I tried to mount a Pintail Drake and found that the neck was too little for the artificial head to go through. Fortunately it was a practice bird, because I RIPPED the skin. So, next time do I attach the head after I send the neck through? I know there must be a better way to do this. Help.
I sound like an Aggie.
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Yes put your body with the neck in first and after it is done that is when I put on the head on the neck,then glue the skin around the bill.
I'm wondering James, why that subject was not covered in the book, video, or what ever instructional source you are using to mount your first duck? It seems odd that it would leave that step out. Hopefully it covers some other basic things like proper degreasing/fleshing, anatomy basics, wing placement, etc. Don't forget the reference photos! Oh yeah, it does seem reasonable that if the head don't fit through the neck, then attaching the head afterwards may be the ticket. Have fun!
The head will not go through the neck on most ducks. You need to make a cut length wise on the back of the head and work the skull out through this slot.
Its easy to sew up, with a quilting needle and quilting needle.
Do most of you rebuilding before, turning right sideout.
Now with a artificial head, you donot run it into place through the neck. You put it in place the same way the real head would have been removed from the fron end around where the bill was attached.
Thanks
I very rarely use artificial heads i like the natural ones better, but yes you should always put the neck and form first when mounting a bird with an artificial head. I do not use the method john uses to remove the skull i have found a way that is better, well at least i like it better and there is no stitching. So you wont get that faint line that you can get somtimes with stitching. I take my scapel and make and incision around the bill. Then i just start to peel the skin on the head back. This will not stretch the skin you wont have to worry about that. Just make sure when peeling the skin back not to tear it. I have mounted a few dozen ducks using this method and i have only tore one of the ducks head skin. Tearing it by accident isnt a problem though because then you could just stitch it. But when you go to attacth the skull back to the head skin put the skull in the exact way you took it out and super glue the skin down to the bill. This works extremly well. One good thing about this method too is that you can flesh the entire head and that will give you those fluffy looking head feathers.