, and pinned each inch or so to keep it in place. This is how I left it last night. The plastic keeps the lips and eyes from drying out. 
20150125_171536 by guns762, on Flickr" /> |
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Posted: 1/26/2015 10:26:13 PM EDT
[#17]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
So, if I follow your 1/26 update correctly- your form is actually undersized for the cape? Or is that just how taxidermy goes? Still an impressive animal, either way! Keep up the good work! It's maybe a bit small. Measuring the nose to eye length on this was new to me. I could have gone a bit bigger. This is good and bad. Good is, it is easy to get the skin to take the shape of the form without drumming up. I don't have to fight it or stretch it. The bad, obviously, is it would look a bit bigger with a larger form. I'm really only missing about 2" around the mid neck, and maybe 1/2" in length of the face. This is my first moose, I'm learning.
As it dries it will shrink to fit. |
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Posted: 1/26/2015 10:37:54 PM EDT
[#18]
Continued update 1/26...sorry, it's too long to do it in one post.
I forgot to get photos of the nostrils as I was tucking them. It was way different from normal deer and elk. It was just so big. I had to remove more of the form inside the nostril to fit all the skin. I also cut off about have of the inside of the nostril. It just wasn't needed. I thought it was going to really suck, but it actually went together quite easily. I used plenty of paste and it fit well. Here you can see me tucking the lips. It sucked, and took me quite a while to get them all in. I'm using the end of a spoon. The real trick is getting the lips centered, and the fronts lined up. It's harder than it would seem.  </a>
20150126_091519 by guns762, on Flickr" /> The tissue helps hold the nostrils in place, and the pins keep the lips from coming out.  </a>
20150126_095350 by guns762, on Flickr" /> The nails around the base of the horn keep the skin from shrinking away from the horns. The eyes were pretty easy, and fit well with the form. A pin in the corner of the eye is sunk permanently, and the tear ducts are pushed in and pinned. At that point the eye is sculpted the way I think it should be. I used lots of close up pictures of live moose and not other taxidermy work. Not sure they are perfect, but they are the same, and that's the golden rule. I smushed the clay down a bit above and below each eye. There will be more photos later.  </a>
20150126_095339 by guns762, on Flickr" /> |
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Posted: 1/26/2015 10:50:36 PM EDT
[#19]
Update 1/26 continued.....again...almost done for tonight.
Picture of the face all set, although I did monkey with they eyes a bit more later. 
20150126_104741 by guns762, on Flickr" /> I did find the skin near the bell to be a bit twisted and had to pull it down on one side. With plenty of hide paste it was easy to do,, as it was still very wet. 
20150126_104811 by guns762, on Flickr" /> 
20150126_104804 by guns762, on Flickr" /> Picture of the rocks in the back and how the cape fits and is cut to match. 
20150126_105250 by guns762, on Flickr" /> The wet cape pulled a little paint off the rocks. They will have to be repainted. 
20150126_105233 by guns762, on Flickr" /> |
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Posted: 1/26/2015 11:21:04 PM EDT
[#20]
Another great thread.Thanks !
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Posted: 1/27/2015 6:05:10 PM EDT
[#21]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Update 1/26 continued.
I got all ready to put the cape on the form and then remembered I forgot to sew up the bell. The wire will allow me to make the bell look like it's swaying a bit as the head moves.SPILL! How is the head going to move? 
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Posted: 1/27/2015 9:38:55 PM EDT
[#22]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
SPILL! How is the head going to move? Quote HistoryQuoted:
Quoted: Update 1/26 continued.
