monster making

[KaiYoDei]

anway I have this fox with no feet, I wish I didn't purposely buy a footless one

I'm thinking I need small footsies from a different animal

I have some dried goose wings, they are in a garage attic with borax on it, from this spring,
i wasn't able to remove the hand bones from them, but the wings are complete...skinned? I guess its not good for that. otherwise I can trade them, it was a nuisance goose

and I'm thinking giving it a new face, a hand made beek or perhaps a reptile face? I lack one, its snout has a big hole in it.

so how do i make it into a 'monster'

something cooler than a jackolope

[GravityKills]

Ah, my friend, it is not as easy as you think,....
Sure, you can throw it together, but it will look like a joke. To merge diffrent parts together is an art form,... I know, I do it a lot.
The diffrent animal parts must match up to a point, such as in color and texture. The actual putting together is the hard part, each piece must flow into the other or it will look like crap. Set a model/drawing of the intended creature, and find parts that will look right, then deternine which parts will overlap others, and work them together. Simply sewing them together at seams does not always work,... some nust be glued, epoxied, or sewen. Some parts must sit completely individual from the surrounding fur or feathers.

There is no way anyone can "tell" or "teach" you how to make a gaff or novelty. This is the expression of each individual artist. You can either do it, or not. Experiment with it, and you will see what I mean,.......

[KaiYoDei]

oh some of those are pretty nice
the rearing one is kind of believable

where could i get some good wings? It's not like there is a 'wing mart'

well a friend of my family is going duck hunting this year so, I'll ask him to try and get as much as the wings and back of his wood duck.

Not sure now to skin fast, and so he can eat it too.

[John C]

Ok so the fox is footless. How about putting it in a habitat of snow or even mud? 

[GravityKills]

Well, as far as the wings... DONT USE WILD DUCK WINGS. Unless you plan on keeping the mount, of course. But you will not be able to sell it.
I go to the local livestock auction and pick up domestic ducks. That way I can eat them and use the parts.

[KaiYoDei]

Well, as far as the wings... DONT USE WILD DUCK WINGS. Unless you plan on keeping the mount, of course. But you will not be able to sell it.
I go to the local livestock auction and pick up domestic ducks. That way I can eat them and use the parts.

i don't think it would be sale-able. the quality the weirdness

so you can't sell ducks that you eat? like the woodduck? they have seasons and our family friend shoots them.

[GWebb]

so you can't sell ducks that you eat? like the woodduck? they have seasons and our family friend shoots them.

Any sale of migratory waterfowl is prohibited by the Federal Government regardless is there is a season on them and if they are legally taken. That is the reason most Taxidermists charge 100% up front since it can't be sold to recoup any loss if the original person backs out.

[KaiYoDei]

oh oh wow. but  can be given them. but i can't resell feathers huh?

I looked at permits for salvaging birds for taxidermists. its 100 dollars. (off topicish)
i could always get 'fancy' chickens or gunia fowl.

those are legal if the die by themselfs(not by humans)

what about hybred ducks? mallard-domestics.

[GravityKills]

I use turkey, chicken, peafowl, and domestic duck wings. I have experimented with dying white duck wings to match fur color, works ok.... I stay away from mallard crosses, even though they are legal, being just the wings it is too hard to tell it is a domestic cross. you need the body/breast to tell the diffrence, and I just dont want to stir the pot using something with the wild markings. Stick to solid colors when it comes to ducks, so no mistake can be made. Chicken wings kinda suck, their flight feathers have been reduced from domestication, and they just dont give that "fly-able" look. But to those who dont know, they will work just fine. I guess I am picky, I have made so many and prople expect a higher quality from my gaffs after seeing my previous mounts. I also have shown them for the last three years, and have to kick it up a notch every year. This year is gonna be tough....