Lifesize Mammal of the Month #28 (7/10-8/10)

[mjvaden]

Justin, I don't normally post a critique type advice. But if you just mounted your cougar on Wednesday I would rework your ears quick! they really need to be rolled back and be pushed further into the form. I mad a mistake like this on my first leopard I mounted 18 or so years ago and it always bothered me. Luckily it was my cat and I came back years later and was actually able to cut it open and re do the ears and fix it.

I also had to fix one an employee did acouple of years ago. What I did was mad a cut on the back of the ear but and worked through that opening to dig out excessive clay and cut a deeper channel in the form to allow the ear to go down deeper.

I know this it a relatively critique free here I just thought I might be able to help you out.

Best of luck, Mike

[Justin P.]

Mike,
I rolled the rear corner of the ears further back.  I don't mind the critique. 
Now you've got me comparing photos of my mount with the reference again.  I don't see a big difference.  However I was trying to achieve a gravitational affect on the skin as it may pull forward a bit given the cats extreme downward angle.... is that what you're seeing???
Thanks

[mjvaden]

Justin, They look like they are rocked way to forward and it looks like there is about twice the amount of clay that there should be in the ear buts. They kind of have a moose like look to the ears and ear buts. Some one like WA or JB might be able to put it in to words better then I can. I think if you reduce the amount of clay and roll them back some it will look better.

Mike

[John Bellucci]

Hey Justin,

Mike - mjvaden - asked me if I would try and explain what he is trying to help you with, and if it is all right with you, I will try and help.  Let me know this is okay with you before I even start, as too many here pitch a fit whenever I try to help!  I can make it private if you like, but it would benefit all if it were posted here.

John.

[Justin P.]

Fire away! :-)

[John Bellucci]

Hey Justin,

Let me preface this by saying that gravity has no real bearing on the ears of most predatory mammals.   Their ears are just not long enough that gravity would have an affect on them.  There is also a limit to the forward thrust any given mammal is capable of.  And what we have here, are ears that are way too far forward, and a little too high setting on the head.  They need to be moved back a bit, as well as down a bit.

What also seems to be happening here, is the apparent lack of an attachment point for the ears to the top of the head.  What this particular Cougar needed more than rolls of clay was a buildup of the crown, or top, of its head.  I say this because the top of the head between the ears looks awfully narrow, small ... almost like a "pin head."

What's missing is the point of attachment as pointed out here ...


The rolls of clay you placed in front of the ears has negated this attachment point ... making it non-existent.

Here is a big Cougar, with his ears at full alert, and big as his head is, notice it is the head that is large, with a high crown - center portion.


This big fellow not only has a large head, with a high crown, but also a collection of brow ridges.  Notice though their placement on the top of the head.  Notice too, the ears are drawn up close to the center ... as close to the center as they are capable.


Here is a large Tom Cougar, crouched low, but with his attention and ears at full alert.  This is an example of my statement that the ears have a limited forward range of motion.


Another feature I would like everyone take note of ... the various ear lengths seen in all these different Cougars!  There is no real "standard" for ear length based on one's assumption for what they are "supposed to be."  The one thing that is consistent is the setting of the ears on the head.

Notice the bottom sides of the ears and where they are placed on this alert Cougar.


The final to alert poses to offer is a running Cougar with a fixed alert attention, and a leaping Cougar, with high alert ears and attention.


Even with ears at an extreme alert position, notice the placement of the bottom edge of the ears ... consistent with all the others shown.  Also notice here the size and placement of the brow wrinkles between the ears on the crown of the forehead.


I hope this has been some help to you.

John.



John.

[Justin P.]

John,
You certainly have a way of illustrating reference.  Once you posted that it was very clear.  Made what changes I could.  There is some slippage in the front of each ear so I have watch what I expose.  Here's the changes....
There is no clay in front of the ears. 
Thanks for taking the time out to critique the cat.

[John Bellucci]

Yo!   Looks MUCH better!  Now ... make the right ear match the left one in placement, and angle.  It's a minor adjustment but it will make a world of difference.  If you are having trouble seeing it - it happens to ALL of us - look at the face in a mirror ... a hand held is fine, and you'll see what I mean.  Then groom the top of his head, making his hair pattern nice and even.  Other than that ... rockin'!

John.

[MIKEO-PA]

just sent this one out. it will come off the stand and hang on the wall.

[Marty Dupertuis]

Justin, the cougar looks much better.  Thanks for Mvaden and John for the advice.  I think it is great to post critiques when you ask the peson posting if they want it.  I am about to mount a cougar and the advice and refernce pic's John posted are a great help.

[Alan B.... AKA Produckhunter]

Here is a LG Nevada Cat (42lbs) had to do some major alterations to a research Mannikin  

[Wayne R]

MikeO, your customer had to have been pleased, nicely done. I've seen Stones in BC but never had the money to hunt them.

[MIKEO-PA]

MikeO, your customer had to have been pleased, nicely done. I've seen Stones in BC but never had the money to hunt them.

he was. he is such a down to earth person. you would never know he had $$. he is good client to mike. i think he had to go back twice to connect with it. imagine paying for that trip twice!

[Richard B]

Here is a mount I took to the Texas show at Kerrville last month.