I got all ready to put the cape on the form and then remembered I forgot to sew up the bell. The wire will allow me to make the bell look like it's swaying a bit as the head moves.SPILL! How is the head going to move? Sorry, not literally. It's posed to look like he's tossing his head to the left a bit. There is one other detail that hopefully will turn out pretty cool near he end. We will see. Right now, it's just a few days of waiting and adjusting the skin till it dries. |
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Posted: 1/28/2015 12:37:56 PM EDT
[#23]
Update 1/28
After drying over night, I took the packing out of the nose, reset the inside nostril skin, then repacked them to dry more. I'll repeat this process every couple days till they are completely dry. I'm looking for the skin folding up the wrong way, or moving while shrinking. I'm also looking to make sure they match the opposite nostril  </a>20150127_092407 by guns762, on Flickr" />
 </a>20150127_092611 by guns762, on Flickr" />
Today, the eyes started to shrink a bit, and open up around the tear ducts. I used a wooden tool to push them back where they go, and close up the gaps that are developing. I'll repeat this process every day for a few days. I also added a small lower eye lid lip, by pressing the wooden tool into the skin. It will keep that detail, as it's fairly firm now.  20150128_082142 by guns762, on Flickr" />
 </a>20150128_083052 by guns762, on Flickr" />
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Posted: 1/29/2015 4:24:01 PM EDT
[#24]
Update 1/29
Got the rocks repainted. The cape is still drying at this time. I'm still making minor adjustments to the lips, eyes, and nose. I'll start the background habitat soon.  20150128_132308 by guns762, on Flickr" />
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Posted: 1/29/2015 7:25:35 PM EDT
[#25]
looking awesome, as usual
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Posted: 1/31/2015 11:25:01 AM EDT
[#26]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
It's maybe a bit small. Measuring the nose to eye length on this was new to me. I could have gone a bit bigger. This is good and bad. Good is, it is easy to get the skin to take the shape of the form without drumming up. I don't have to fight it or stretch it. The bad, obviously, is it would look a bit bigger with a larger form. I'm really only missing about 2" around the mid neck, and maybe 1/2" in length of the face. This is my first moose, I'm learning.
As it dries it will shrink to fit. Quote HistoryQuoted:
Quoted:
So, if I follow your 1/26 update correctly- your form is actually undersized for the cape? Or is that just how taxidermy goes? Still an impressive animal, either way! Keep up the good work! It's maybe a bit small. Measuring the nose to eye length on this was new to me. I could have gone a bit bigger. This is good and bad. Good is, it is easy to get the skin to take the shape of the form without drumming up. I don't have to fight it or stretch it. The bad, obviously, is it would look a bit bigger with a larger form. I'm really only missing about 2" around the mid neck, and maybe 1/2" in length of the face. This is my first moose, I'm learning.
As it dries it will shrink to fit. Makes sense to me. And as you post pics, I am learning too- so don't feel bad! Love these threads!
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Posted: 1/31/2015 9:49:14 PM EDT
[#27]
Really really enjoying this. Thanks Guns!
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Posted: 1/31/2015 11:09:37 PM EDT
[#28]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Really really enjoying this. Thanks Guns! Thanks, I appreciate it. I just got back from checking the tear ducts tonight. My GSD got his first look and sniff of him too. He didn't know what to think.
Tear ducts look good. Everything is drying and holding form. I should be able to apply the epoxy early next week. I'll also start the envoronment. I'm looking forward to that. Could be interesting.
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Posted: 2/3/2015 6:58:30 PM EDT
[#29]
Got after it a bit today. Starting to get an idea of what exactly I want that habitat to look like. I'll get some photos up in a bit. I get to be the detention teacher tonight.
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Posted: 2/3/2015 7:01:12 PM EDT
[#30]
These threads are always awesome, even if I don't stop by and say as much
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Posted: 2/3/2015 7:10:43 PM EDT
[#31]
Update 2/3
I got out the vegetation pieces that I had the moose owner purchase. I did some quick messing around with where I wanted them, but I'm going to hold off till I get a little more done.  20150203_092231 by guns762, on Flickr" />
The owner also asked for some water features, so I'm starting with some beads laid out in the shape of some pouring water. This will go in the kiln at a temp of 375 for 15min.  20150203_083946 by guns762, on Flickr" />
He also wanted some icicles. He liked the ones on the wolf mount. I'm starting with a paint brush handle and wrapping it up in tin foil.  20150203_083941 by guns762, on Flickr" />
After its wrapped up, I pull the brush out and fill the void with the plastic beads.  20150203_084043 by guns762, on Flickr" />
The kiln is a bit over kill for 375F, but it works.  20150203_124513 by guns762, on Flickr" />
Splashes after melting, and waiting to cool.  20150203_130623 by guns762, on Flickr" />
Unwrapping the icicles......  20150203_102309 by guns762, on Flickr" />
Nice selection of sizes to work with.  20150203_132855 by guns762, on Flickr" />
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Posted: 2/3/2015 8:57:04 PM EDT
[#32]
wowowowow!!!!!!!!!!!!! The water effects are amazing!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Posted: 2/3/2015 10:38:32 PM EDT
[#33]
Update 2/3 continued...
