i noticed in the newest issue of Taxidermy Today on mounting bass that the picture showed that when stapling the fish skin to the form there was a gap between the two pieces of skin, is that the normal way to do it and is it because its hidden or what, thanks for your help
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It's perfectly acceptable to have a small gap on the back side of a commercial one-sided mount. As long as it's not too drastic and it can be covered nicely. That, and (obviously) all your anatomy on the front side and centerline of the fish still needs to be accurate. But don't spend a lot of time making that gap go away on a one sided mount, nobody's going to see it...
ok, i was wondering why it look like such a large gap, thanks for you help
But how large the gap is - is up to the individual taxidermist.
It's more or less personal preference. Some folks may argue that the seam coming perfectly together on a one sided mount is a sign of quality work.
Since the gap will be cleanly covered with something and will not be seen anyways, I say your time can be better spent elsewhere - where it actually matters...
It's quality and the fish is done properly. Sorry folks I carve my fish bodies and the one thing I hate is to see a any kind of open seam in the back. How is a person ever going to really know how a fish is suppose to look like. Jee I didn't relize this fish was so fat that it was busting out of it's seam. Is this taxidermy or just some guy who over ate and put on a pair of pants that were to small for him LOL.
Doing work to me this way is an insult on the taxidermy industry. Where saying that were not hackysdermists, well, this is one of the first steps on getting there. Or jee he won't see the seam it's on the back side. Who cares what it looks like. I'll just throw some felt on it and it'll be fine. Come on you want more money for your mount then take more pride in it and make sure you have a nice tight seam. Can't get a form to fit, learn on how to carve them. It's easier and you can get a faster turn around by doing it yourself.
There are some bodies out there that do fit well, like your pike, musky, and some wallies, but all I see out there are these bodies that really don't fit the fish the right way. Get it in and get it out ASAP. Then you wonder why most folks charge $6.00 to $8.00 an inch.
Sorry but all my seams are tight and either sewn or glued together. Yes I know I do compititon stuff but doing it this way day in and day out it will become second nature and you'll see how much faster you get.
Oh one other thing what do folks cover there seams on those deer heads that have a one to a two inch open seam in the back of their deer heads. Hmmmm nobody will see that either right? Or should we start covering that with some fake fur or just a strip of felt. This way the client will have a much bigger neck on his little spiker. Also next time maybe will tell them the spike you shot, I can make it into a record book buck. All I have to do is grap some epoxy and here you go.
Sorry folks I'm really venting. It's this, that really hurts us when we don't care what the back side of any mount should look like.
I know a few people that brag about how their back seam is invisible, but the fish belongs in the trash can in my opinion due to a lousy paint job.(not you of course)
I'm with Marty on this although I don't care for the felt.
BTW, are you the guy that is telling all my customers to look at the back side? That explains why they all look at the back of the fish. Quit it will ya! LOL
I think the point Frank is trying to illustrate concerns the whole "if you can't see it its not important" attitude that a lot of taxidermists have. His point about the deer seam clearly explains that. And you've got to admit he DOES have a point. However, a "one-sided" fish is just that --one-sided and that's the way a lot of taxidermists do them. Personally I prefer a nice closed seam and good finish work because I have a lot of the same customers as Cecil--the first thing they do is look at the back of the fish.
However, in response to the requests from "one-sided taxidermists" the Pennsylvania Taxidermy Assoc. has added a One Sided Fish Category to their competitions.
While I'm not knocking taxidermists that only finish one side of a fish I have to say that I catch a LOT of trout and salmon on my charter boat every summer and I have yet to see one of them elusive "one sided kings". But, ya never know. Shot a gadwall one time with only one leg---poor feller swam in circles!
Good post Frank but, next time, only one cup of coffee--k?