I started a mount and I ordered to big of a form. Is there any way I can make this any smaller so it will fit my hide? Do I need to reorder a new form? This is mt first mount. What do you do if you can't find a form for an extra large beaver (68 pounds)?
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and altering a form can be easy or hard. The best thing to do is take good measurments twice. You can rasp the form down if your hide is close to fitting. You can also cut it in half, cut a portion out and bondo it back together. If the head fits just cut it off first and bondo when your done altering your form. If your not sure on where to cut the form more info is needed. Is the girth to big or length? or both? It's time consuming to do, especially for your first mount. Also, beavers can be a pain. If you can, I would practice on a few racoons first, then tackle that beaver. I know you didnt ask about the tail and teeth, but I would use reproductions for both. Good luck to you.
Dennis, I'm not clear on what you are mounting. Sounds like you have too much form for 1 critter and have too much beaver for any form you can locate. Generally I would advise your ordering a smaller form for the currant project if you have not altered a form before unless the adjustment is small. I might advise differently if I knew what you are mounting. Also to learn how to alter forms requires you to do it. Often it's not worth the time and can be quite involved if much altering is required. Simplest scenario would be filing or shaving down a belly a bit to close the incision but altering one part of a form can throw off the proportions of the whole critter. Many lifesize animals will require some adjustments so if you have the actual body saved to go by, alterations are easier to figure out. When ordering a form the length is usually the most important dimension. It would be helpful to know what area does not fit and what you are mounting. Did you cut slots under the legs for the skin to lie in? Remember that the moulding process leaves some foam where there should be none and you have to remove it to get a proper fit. Give a little more information on what you are doing and you can get better advise on how to procede. Finally, check the archives if you haven't already- bound to be lots there. -Good luck, Aaron H.