i have a button buck that i caped out without a seam,which was very challenging for a newbie.my question is how do i go about mounting it?it seams to me that the eye set would have to be done after the cape is on the form,but what about the earbutts?i have searched in the archives and found some info but am still unsure of how to proceed.
do i kneed to cut the head off of the form and do the eyes and ears and then put it back together and finish.if so could someone PLEASE tell me how to make the cut ... where and what kind.
any information will be appreciated! i would love to here from anyone that has done a mount like this. thanks in advance for all replies.
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Kevin, make your buttons out of Apoxie-Sculpt, building them around finishing nails that have been stuck into the foam identical to the original bone buttons. You will cut these out like a watermelon plug when you get ready to mount them. Glue back in place with hide paste.
I like to use Apoxie-Sculpt for eye work. Here's the trick for that.
Use MODELING clay to set your eyes with first. After you have done that, cut the top eye lid section off and roll it into a ball. Next do the lower eye lid, roll it into a ball.
These two ball will be what you use to make a total of four balls of identical size to your upper and lower eye lids.
Apoxie-Sculpt your eye lids into shape, THEN carve off enough off the bottom lid to allow room for lid tucking. Roll that piece into a ball and save it. Repeat with the upper lid. Once you have the cape on, mix up same size balls for finishing out the filling of the eye lids and tucking.
Hint: Use only half as much hardner when you get ready to tuck, that will extend your work time.
Here's some photos that might help.
http://www.hidetanning.net/DoeButtonBuckAlteration.html
Let me find another web address for ear setting...don't go away.
If you are doing forward ears you might be able to get away with a ring of clay aound the butts, but darn, expect to lose it when you pull the cape over. Using the technique below will help, but you have to be SURE everything you are doing is lined up on the money. You'll be doing some real juggling with earliners in place and two buttons to line up. You will want to have the foam attached to your ear butts as low as possible so you will have clearance when you pull the cape over.
http://www.whitetailsystems.com/EarButtAttachment.html
I have done eyes on already mounted deer. when you get the cape on, just fill and set the eyes like normal. You will need to manipulate the sculpting clay around the eye a bit with a tool. as for ears, stuff them with clay. I would use bondo for them since you are having no seam, that way there will be no drumming. Pack the ear butts with potters clay, it should stay in place with no problems.