I have a duck that won't stand. It's a standing on one foot pose. The wire is sturdy enough, but keeps rotating in the mannikin in every direction. I tried the leg a way I saw in a recent Taxidermy Today article with about an inch and a half of wire sticking out the top of the leg muscle. I recently did another duck that way without any problem at all, however, this time is much different. It just nose-dives... Where did I go wrong this time?
And if you can answer that, it gets worse! Out of frustration/trying to resolve my own problem, I have pulled the wire out of the mannikin entirely. Now I have a dangling foot. I have tried pushing the wire back in and rebending, but the wire still just spins in the foam. Any shortcuts now without opening the duck back up and starting again? Thanks... RICH
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You should have bent your wire in a "U" before sewing the bird up, thus locking it in the position you wanted.
1st off explain what you mean by:
"with about an inch and a half of wire sticking out the top of the leg muscle."
You are removing the muscle tissue correct?!?
2nd.. after the wire is pushed through the mannikin, are you bending the wire back and "cinching" into the form so that there is no way for it to rotate?
Whatever your answers are, at this point, I really see no way around opening the bird back up and rewiring.. Especially if you have pulled the wire completely out of the form.
Is this a foam body, or a wrapped body? If it is foam, and you did cinch it on the back side of the insertion and you have pulled it completely out, then chances are you have busted the form and will have to replace the body or glue it back together.
Sounds as though you probalby have some balance issues as well... are you using proper reference to get as close as possible to the correct center of gravity for the pose? ALthough the weight of the mounted bird is smaller than the true bird, you still have to have good balance else it's gonna tip over regardless of how it is wired.
What issue of TT are you referring too.. If I could see the article maybe I could make a better guess at the problems you are having and offer a better solution.
Good Luck,
Jon
you're too fast... I think we need a trophy for who spends the most time in this forum.. hehehe.. I'm sure I'd be a candidate.
J~
Yep you go that right Jon..
Wait I read all you and George write,I must have nothing to do... LOL .
It's been too long of a day I guess. I was supposed to push the wire all the way through the foam and reinsert. After going back and rereading the article, it even said this. Don't know what I was thinking. I'm still learning. Thanks for the reassurance... Guess I've gotta go do surgury on him now. Thanks again! -RICH
Today is "fish painting day" and in between coats, I'm slumming here. I leave those technical and show questions alone for you guys, but this one was basic bird and I figured I couldn't screw that one up too badly. LOL
and insert it to hold the wire in place.
Next maybe instead of a quick article you will by the book and read it several times before making an attempt.