Balance problem on half lifesize deer

[kyddm]

Just mounted my first half lifesize deer today. After bolting feet to a temporary base, the mount is very front heavy. This is not a real big deer. The mount will set on the floor without the base tipping over but the mount leans forward on the base. What would be the best way to fix this? Does the back of the mount need to be fastened to a wall also?
What about bending the all thread rods to distribute the weight differently?

Thanks for any help!
Dave

[Jerry Huffaker]

 Install the hanger on the back of the deer not the base

[kyddm]

This is a standing upright pose. I should have mentioned that earlier. I had planned to have it setting on a base that sets on the floor.

[John Bellucci]

"You can't always get what you want ..."  Change your plans!

[Wildlife 1]

You can add some counter weight to the back of the form . So help balance it so its not front heavy.

[Bill Motzer]

 Make sure you have a nut and washer on the top of the base as well as the bottom. If your base is thin you may have to make up some plate washers to distribute the weight. Make sure the hoof is not supporting the weight, just the all thread bolts and washers. Once the hoofs are dry do some habitiat so the hoof looks like it is standing and not floating.

[Matt]

Good advice Bill gave you there, and if you want to put him on a base, you need to build it so  that your weight is distributed towards the back of the base. Sounds like the front of your base is going to have to be longer than you planned. That, or add weight to the bottom of the back of your base. I wouldn't try and bend the support rods to counter balance, that isn't going to work for very long. Someone will end up tipping it over on you.

[kyddm]

You guys have given me some good options, and I really appreciate that. I just have it on a temp base right now to dry.

I am now thinking about hanging it on the wall and have a base connected to the wall that the feet will connect to. In other words it would be like standing on a shelf on the wall with the base acting as the shelf but mainly supported by a hanger on the mount.

Not sure how I am going to do it just yet, but you guys have give me some options.

Thanks!
Dave

[gottahunt]

kyddm,

I did a 1/2 lifesize deer that is turning away from a lifesize coyote attacking the neck of the deer (very hard turn and very front heavy) alot of good advice was given I to wanted to mount it to the wall because it seemed like it was going to fall over. Like it was said keep the hooves of the ground and build up your habitat. you can bend your rods just not on a drastic angle, put a 1/4 x 2 x 2 washer on the top and bottom of your base, tighten and bend each rod separately without breaking the legs on the form. the deer I did stands on only one hoove and was transported to our state show which is a bumpy 60 mile drive and is still standing fine even after every body shakes it and all !

[Carl Settle]

post some pics if you can, would like to see

[George Roof]

I don't know why you're hung up on that base. Hang the deer from the top back of the DEER manikin.  if you want the base to set on the floor, just measure from the bottom of the base to the notch on your hanger, put a bolt in wall about 1/8 inch higher and HANG THE DEER.  The base will "set on the floor"but the mount will be supported by the hanger.

The only half lifesize that causes real issues is that silly assed 3/4 mount of a leaping buck going down the wall. That jewel takes two hangers (one inverted) to keep it from spinning around the wall.

[kyddm]

George,
This is my first half lifesize. I guess when I got the form and seen about 12" of all thread sticking out of each leg that I could mount this on a base and would be able to move it around easier if needed. I suppose that if it is easier to move around, it would be easier to knock over also. I do not even have a base for this yet, so I can still do anything I want with it.

What I like about this site is that I can ask for options, and you guys usually have several to choose from. I just have to choose the best one for what I want to do.

I'll post pics when I get it done.

Thanks!
Dave

[George Roof]

This is a half lifesize I did last week.  It too had 10 inches of threadstock hanging out of the legs. I built a 3 inch thick "box" for a small diorama.  The support "floor" was of half inch plywood.  Once I had the "dirt" in, I bolted the legs down and cut off the excess threadstock.  Then I had inset the sides that allowed me to cover the bottom of the box with luan to finish it up.  The diorama hangs on the leg threadsocks and it CAN support the mount on the floor.  Still, the top center of the manikin back has a hanger that it's intended to be suspended or supported from.  If the client wants it setting on the floor, he uses the hanger to keep it flush up against the wall.  If he decides to hang it in his cathedral ceiling (which he did), he simply hangs it from the hanger and the diorama box nestles up against the wall  with it's finished bottom covering the threadstock , nuts and washers.

[kyddm]

George,
That is the way I decided to do it. I am going to hang mine on the wall. This is not a big deer and will be better hanging on the wall due to its size.

Good looking mount George. Hopefully mine will turn out as good as yours.

Thanks.
Dave

[JerseyJays]

here are 2 i did for a customer.... one he wanted hanging on the wall (1st one) other he wanted freestanding in the middle of a room (2nd one)

once i mounted the 2nd one (free standing), i built a base, and under the feet cut wedges out of a 2x4 to shim the angle needed to level out the form.. so instead of drilling a hole through the plywood straight down and having the deer lean foward say 3 degrees... i cut a shim at 3 degrees and drilled the hole perpendicular to that which in turn leveled out the form to where i needed it.

i put wheels under it, and i can actually grab the rack and pull the whole mount around and its as strong as it can possibly be...