Okay ... these are from many years ago. Since I no longer wrap bodies for mounts, these are some of the only records I have of wrapped body mounts.
From 1977 ... plywood center board, excelsior wrapped, with leg bones, and paper headform that I laid up in a plaster mold. At the 1977 NTA in Albany, I entered this piece in an impromptu competition, and was awarded a blue ribbon. Happy day!
From 1977 ... plywood center board, excelsior wrapped, with leg bones and threaded rods, and natural skull wrapped with excelsior, and clay.
From 1978 ... Excelsior wrapped body, with leg bones and plaster cast head, modeled with clay.
From 1980/81 ... plywood center board, excelsior wrapped, with leg bones and threaded rods, and plaster cast skull. This Wolf was kept in an apartment house basement, was underweight, and had a collar embedded in its neck. By the time Animal Control arrived to confiscate it, it had been killed. Mounted for the arresting officer.
From 1990 ... wrapped bodies, with leg bones, and Bondo cast headforms, clay details.
From 1990 ... wrapped body, with leg bones, Bondo cast head, with a final layer of Mache' injected under the skin to produce skin folds.
These days I prefer to use a commercially available mannikin, or make a carcass cast. Arthritis in my hands doesn't allow me to hold excelsior and wrap with string any more. Plus, I would have to charge a price no one would be willing to pay, and I'm in this to make money. I don't do Taxidermy for the fun of it anymore.
John.
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