WING"TIPS" # 25 Sidepocket/Belly anatomy

[wingman]

HELLO!!, Wow it's been a while since I posted a Wingtips  . I hope it is #25 as I did not go back to see what the last one was. This wingtip is not really any big secret but I have found that this method helps me achieve the proper anatomy, and its quick and easy! The sidepocket and belly are two areas where I put a small amount of ''filler'' To do so once the birds position is in place I then take my scalpel and make a slit from the armpit to the front of the birds flank, this opens up the entire bird for caulking and filler in the areas which need it, I almost always fill the sidepocket out some to achieve the desired look . Once the proper anatomy has been achieved all I do is put a few small t-pins in place to hold the skin in place. The nice thing about this method is it allows you to get the right ''fullness'' or desired ''loft'' in most any part of the bird, I DO have a 12 inch set of tweezers which allows me to put the filler exactly where I desire it to be.The pics show the initial opening under the wing along with a couple shots of the pinned sidepocket and one of the mounted bird. Give it a try and GOOD LUCK!!   

[wingman]

And the mounted bird

[jeremy]

Thanks Eugene for the tip, I guess I never thought to make a hole after I sew them all up, so I usually put it in through the belly opening.. By the way tommorrow im gonna try you meathod Matt told me about using the whole leg structure {femur also} instead of just the humerus bone on a Gw teal.

[wingman]

Jeremy go back to wingtips #14 hip attachment, it will show the method. Good Luck!

[crankin]

thanks for the tip, you have been away too long!

[Rick RR GBirds]

Happy New Year Eugene.  I too am always making holes after I have everything sewed up.  Especially in the neck area's.  Thanks for the tip!

[KMA]

Eugene,  Great tip....another example of "thinking outside the box" for great results.  The Merganzer swallowing a fish is awesome!  Thanks for the Tip

[2wbdft]

i'll have to try that, Thanks!

[SteveP]

Once again, these "Wing Tips" are as good as anything in any manual. I love the Merganser! Eugene, did you actually find reference photos for that pose?

[igor]

Sometimes I need to ad more caulk to some areas. A big needle, what veterinarians use to implant microchip, is large enough to push caulk through it.  It is handy tool: fast, no incision, no leakage. You can always ask local vet to save those needles for you.

[lee, tees valley]

 i do the same as igor. you  can also get  brake bleed syringes for car's and motor bike's which have a long flexible nozzle attachment  which is around 9 inches long .this can be fed down the bird's throat  under the skin to deliver the caulk were you want it. go on to ebay type in syringe and you'l find load's of em. the large bore needles igor mention's are also on there  they are used to inject flavoured oil's into deadbait's for pike fishing..

[KMA]

Sometimes I need to ad more caulk to some areas. A big needle, what veterinarians use to implant microchip, is large enough to push caulk through it.  It is handy tool: fast, no incision, no leakage. You can always ask local vet to save those needles for you.

Ok, so here's the Discussion Point:

When I use BATTING for the sidepockets...and that's the area we are speaking about here... I have total control over it. Most importantly I can remove or add as I am building the side pockets for the look that I am going for, this would be especially true for a swimming pose. 

When I use CAULK in this particular area I have no control over it and most imporant it will run down the form (even when sanded) and tends to "sag" giving an unnatural appearace.

Any views on this?

p.s. I love the long tubing idea to inject caulk, but I only use it on Turkeys as they are larger and it can be harder to get into certain areas.

[lee, tees valley]

 i take it the form's you are using are foam [smooth].. i make mine from woodwool [which is another story  ] which is a more porus surface for the caulk to grip to.and it wont sag  . on a foam form you could rough the surface up a bit so the caulk has sometning to grip..

[mvernelson]

Great looking bird! Is the minnow freezedried? Nice work as usual.

[wingman]

Thanks!, The minnow is freeze dried and was provided by the wholesale client, I don't have an actual reference photo of that pose so I ''winged'' it Ha Ha