Submitted by MICHAEL on 6/2/99. ( )
just starting out and doing my first deer head,can any body explain hair patterns? Are all Mannikins created equal, i had my cape commericaly tanned and it seems tight at the base of the mannikin, i am using a classic form. i know i measured correct, checked several times, before salting and after tanning and then i ordered the form but i am having trouble at the base of the form, ends will not meet.
thanks in advance.
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This response submitted by Pacemakr on 6/2/99. ( jfwagner@hereintown.net )
Kind'a guessing what your problem might be... Sounds like normal shrinkage. The first thing I do is align the brisket and stick a probe (ice pick) in the middle bottom of neck. That'll keep it straight. Next make sure the white reversed hairs are inside the grooves completely to the edge. The rest needs to be forced up to the seam. If you stretch the hide by hand (it's tough to do, but won't tear), use a hide puller of some kind (making sure not to tug on the fur side) and sew a little, tug a little, etc until it's closed. It looks impossible, but you'll be suprised how much it'll stretch.
This response submitted by mike on 6/2/99. ( the_taxidermist@yahoo.com )
Michael-
what you have is a common problem for beginners, it is the
tendency to pull every thing to the rear as you sew up your
seam, try pushing the skin forward up the back of the neck
as you sew.
when you pull it all down you end up trying to stretch neck
skin around the brisket and shoulders, that just won't work.
If you are using an upright form, there should be some small
wrinkles or folds at the junction of the neck and shoulders-
check your reference.If you do not have that particular
reference available, improvise; any 4 legged mammal with its
head in the upright position will give you the basic idea, pet
a dog or cat and feel the folds; they're not always visible!
As to forms, well, they are not all created equal- time and
experience will tell you that! If you are interested in the
differences go to some competitions; ask the fellows who do
well which forms they use and why; a little time invested in
this way can save you a lot of headaches.
Hair patterns are the way the hair lays on the mount, for this
you need lots of reference photos, even looking at live animals
if they are available to you. Use your reference carefully and
break your mount down into small sections, looking at each area
separately, you will notice detail more readily that way.
You will learn that sometimes your forms will need some work
before laying on the skin in order to make the hair lay right.
It comes down to reference, reference, reference, and hands on practice.
good luck-
mike
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