I have mounted two gray squirrels so far. They have turned good. The only thing that I do not like is how the nose looks when dried and the pads of the feet tend to look almost transparent after they dry. What do you do to make these look realistic again? Do you rebuild them and then paint or is there something else. I videos and books but none of them say what to do about them. Can someone help guide me in the right direction? Thanks
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Use mod-podge high gloss on there nose area.
Rich
http://www.rgswildlifetaxidermy.com
Open the nose up until only the cartilage of the septum is left OR even shave all the interior nose off the hide. Cut the nose off the form and use Critter Clay. Set you hide up there and then form the clay underneath through the hide. There should be NO shrinkage.
On squirrels, I usually cut off the top and bottom jaws leaving the teeth intact. I flesh around them and then hollow both jaws on the form out with a Dremel. Then I clay and set them both into the form so that the teeth overlap properly.
As for the foot pads, they need claying as well and should be painted after they dry.
I tried the mod-podge thing and it still did not look real. It just made it a wet look.
As for the cartilage I have tried to make sure that all that is left is the outer portion of the nose and as very little cartilage as possible on the inside. There really is not any shrinkage to the nose ,it is just that outer portion of the nose that changes color on me and does not look as soft or natural color as it use too, which I would assume would be the case in any animal that is no longer a live it is going to change some. But I will try cutting the nose off the form and trying that to see how that works also.
I skin the feet all the way to the toe nails, which takes some patients on my part, and then when I get ready to mount I clay the foot and mash the clay into the toes and the pads to try and get the raised effect on the high spots of the pad. So I guess I am doing that part ok, I just have to paint them back as close to there original colors.
Thanks for the tips, it is very appreciative.