Those who have mounted a King Eider

[King Eider]

For those who have had the honor of mounting King Eiders I have a question or two.

I have been practicing taxidermy for 15+ years and consider myself to be proficient with the art, I primarily work on waterfowl and from time to time get to work on new species. I have entered a few competitions and have had very helpful constructive criticism and have put it to good use. I have done quite a few common eiders but have now been presented with the opportunity to do some Kings. I feel like a virgin and am nervous, guiddy... Don't want to screw them up cause I can't replace them and want them to be my best work so far out of respect for the birds. I already have them skinned fleshed, washed and refroze in a block of ice before I get habitat bases etc... ready for them.

So for those of you who have worked on them is there anything special you have experienced with the species?

[Nancy C]

Use your reference and pay extra-close attention to taxiing the head and neck skin. 
Other than that, they are just big, thick-skinned sea ducks - much like other eiders or scoters.

[King Eider]

Nancy, I was hoping you'd chime in and that is what I was thinking would be the tough part. Any keys to holding it in place? Little calk?

[ryan rhodes]

I've only been doing taxidermy since 2003.  I shot a hen king in 06' that's still frozen already skinned.  I had a friend give me a drake king he shot last year on st. paul  I already skinned it and cast the head.  I'm gonna mount them together in the next couple months.  I've never done a king but have done plenty of eiders and feel like if you use reference and understand birds, you shouldn't have too much of a problem.  I always caulk my heads, I find it really helps get them to look better and slows drying time of head skin and eliminates some of the grooming process, but not all.  Post some pics when done, I'd love to see them....  good luck.

[King Eider]

Forgot to ask about who all offers artificial King Eider heads. I know I know, I should cast my own. But...

[2wbdft]

CAST the original! The heads as a whole, differ GREATLY from Drake to Drake. If not, you run the risk of that little flap of skin between the lobes not fitting quite right.

while painting the bill, pay close attention to your color layering for an accurate representation. Hint: cast it in a material that when set is white. your antiquing will stand out much better and you will eliminate an additional layer of paint while you re at it.

[lov2bhntn]

Cast your own head....I ordered a few heads and although they were great heads, none seemed to fit that bird's skin just right, especially around the lobe area.   You can make them work but if I was only doing a few, I would cast my own head assuming you can cast it right.   

[byrdman]

antiquing?

[Nancy C]

It's a painting technique that helps to eliminate the "flat" look that can sometimes be a problem when working with opaque or semi-opaque colors.

[byrdman]

thought we try to make mounts look live not "old"...lol

[Nancy C]

Haha -- true. 

[Yogi]

 King Eider, Are those Joe and Corey's Eiders?

[duckmounter]

I have had the good fortune to have killed about 25 to 30 kings in my life. I have competed with so many over the years and I have learned alot about the species. First off use alot of good referance and definently cast your own head off of the real head.It makes a differance. A eider is not a real easy bird to mount and make look right. practice and you will see.

[King Eider]

King Eider, Are those Joe and Corey's Eiders?

Maybe

[duckmounter]

This is my last one I mounted about 8 months ago. This King was the smallest I have ever seen and had the biggest lobe I have ever seen as well. I had to cast it of course.Good luck.Bruce