to psycho and all you gator taxis

[alan webfoot]

AHHHHH what a boob I meant ot say ''in louisiana RIGHT now''. I picked her up last nightwe got home 1:30 am..I also ordered today those olive colored eyes.Thanks psycho. I'm going to scuplt them in with 2 part let it set up then foam the jaws brain area and attach the head as soon as they [eyes ] get here.

[alan webfoot]

I set the eyes this morning and it's looks spooky .The customer didn't think I could mount the whole thing either,,And now he's moving things around to make room ,it'll have a mallard drake swimming in front of it.

[lakejessup]

Not for long

[alan webfoot]

got the head on today it stitched up as nice as the body seam!!I might have lost about 3/4'' in length due to matching the hides together and where the ''bang stick ''blew a hole through the hide in back of his head. ?The only thing I really was dissapointed about was not being able to get that neat spare tire look at the throat like some have.Maybe because he was small [7' and thin].Anyway he's all backtogether again like the scarecrow in ''The Wizard of Oz''. I'll take some more pictures when he's dry and I start to piant.

[psycho]

Not all gators have that look and most only have that look after they are dead so don't try to make it look dead.   

[lakejessup]

No they don't get the spare tire till they earn it. Just like some one mentioned on here a few inches in length means alot of difference in weight and girth once they hit 11' slow growth but they sure seem to put on the pounds

[RTPBearcat]

That "pumpkin" doesn't really become pronounced until they hit about 9 feet.

[RTPBearcat]

slipped one in on me lake...

[alan webfoot]

been drying for about 2 weeks now almost ready for the 2 part apoxy and airbrush .I'll take somemore pics when I finish painting it ,,good thing is color hasn't faded much so I still have ''lines ''to go by.

[alan webfoot]

the puttying and blending in went better than I thought ,,I got the big lizard painted up Saturday,,took him out on the deck in the nice weather. Should I gloss or matte finish it ,,I don't want him to look like plastic!!!

[psycho]

A matte finish will look much better than a gloss unless you are going to have him in a water scene.  If they are going to be depicted in water then you want them to look like they are in the water.  A little finish coat goes a long way.  You just want to seal the paint.  Good Luck.  Dan

[alan webfoot]

only his eyes and nose will be above the water line the rest kinda' submerged in a gradual slope downward .I was planning on using lily pads to make a definite ''water line''.

[psycho]

Well actually when a gators head is above water is is pretty dry looking.  The ball of his nose, right befor his eyes to his ear flaps will all be out of the water at the same time as a norm.  Can't wait to see it.  Remember when using lilly pads that sometimes they are below the water and sometimes they are feet above the water.  Dan