Since the taxidermy supply companies don't have a 50 inch gaboon viper form I will make a carcass cast of this one. Once skinned I take the entrails out and rinse the body cavity.
Stuff the body cavity with newspaper to help the carcass hold it's shape. Then position it the way I want it. You could freeze the carcass in the position if you wanted to.
I then add clay to the carcass to help in getting the shape back and to make up for the fat and tissue that is still on the skin and not on the carcass. Now I could have spent more time on the clay work to get a good smooth shape but I would rather sand the mannikin later for smoothness.
Once the carcass is clayed I then add my first coat of plaster of paris. Once that sets I add another coat with burlap strips for support, once dried I add another coat filling in the curves of the mold for support.
The bag of plaster was only $20 and I used a little over half. The clay was cheap clay for the huge bag that I bought years ago. I may not reuse this clay from the carcass.
To be continued....................
Kerby...
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