Another snapper.

[Redwolf]

Just got done mounting it. A little more adjusting and I can call it a day

[Evelyn Billington (Superpig)]

Very nice. I'm impressed and it takes a lot to do that. LOL 

[Redwolf]

Well thank you Piggy.

[lakejessup]

dang hate to get that thing on my finger.....cool

[Redwolf]

lol Me too.

[jeremy]

Dang your getting good at those Bobster.....

[Redwolf]

I'm trying Jeremy

[BearB8]

Looks Awesome Bob, Swimming reptiles are really kool. Did you use the fill method on him ? I have a small snapper to do. Of course he will be swimming.  .........Jeff

[Redwolf]

Every turtle gets filled. Filled with all kinds of stuff Clay in the legs, carved neck and tail, wires for supports, 2 part foam pored in the shell and some caulking and vermiculite for filler in the areas that need it before stitching.  Even a little Bondo to hold the wires.

[Cole]

To me it looks stuffed, as in stuffed full. I would expect to see some anatomy around the head, especially in the throat area. I think the legs look overstuffed as well, lacking wrinkles, joint anatomy, etc. The pose doesn't really do it for me either. Swimming turtles almost look like they are walking through the water, where yours looks like it's doing the breast stroke. I think the eye could use some work too, I'm not sure your turtle can see. Maybe some reptile guys will chime in, but that is the opinion of a fishhead.

[Redwolf]

The bigger the turtle the less detail. They look more "full" as they get bigger. Especially the neck and legs.
I like to use videos for reference. I don't know why they say "Alligator" snapping turtles, because they are just commons, but you'll see what I'm talking about.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3S0LtJ1qyaE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Ir1xnYNb0g

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_3n9fCUCPDs

The pose doesn't really do it for me either. Swimming turtles almost look like they are walking through the water, where yours looks like it's doing the breast stroke. I think the eye could use some work too, I'm not sure your turtle can see.

Watch the end of this video. You'll see a swimming action. I understand what you mean about the walking through the water but they only do that on the bottom or in shallow waters.

http://www.hdnaturefootage.net/stock_video_footage/V04554_Alligator_Snapping_Turtle_Day/p_4554.html

[Redwolf]

Here are a few good swimming videos.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=weUNhwCHjkI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h8faruJcAYk

This one will be aimed down so in nature it would be more of a "glide to get to the bottom.

[Cole]

I guess we just see things differently when viewing the reference you posted. Every turtle I saw swimming in those videos uses a paddling motion, alternating its leg motions. I also see quite a bit of definition in the legs and joints, as well as wrinkles when they are swimming. I see a defined throat anatomy on all of the turtles in those videos. Like I said though, I'm just a fishhead. Maybe a reptile guy can chime in.

[psycho]

I hate to say it but common snappers have no neck no matter how big they get.  I have had the pleasure or displeasure of dealing with snappers in the 60 to 125 pound range.  Whether they are common snappers or alligator snappers does make a big difference.  However, common snappers rarely have much neck at all.  they have a lot of skin but as taxidermist that do turtles almost EVERYONE that does a turtle stuffs the neck so full that it looks like a turd.  The legs always have definition no matter how big the turtle is.  The definition changes but it remains.  The scales have layers that are ignored.  However on customer work it's fine not to worry about the scale patterns and the definition in the legs if you choose to.  If you look at the photo that Cole provided and your own videos whether they are the alligator or common snappers you will see how the scales have that "shingled" look to them where there is lift below them.  Also if the turtle has his leg extended on a common snapper it also creates a pocket where the leg came out of.  When we look at mounted turtles all you see is stretched scales and skin.  I would say the eye of your turtle keeps him from literally seeing but a lot of things that people seem to do is they forget how that skin moves around the eye depending on the position of the head and where the turtle is looking.  A turtle is unlike a lot of critters especially a snapper.  I have snappers as pets and you can see them rotate their eyes damn near sideways to look ahead of them like in Cole's picture.  They are amazing critters and can do tons of things like many critters.  To many times when we all mount things we choose to not use reference because we all think we know what something looks like, however I promise you that we should all be grateful that the judges don't carry live specimens with them.   It doesn't matter if a turtle is in shallow water or deep water his legs rotate the same way and he moves water away from his body the same way.  Coles picture shows the turtle with his legs down at that point because he is almost up against the glass and seems to be stopping or starting up again.  Although in the wild when they stop swimming they will rest in that position and they can also start off swimming from that position.  They can do the superman pose as well as you can see if you watch your last video.  You can't really compare alligator snappers with common snappers they are 2 totally different critters and you should not be using any reference for alligator snappers when dealing with common snappers.  If you had a 45 pound alligator snapper and a 45 pound common snapper I promise you would see huge differences in them.  There is a reason that there are many types of turtles all with different names just as there are with snakes.  You can't tell me that a Pygmy Rattler, Massuaga and a Prairie are all the same snake because you have a lack of knowledge of them, same as you can't tell me that common snappers are the same as Alligator snappers.   These are just my opinions and I try to look at things as what would I be happy with going out of my shop, is this a seminar piece, is this someones first, how would I want to be judged and how would I judge the specimen myself.  I say all of this but the only thing I try to do is my very best on every piece because I like taking customer work to the comps because I never get to do my own stuff.    

I do like that you didn't really over fill the feet from what I can see and you did pay attention to the trailing edges on the legs.  From the picture you can't tell if the toes are defined fully.  I'd say that from all the turtles that you have posted I would say you have your own signature.  If that is a customers piece I am sure they will be very happy with it.  Don't let Cole fool you as saying he is a fish head and thats his opinion.  He's an all around good taxidermist and artist and if he wanted to dive into reptiles I'm sure he would do a bang up job on them as well so don't let him fool ya with that "opinion of a fishhead" crap.  LOL      He can read reference very well.  

[Redwolf]

I understand exactly what your saying. I tried to get some good pics to show what detail I put into it but for some reason (camera, lighting, what ever) I can't get it to show up. Hopefully with some paint on it you'll see it more, but then of course it would be totally dry. lol