I am having a shoulder mount done of an exotic mammal and I have built a very nive pedestal to place him on. Question: I want to have the mount at lest 18-24 inches above the flat base and wan to have a scenary on the base. What is the best way to build a fake rock around the pedestal pole to place him on. I have heard of chicken wire with foam, plaster paris,. Any hits?
thanks Rick
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Build your wood frame staple on the wire, mix Armstrongs floor leveling compound with cellulose paper insulation, mix it dry you want to see the F/L/C and then add plaster, now mix your water till is like clay, mash into the wire cage, model with a sponge, now once dry paint with black tempra paint, let dry and wash and scrub off the paint use lots of water the paint stays in the cracks and look like rock.
They all will work. If you rock is small you might want to use hardware cloth mesh instead of chicken wire. Form it and mix up a soupy mix of plaster of paris and take some strips of burlap and dip them in it and place on your rock mold. Research Mannikins sells a great rock mix in various textures. Cover your burlap with their mix and you will have a trully realistic looking rock. then just paint to desired colors. Try some on a seperate project first so you don't ruin your pedistal. Also for the foam rocks go to McKenzie Supply web site, they have a posting on carving foam rocks.
Mike