Repairing shoulder mounted Elk

[moses1983]

The plywood molded to the form of the manikin came loose on a 25 yr. old Elk.  The plywood is on the wall w/the plaque and the mount fell on the hood of a car.  I was planning on making a shelf support w/45 degree bracing out of 2x4 or 2x6.  carve out the foam and bondo the 2x6 brace inside the manikin then screwing the plywood and plaque to that.  Any better Ideas for a repair that would handle the weight?

[siffordstaxidermy]

First off are u using the bondo on the car or the plaque? jk  I would not use bondo.  Bondo is great for many things but it is not an adhesive I would rough up the wood and use elmers ultimate glue.  The stuff is amazing.  FYI it expands a lot so use about 3/4 of what you would think you should.  Jess Sifford

[Bucknut]

I've always worried about the scew pulling out of the wall on a elk/moose. Never heard of the backboard coming loose. I'm not quite sure what you are proposing, but I would use foam instead of bondo. I would carve out a couple of large holes in the foam and insert some 4 x 4's horizontally into the holes. Those 4 x 4's would have a bunch of screws sticking out of the sides so the foam would have something to grab onto. Have those 4 x 4's extend to the back of the form. Then you could lag bolt through the backboard into the ends of the 4 x 4's. Then lag bolt through the plaque into the backboard.

Bruce