Rocks

[Alaska Mountin Man]

Hello all

I am trying to build my first rock out of styrofoam.  I have it shaped, now I need to paint it.  Do I need to seal the styrofoam before I paint?  I have made rocks with plaster over burlap, and figured I would try something different.
Thanks for your help

[kittiet]

I find your posts pretty funny, Im sorry but its true, In a past post you said you have been doing taxidermy for 20 years part time and some of the ?'s you ask are so simple and basic questions, I will have to stop in your shop and check you out once you list where its going to be located at.  I was talking to a military friend of mine that told me that you were going to be doing the fairbanks outdoor show, I hope you are not going to take the pieces that you mounted at the school you just attended and pass them of as just your work and the quality of the work you do.

PM me, i would like to stop over to your shop and see your quality work and introduce myself, i have been to every taxidermy shop in Fairbanks and the surrounding areas and got to know them.

Kittie

[Alaska Mountin Man]

I find your posts pretty funny, Im sorry but its true, In a past post you said you have been doing taxidermy for 20 years part time and some of the ?'s you ask are so simple and basic questions, I will have to stop in your shop and check you out once you list where its going to be located at.  I was talking to a military friend of mine that told me that you were going to be doing the fairbanks outdoor show, I hope you are not going to take the pieces that you mounted at the school you just attended and pass them of as just your work and the quality of the work you do.

PM me, i would like to stop over to your shop and see your quality work and introduce myself, i have been to every taxidermy shop in Fairbanks and the surrounding areas and got to know them.

Kittie

I said in a post in the beginners forum, that I have been doing Taxidermy for the last 20 years as a HOBBY.  I am starting a new shop in North Pole Alaska.
I am not a long time pro, But I do quality work for a fair price.  My biggest selling point is to stay small and keep my customers happy with a reasonable turn around time.  So I can be selective of my customers and the work I take in.  And people that do not like to see someone new trying to learn new ways of doing things and try something different can go some where else and good luck to them.  You have such a great repore with the other shops, good for you, I am glad you are a supporter.  Are you a taxidermist, because if you're not I don't really see where you have the room to slam me?  I would love to know why you feel the need to be vindictive, as far as I am concerned your opinion is just that your own.  By the way, I figured it on my own.  And thank for your help and support

[George Roof]

I can tell you how I make rocks, but you're on your own as to the method you choose.  If I'm making rocks like I saw in the Talkeetna , I'd break off chunks of foam off of old, outdated or used manikins.  I'd paint them with a slurry of Plaster of Paris and let it harden.  Then I'd mix up some Rock Mix from McKenzie sort of soupy.  I'd take each "rock" covered in dry plaster and slop rock mix all over them, set them on freezer wrap and let them dry.  Once dry, I take a pump bottles of water and pour water based black paint in one and green paint in another.  Then I mist the "rocks" and let them dry.  Heavy on the black to some degree and light on the green.  It gives the rock a granite appearance with a moss or algae tint.  If I was making anything bigger than a basketball, I'd used chicken wire and burlap dipped in Plaster of Paris and repeat the process on it as well. 

HINT:  If you're making a diorama of large rocks, having a few dozen of the smaller rocks to toss into crevices and cracks between the rocks adds great realism. It also covers barren "ground" spots to keep them from being a focal point.

[Alaska Mountin Man]

GEORGE,

Thank you for your suggestion.  I appreciate the input.


Tracy

[Rich H.]

Tracy, I do the same as george does but instead of McKenzie rock mix, I make my own.

Here is a picture of a Mt. Goat and Base i did, You might have seen the goat, it was donated to the fish and game in Fairbanks.

[B.S.]

kittiet - Wow  I think if I was Tracy I'd invite you over to my shop as soon as the devil started making snowballs ! Why shouldn't he take the mounts he did in school to the show ? They are his mounts . We do a demonstration mount and then the students do their own mounts . I take offense to you insinuating that Tracy didn't do his own mounts . Students do all their own mounts . Bill or Terry or I didn't do his mounts for him . If a student is having trouble with something we help them . But the idea is hands on instruction . They wouldn't learn anything if we did it for them . Tracy did very well on his mounts and should be proud to show them off at any show as HIS work , because they are HIS work !!

[Ravenson]

What type of paint are you wanting to use.  You might want trying a coat of white GESO  before you paint as a "ground"

Jeff

[Alaska Mountin Man]

Thanks guys, much appreciated.  I completed the rock, looks fabulous.  Started a new one today.  I will try and post photos when I can.

(for B.S. thanks for the support, I believe you told me in this business you need a thick skin, and who is your Daddy?  I will pm you later  )

Tracy

[kittiet]

I find your posts pretty funny, I'm sorry but its true, In a past post you said you have been doing taxidermy for 20 years part time and some of the ?'s you ask are so simple and basic questions, I will have to stop in your shop and check you out once you list where its going to be located at.  I was talking to a military friend of mine that told me that you were going to be doing the fairbanks outdoor show, I hope you are not going to take the pieces that you mounted at the school you just attended and pass them of as just your work and the quality of the work you do.

PM me, i would like to stop over to your shop and see your quality work and introduce myself, i have been to every taxidermy shop in Fairbanks and the surrounding areas and got to know them.

Kittie

I said in a post in the beginners forum, that I have been doing Taxidermy for the last 20 years as a HOBBY.  I am starting a new shop in North Pole Alaska.
I am not a long time pro, But I do quality work for a fair price.  My biggest selling point is to stay small and keep my customers happy with a reasonable turn around time.  So I can be selective of my customers and the work I take in.  And people that do not like to see someone new trying to learn new ways of doing things and try something different can go some where else and good luck to them.  You have such a great repore with the other shops, good for you, I am glad you are a supporter.  Are you a taxidermist, because if you're not I don't really see where you have the room to slam me?  I would love to know why you feel the need to be vindictive, as far as I am concerned your opinion is just that your own.  By the way, I figured it on my own.  And thank for your help and support

I'm so sorry, it must have been the way i worded it. never meant to be rude, please accept my apologies

[Alaska Mountin Man]

ROTFLMAO.............