I'm wondering what are the pros and cons of molding and casting ones own forms (mammals and birds), other than the obvious fact that it is more work. I would think that this extra work would result in a form offering a perfect fit for the skin, therefore resulting in a more natural looking mount. Am I correct? Thank you.
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I have learned from some very good taxidermist over the years that a loose fitting bird form works best. If its too tight you cant adjust the skin.
As for mammals if you are only goin gto do one size head left then thats fine too. But I also have learned once again that the skin should be a little loose for best fit. Since mammals come in so many different sizes and some may need to be posed a little different, it is far cheaper to order something close than to do tones af alterations.
Time to mold, cost of mold, cost of foam and time to cast the form, will far out number in hours that to get one thats close alter it and mount.
but then why would anyone bother molding and casting at all? Other than for the simple pleasure and challenge of it. Thanks John.
Im a mold maker by trade with years of experince making various molds especially with RTV and fibrelgass, sand, ceramic shell, and more recently alginate - and John is right - its a hell of a lot of work and expense. If you simply cant find a mannikin for your piece - a carcass cast is the way to go if you have the time and money. If you are doing a very unique position like say a fox on its back squirming in the dust to get rid of an itch? Molding and casting your own form is a lot easier than modifying an existing form. If you are planning on doing lots of a similar piece - eg - you do 50 grouse a year? having your own mold is a definate asset. There certainly are many uses for it - but if its just to keep yourself from having to order a head from a catalogue? Not worth it.
You ask why bother to make a mold and casting. another reason besides the ones mentioned already is for competition pieces. Competitions are all about doing something that noone has seen before. It is getting very hard to find something noone has already seen. You can go to a competition and find all kinds of mounts that are on commercial forms. You can tell by the pose who designed the form.
Todd B
I have just about finished a form alteration article that Mark will be
putting on Taxidermy Reference.com with in the next few days. The
article should provide you and others with food for thought. You should
be able to take some of the information that I will be providing and
adapt it to fit your individual style and needs. It is definitely faster
and cheaper to take a form that is close and do your alterations-even
extensive alterations.
Later,
Glen