WING"TIPS" #41 Detachable Peacock Train/Tail

[wingman]

Hello everyone, I finally found a free evening to sit and post up another wingtip. I realized when I went to find the photos I took for this tip how bad I am at procrastinating or should I say good at   Its been almost 2 years since this project was completed, I have promised to post it up on several occasions and recently had several PM's requesting it so here it is!
Its a relatively easy procedure just took me a while to figure it out, It works well and I will post of photos in the order of the procedure so Here goes!! GOOD LUCK!!



Photo #1 This photo shows the start of the procedure, I use a foam body purchased from Research Mannequins, Cut the rear part of the back/tail off the mannequin and rasp the "depth down about 3/4 inch to accommodate the bondo thickness. See the photo as where to make the cuts and rasp.

[wingman]

#2  "Notch" out the pygostyle/tail area so your premounted/fanned tail will sit into place, Position it into the slot at the desired spot and bondo the tail quills into place.

[wingman]

#3 As stated in #2 just lay a bed of bondo down, place the tail on top of it and then lay another bed of bondo over the top of the tail quills.

[wingman]

#4-5  These two photos show the top and bottom of the actual peacock TAIL, not the train. Once this bondo sets the tail is secured into position and the train is next.

[wingman]

#6 Now secure the upper tail/back segment onto the rest of the form with 2 drywall screws angled in from a notched out thigh/drumstick attachment area, These are temporary. Attach the mannequin to a mounting stand for the next step.

[wingman]

#7  See photos #7-9 Ok I have not talked about the skinning procedure on this method But its basically removing the train just below the green "scallop" feathers on the back. I try to remove the train and keep it as clean as possible to avoid having to wash it, The quills on the train are quite long and often very fatty, I usually take a towel and wrap the feathers only exposing the back/quill area then wheel and remove all the fat from that area, wash the area well with DAWN and rinse/dry. Now that the train is prepped I lay a rather hot bed of bondo over the entire removable back "piece", smear as much bondo down into the train quills as possible then lay the train on the back piece into the bed of bondo, see the pics for more "explanation"

[wingman]

#8

[wingman]

#9

[wingman]

#10  "TAXI" and position the train into place on the bed of bondo and groom the train into somewhat the desired shape, You will be able to adjust it a bit as it drys.

[wingman]

#11  Once the bondo is "set" you can now remove the two drywall screws and your tail/train is done other than some final grooming.

[wingman]

#12 Mount the rest of the bird up as usuall,  You will need to pin or glue the thigh/flank skin in place to but up against he removable area.Then I drill a hole through the upper center of the train, through the bondo, insert a 6" Regulator "needle" through the hole OR if you want a 6" drywall screw will also suffice. This "pin" is all it takes to hold the train in position although once the mount reaches its destination the owner/client may decide to just bondo the two pieces together making it permanent. most clients I have done this for like the fact that they can remove the tail/train if desired for moving transport etc.

[wingman]

 #13 This photo show the removable train and where it attaches, The green scallop feathers on the back lay over the ones on the removable section, simply lift them up a bit to slide the removable section into place, insert the pin and the train/tail is secured. 

[wingman]

#14 The finished mount and the two boxes it was shipped to North Carolina in It took me longer to post this up than it does to do this entire procedure  Hope this helps out the people who have requested the info. I have multiple other WING"TIPS" photographed some as old as this one LOL. I will try to post one up every now and then as time allows > Hope everyone is having a GREAT start to this NEW YEAR!! Good Luck!

[CR]

Wingman, your the bomb!

[wildturkey58]

This is a great wingtips.  Eugene was kind enough to share this info with me about a year ago and it works fantastic.   

Bobby