replica ? holy big head so now how do i

[Tracy]

got a big cat and the head needs to be put on some how the head feels like it is 10 lbs
so for the ones that do replicas all the time how do you secure them on
don,t want to drill in to it if i can help it
thanks

[FishArt]

got a big cat and the head needs to be put on some how the head feels like it is 10 lbs
so for the ones that do replicas all the time how do you secure them on
don,t want to drill in to it if i can help it
thanks

Not sure what you're doing? Did you already mold the body and you're looking to attach the head to the rest of the replica? Or, did you do a traditional skin mount with the body and are now trying to attach an artificial head to it? Either way? 10 pounds for the head? What, is it cast in LEAD???

[Kerby Ross]

On all my repro heads I drill and attach a bolt(s) and then drill on the other end and attach with either bondo/fiberglass resin, 2 part 5-minute epoxy etc...

On something that heavy I would secure it with a couple of rods, of course three in a triangle is always the best.



Kerby...

[Tracy]

it is 7 lbs  just the head just put it on the scales it is a real big flathead cat 46in 57lbs that is the way it came
never done any thing this big and want to do all the detail work on the inside first called
 lakecountry and they tell me 2 part epoxy is how they do them
just don't want it to come lose after all is done

got a big cat and the head needs to be put on some how the head feels like it is 10 lbs
so for the ones that do replicas all the time how do you secure them on
don,t want to drill in to it if i can help it
thanks

Not sure what you're doing? Did you already mold the body and you're looking to attach the head to the rest of the replica? Or, did you do a traditional skin mount with the body and are now trying to attach an artificial head to it? Either way? 10 pounds for the head? What, is it cast in LEAD???

[CrabCrazy]

if it was a solid cast , it would weigh 10.lbs...but i just can't see a cast head weighing that much....isn't a cast part about 1/8" thick

[Clew]

Kerby has the way
But at this weight, is it solid plaster?

[Tracy]

no it is not plaster  fiber glass yes
will take some pictures and post later
11 1/2 wide at gills 13 long and 8 thick it is not hollow other than the inside detail
the mouth is open but not enough for me to fit my hand in

[Clew]

Can't wait to see the photos

[Tracy]

lets see if they load
just to give you a idea of size the wood base in the back ground has a lifesize bear on it

[GBRUCH]

I would position the head onto the body where I want it and pre drill 2 holes through the head  and into the shelf it sits on that would allow me to "pin" it using wires.   I than would remove the head and mix me up some bondo or apoxie and place it on the shelf and slide the head in position insert pins being sure they recess slightly in the head.  bland with apoxie sculpt and or magic smooth and it is good to go. 

[den007]

Position it with wire...make initial attachment with Tech bond or hot melt......tape any gill openings.....pour in some urethane.....hog out mouth area and sculpt in mouth interior. That sucker will fall off if you think bondo is glue.

[GBRUCH]

Den - never had one of my heads fall off after attaching it with bondo.   

[Tracy]

got it on there drilled as many holes as i could used fiber glass jelly pinned let sit seems ok

[FishArt]

Den - never had one of my heads fall off after attaching it with bondo.  

I agree. First, it's sitting up on that "shelf" of the body and pinned in. On a fish this size I'd use several pins and I might even try to pin it at the throat latch if there's enough material. With the bondo at any touchpoints combined with probable usage of Apoxie Sculpt to blend.... That head ain't going anywhere. Same way I do artifical heads on my skin mounts. Although if the heads heavy (on a skin mount), I might run a length of dowel into the foam first for added structural support...