Bondo a turkey tail (which bondo)

When using bondo, how do you slow down the hardening time. I used it on just a tail mount and it started setting up in 4 mins. I would like to use it for the turkey in full strut, but I dont know if I can get everything just right in that amount of time.

The Breakthrough manual says it takes 15 mins, is this a different type of bondo? Do I change the mixture from the hardener?

Any comments would be appreiciated.

Thanks,
Rob

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Use Less Hardener

Less Hardener = Longer Working Time

Use about 1/3 of the amount of hardener that you used for the 4-minute batch.

alternative process

do you skin, perep and then refreeeze to mount later? If so, here is what I do. Moutnt the tail ahead of time and let dry with preservitive. Just like a fan mount. Then when you mount, wipe it clean, cut your form, bondo both pieces toghether. Fan will be just like u want it with one less thing to mess with on "mounting day."

Thanks

Thanks,

One thing If I remove the tail, and just put in palce after I mount the skin on the form, should I do anything to connect the tail to the rest of the skin? or does it just sit there with no connection?

thanks,
Rob

Turkey tail

For a strutting turkey I like to leave half of the fluffy under coverts attached to the tail. I bondo it with the wires protruding and then when the bondo is still green I peel that section of skin loose so the coverts can hang down. There is a little seam about 2 or 3 inches long to join the coverts together, but the rest is OK without sewing. The tail and covert assembly can be done in advance. A little water along the edge will soften it enough for stitching.

Nancy M.

turkey tail bond(o)ing

when you get a turkey cut the tail feather group off with scissors just at the base of the "pope's nose" clean out all of the fat and meat so the quills are clean,roll this around in some borax. I made a tail board that I dry and set the tails temporarily whil I bondo then set aside to dry til mounting. I got a piece of Luaun(1/4 " plywood) 30 x 30 inches and attached a foam "cradle" where the tail meat will be reproduced with bondo. Then I attached some cork tiles where the fan will be arranged . Lay the cleaned tail on the board and fan it out to about a 170 degree angle at the bottom of the fan. remember to lay the feathers correctly .Place some slightly detacked masking tape(rub it on your jeans a little)on the feathers when you get them where you need them. lift up the flap of skin where the tail meat was and mush some catylized bondo in the flap making sure the quill butts get covered .place a wire bent like a horse shoe in the bondo so that about 2-3 inches of wire ends stick out.You'll insert this wire into the mannikin when you mount.Put the flap down over this and place a piece of plastic wrap over this and hold til the bondo kicks.You may have to add more to the back to round it out a bit. Keep the tape on for a day or 2 til the feathers stay. Thats about it. Just make sure the grease ducts get removed . Good luck and have fun

tail piece

Van Dykes sells a tail piece that you can set the tail in and then attach the whole assembly. If you are going to mount turks- I HIGHLY reccommend Van Dykes videoes by "wicker Bill." They will set you straight on a ton of issues. I used that series and my first bird was pretty good. My second was even better flying. The rest have been a breeze due to these videoes. I callthem turkey college 101.