WING"TIPS # 19 ''Cheeks"

[wingman]

HELLO!! It's been a while, to many distractions on top of a "BUM WHEEL" Foot which is making everyday activities difficult! Anyway I have several wingtips photographed and ready to post NOW I just need to find some time to log onto this site! There does seem to be some ''normalcy'' returning in my life so ANYWAY here goes. I know there are many methods to achieve nice realistic full cheeks/jowls on birds ie, caulk etc, but here is a method I use on most birds. its rather straightforward but I will explain. I pin or superglue the ear in place depending on whether or not I used the real skull or a cast head, If using a cast head I glue the skin down THEN all thats involved is manipulating the cotton batting in place with a tweezers and an adjusting pin to help hold the eye opening open, I generally fill the cheek to the desired look, USE REFERENCE! and I pack the cotton rather firmly but not as to overfill just to prevent the skin from shrinking down and distorting, Once again pics show and explain better than I can, Anyway I know this method is maybe used by some already as it is an ''old school'' method BUT if done properly it does produce good fast results, Give it a try! GOOD LUCK!!

[wingman]

AND here are a few of a mallard 

[beagle77]

Thanks! Very helpful!!!

[full fan]

Thanks Wingman good to see you back.

[rocky don]

wingman your the greatest!

[blacktail]

Glad to see you back. I am glad to see another tip. I am new at this and your tips have helped allot. I did a my cheeks basically the same but,I inserted the cotton through the opening by the bill. I did it before gluing the hide to the bill. My question is is that right or is there a benefit of filling through the eye opening?

Thanks for all the tips rinse bucket tip works great..Jeff

[Gobblingfever]

can you use cotton balls or does it have to be cotton used to wrap legs and wings?

[Tim McLagan]

cotton balls will work, however I just use toilet paper, always have that around Ü

[Gobblingfever]

That works too. Cool. The cheaper the more you can profit as long as it lasts and looks good.

[SteveP]

Thanks wingman. The shakes have somewhat subsided now. The reason I went to caulk was that I never can get the cotton even on both sides. I can see where locking down the ear first would help with this. How about the crest feathers? Do you still caulk that area or just keep grooming till dry? I'll try the batting again. That will be the end of caulk in the eyes (birds). Woohoo!

[igor]

It is always nice to know how others do. I  used this method long-long time ago, before I moved to the US, and discovered a caulk gun  . How , if I use an artificial skull , I make sure that that area is nicely full, if real - I filled it with Bondo, and then caulk... But , you know, you reminded me my old way. I want to try it again. THANKS for that 

[Eric R]

how do you secure the skin around the eye so that it stays put as it dries

[hambone]

Wingman welcome back, It looks like the beak on that rooster is painted do you remove a pheasants head and paint? In your other post it appeared you left them attached.

[wingman]

Mantis, if you'll look at the pics the rooster has two small t-pins and the mallard two insect pins holding the corners of the eyes in place, just be sure to ''scissors'' all the membrane off the skin side around the eye before mounting. Hambone, I wish I could paint pheasant beaks that well! Thats the real mcoy in the photo as I usr real skulls on everything but waterfowl. Gobblingfever, I use cotton batting but cotton balls will work, I prefer the batting as it packs/condenses better than refined cotton.

[Eric R]

thank you