I understand that some taxidermists remove the fan, flesh and bondo it seperately, and then reattach it during the final stages of the mounting process. How do you reattach it? I'm sure it's easy to hide, but do you pin the skin back in place, glue it, or what?
Thanks!
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I bondo a staple shaped 10 gauge wire to the base of the tail , then when dry just stick it into the form.Makes it easier to transport home for your clients to without the tail on.
I don't know of any taxidermist who doesn't do it that way. As Rick said, then you simply lift up the flap of belly/tail skin and glue it into place over the Bondo.
I have been doing waterfowl taxidermy for some time and, just this year, started doing turkeys. I have done several just like ducks and geese (tail still attached). The fan really takes a beating in the tumbler and never seems to look exactly right thereafter. I can see where it would be much easier, fleshing and handling, doing it seperately also.
It would be best if you cut the tail off the turkey before doing any work on the skin. Cut off the tail, then skin, flesh, and wash the turkey separately. Then clean all the meat off the tail feathers, wash the tail if it needs it (no tumbling!), and set up the tail in a nice fan shape.
It may be issue 66 or 67 but Cally Morris has the complete instructions for the way he does his, same as described above. I use Zap a Gap to glue my skin to the bondo after pushing the wire into the form.