Need advice on beaver jaw set...

[absmithtaxidermy]

Hey everyone!  I have a 60 lb. beaver that is being mounted on Dan Chase form "beaver 5," which has a wide open mouth.  I ordered a Noonkester jaw set from McKenzie that is sold as "finished" and "large."  However, the paint job looks like crap, and the front teeth are much smaller than the actual teeth. The entire jaw set is a little too small (narrow and short) for the head as well.  I still have the original skull with all the muscle, tongue, eyes still attached. 

Here are some options I am brainstorming...
1.) I thought I might cast a jaw set except I don't know what sort of mold material or casting material would be best for the application... and I have never done any casting. (Plus I don't want to spend a bunch of $$$)

2.) Another idea was to cut the teeth off the skull and sculpt the tongue and inside of the mouth out of Apoxie sculpt, and just use the original beaver teeth. (of course then I wouldn't have a complete skull to clean up for my skull collection).

3.) A third option would be to repaint and use the jaw set that I have, knowing that is doesn't fit properly, but the customer probably won't notice. (or can the jaw set be cut and extended, and the front teeth built up?)  I'm not sure what material the jaw set is made of.

4.) Purchase a larger jaw set and try to return the first one.  IS there a larger beaver jaw set that can be purchased?

Any ideas from the experts???

[George Roof]

Why would you spend money on an unknown when you have a perfectly good set that is the right size? Idea #2 works for me every time.

[Matt]

I did one not too long ago that was around 50lbs. I ordered a big set of cast teeth and sculpted in the tongue and inner mouth. You really don't see much other than those big teeth, even when the  mouth is wide open, those teeth are going to be most of what you see.

[absmithtaxidermy]

Thanks for the response guys (and also Bill@hogheaven in the "Molding and Casting" category where I also posted this)...

Decision made... I'm going with the beaver's actual teeth and returning the jaw set.  That was my first gut feeling George, but the idea of using the jaw set just seemed to make sense at the time.  Matt, you're right, those big teeth cover up a lot, not to mention the stump that will be in front of the mouth as well.

This project has been a learning experience, but I guess that is what its all about.  Now time to get started on a base... the hide is tanned, form is here, almost ready to mount up.

I will try to post some pics when finished, and probably some in process of alterations, etc. (if I can figure out how to "shrink" the file size on the pics).