Making bird body forms

Submitted by Rich on 1/28/02. ( ) 24.237.147.20

Does anybody have any info on how to make your own bird body forms and getting the foam right so that it is'nt too hard or not too soft.

Thanks
Rich

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Books

This response submitted by Frank E. Kotula on 1/28/02. ( basswtrout@aol.com ) 172.186.202.15

Each company offers this. You can get a book on birds, Breakthrough has them and it will show you the proper steps on how to carve your own bodies.

As for foam you can also get this from the catologs that state good for making bird or mammal bodies. It's a higher density foam. Or if you want you can wrap them also.


If you are molding your own...

This response submitted by Nancy M. on 1/28/02. ( ) 209.181.140.75

It's trial and error. Otherwise, what Frank said.


Casting

This response submitted by Duckman on 2/9/02. ( theduckman@ev1.net ) 208.187.66.33

Start with a frozen bird body. freeze it without any of the surfaces flattening out. I insert wires into the body to hold it up while freezing. When I'm readu to cast it, I make the first mold out of quick setting plaster. I cast several bodies from this first cast. Next, I sand and carve these into what will become my original mold body. Saw it in half length ways down the middle. Place each half on a rectangle of plexiglass. I use double sided tape to hold it down. Go to the auto parts store and buy fiberglass resign and cloth. Buy the cloth that is very flexible, not the nylon material. Apply a very thin layer of Johnson wax to the entire platform including the body. On one of the halves, you will need to use a cheap pair of bobcat/fox eyes or 12 mm bird eyes as a way to line your two halves up when you clamp them together. Glue these eyes at opposite corners on one plate. Once the wax is applied, start with a light coating of the resign. Since you must add a hardner to activate the resign, don't mix too much. As soon as you apply the first coat of resign, start putting the small peices of cloth on the form. cover as much as you can until the resign starts to harden. Let dry a couple of hours and repeat. I do four to six layers depending on the size of the mold I'm making. Be sure to cut up strips and squares of cloth before you mix the resign. Email me with any other questions. Good luck.


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