This is the product I use to make pools of water and a wet look on the stone. 
20150203_154411 by guns762, on Flickr" /> You can see it applied here across much of the stone work. It levels out and runs. Looks pretty real when it's done. 
20150203_150418 by guns762, on Flickr" /> 
20150203_150428 by guns762, on Flickr" /> 
20150203_150436 by guns762, on Flickr" /> |
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Posted: 2/3/2015 10:40:48 PM EDT
[#34]
I'll have to get some feedback from you folks tomorrow. I've got an idea on how I want the pine limbs, but it's different from everything I've done before. I got mixed reviews from some students today. We will see what you think.
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Posted: 2/3/2015 10:45:53 PM EDT
[#35]
Wow awesome work I can't believe I'm just seeing this thread ... My wife wants to get her moose so bad ,we've got a great taxi here in Cheyenne but it'd be awesome to have a fellow wyo member do something for us. I'm for sure subscribed to this thread now
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Posted: 2/3/2015 11:12:26 PM EDT
[#36]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Wow awesome work I can't believe I'm just seeing this thread ... My wife wants to get her moose so bad ,we've got a great taxi here in Cheyenne but it'd be awesome to have a fellow wyo member do something for us. I'm for sure subscribed to this thread now
Luckily for me, I just do this stuff for the fun of it, and I'm pretty sure, Moose....aren't fun at all to do. Just too damn big to want to do again any time soon. Sorry.
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Posted: 2/3/2015 11:28:55 PM EDT
[#37]
Damn impressive. I've got 2 whitetail mounts (my 1st as a full upright and last years nice high wide 6 (no brow tines so it should have been an 8)). I had that one done with the beetles eating the flesh then the skull "dipped" into the camo pattern I hunt in). Came out fantastic. I've also had 2 fish mounted - full on skin mounts not replicas (which I will do next time) as these 2 trout (rainbow and brook trout) should have been released. They were both on a 5wt flyrod and both are 27/8 inches (pretty damn huge for NY waters)
I had a moose walk 3 feet from me years ago when I was hiking in the Tetons. Caught me be surprise on a high lake as I was lounging on my pak and he walked right past me waded into the lake, , "bullwinkle splashed" and walked right past me to go back into the shade Those animals are enormous and your work looks fantastic. How are the kids for doing the "patience" steps? Cant wait to see more and nice job |
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Posted: 2/3/2015 11:55:36 PM EDT
[#38]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Damn impressive. I've got 2 whitetail mounts (my 1st as a full upright and last years nice high wide 6 (no brow tines so it should have been an 8)). I had that one done with the beetles eating the flesh then the skull "dipped" into the camo pattern I hunt in). Came out fantastic. I've also had 2 fish mounted - full on skin mounts not replicas (which I will do next time) as these 2 trout (rainbow and brook trout) should have been released. They were both on a 5wt flyrod and both are 27/8 inches (pretty damn huge for NY waters) I had a moose walk 3 feet from me years ago when I was hiking in the Tetons. Caught me be surprise on a high lake as I was lounging on my pak and he walked right past me waded into the lake, , "bullwinkle splashed" and walked right past me to go back into the shade Those animals are enormous and your work looks fantastic. How are the kids for doing the "patience" steps? Cant wait to see more and nice job Patience, is a lesson that is learned over a lifetime. I'm still working on mine, most days.
Most girls have more patience than the boys, but it can be learned. Some of my students do great, and some not so good. |
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Posted: 2/4/2015 10:34:24 PM EDT
[#39]
Update 2/4
Things are still wet on the skin in some areas, so I'm messing with the environment today. The icicles I made yesterday got put up today. 
20150204_092735 by guns762, on Flickr" /> Some of the flat pieces also help to give the feeling of ice shelves in the rocks. 
20150204_095536 by guns762, on Flickr" /> They also help to give the impression of water splashing. 
20150204_095544 by guns762, on Flickr" /> Not sure how this will go or not. I want the moose to look like he's drooling water out of his mouth, but it may not work. I'm going to make a few more pieces and see if it looks better. Your comments are welcome, as always. It's not permanently set in there yet. 
20150204_095520 by guns762, on Flickr" /> Here, I'm working in the aspen saplings. 
20150204_105204 by guns762, on Flickr" /> 
20150204_105216 by guns762, on Flickr" /> Here you can see the back side and areas I touched up with more rock over the edges of the cape that were showing. 
20150204_105321 by guns762, on Flickr" /> Here is the other area I would like some feedback on. I added the pines in the back, but I like the pine on the mount itself too; as my student is holding it. I slapped it up there and I think it loos pretty good. I think it gives the moose the look of coming through the pines. It also stays with the mount as it's moved to face other directions. 
20150204_131309 by guns762, on Flickr" /> 
20150204_131317 by guns762, on Flickr" /> |
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Posted: 2/5/2015 12:52:58 AM EDT
[#40]
I like the pine boughs where they are. I think they look good and agree it helps to make the moose seem like he is in motion.
I don't like the water coming out of the mouth. It just doesn't tie it into anything for me. Maybe if you built a pool of water under him but not as he sits right now. My $.02
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Posted: 2/5/2015 10:05:27 AM EDT
[#41]
I agree with Hanz,
Without a water feature under him the water drool doesn't go, I would prefer some sort of vegetation in the mouth instead. So with that and .02 you would still owe $1.48 for the cup of coffee. EBR666 |
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Posted: 2/5/2015 1:22:29 PM EDT
[#42]
Ok, the water out of the mouth is out for now.
I need to go cut some dried grass at lunch today to add to the aspens. I did add a few more splash pieces to the water on the rocks. |
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Posted: 2/5/2015 2:48:32 PM EDT
[#43]
Maybe icicles hanging from his fur just shy of the mouth? Like he was drooling & it froze?
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Posted: 2/5/2015 4:32:55 PM EDT
[#44]
I think the look you're going for is something like this. I don't think its going to work without a water feature under his mug.
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Posted: 2/5/2015 5:07:20 PM EDT
[#45]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
I think the look you're going for is something like this. I don't think its going to work without a water feature under his mug. http://www.alaska-in-pictures.com/data/media/1/dripping-moose_1575.jpg I agree, the owner of the moose came by and I'm going to leave it out. |
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Posted: 2/5/2015 5:17:13 PM EDT
[#46]
Very nice, the evergreen boughs are a nice touch. I agree about no water from the mouth.
The "duh-h-h?" look on the face of the moose in the pond cracks me up. |
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Posted: 2/5/2015 7:10:33 PM EDT
[#47]
Update 2/5
Here are a couple shots of the extra water shelves that I put in this morning.  20150205_110737 by guns762, on Flickr" />
 20150205_110727 by guns762, on Flickr" />
 20150205_110719 by guns762, on Flickr" />
Here is the rest of the aspens and some moss to cover the bottoms of them.  20150205_110745 by guns762, on Flickr" />
 20150205_110814 by guns762, on Flickr" />
 20150205_110755 by guns762, on Flickr" />
Added some grass to the base.  20150205_134754 by guns762, on Flickr" />
 20150205_134803 by guns762, on Flickr" />
 20150205_134859 by guns762, on Flickr" />
 20150205_134814 by guns762, on Flickr" />
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Posted: 2/5/2015 7:51:56 PM EDT
[#48]
unreal. wish i had more hunting success, i would absolutely send some stuff for your kids to work on.
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Posted: 2/5/2015 10:32:12 PM EDT
[#49]
Coming out great. Thanks for sharing.
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Posted: 2/9/2015 8:38:54 PM EDT
[#50]
Update 2/9
Getting closer to "Done". I started off by scraping the eyes of any glue that was left on them. I used caution at the back of the eyes, where the white is, as it's painted on and can be a draped off the glass. 
20150206_091048 by guns762, on Flickr" /> Next, it's time for the epoxy sculpting mix. This is the coolest stuff ever made. It's really fun to sculpt with. I've done the tips of antlers and horns with good results. 
20150206_092248 by guns762, on Flickr" /> The putty is applied to the eye lids, just enough to fill the gap, and in the corner of the eye. 
20150206_100120 by guns762, on Flickr" /> |
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