I have been mounting birds for the past couple of years, but I have never used artificial heads except on Canadians and one merganser. I tried a wood duck the other night and I noticed a few problems. First, do you glue the neck foam to the base of the head so it cannot pivot or slide around. Second, do you glue the eyes to the artificial head or do you use some type of modeling clay I glued the eyes in and I found that the skin did not want to reach across the eye and I almost came up short when I tried to slide the skin over the eye. I finally stretched enough to make it work.
On another note, what do you do if you get modeling clay on the feathers. I got some on a ringneck and it doesn't want to come out. Thanks
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I drill a hole with a spade bit corresponding to the size of the neck. I go about an inch up inside and do the same thing to the body so I don't have surprises when I'm positioning the head and neck.
I use Apoxie to hold my eyes in place and adjust them as necessary once the skin is pulled over the head.
Use lacquer thinner if you used modeling clay. BUT you should never use modeling clay on birds as that oil can and will eventually leak through anf form a grease spot.
try this out
http://www.McKenziesp.com/KB/artificial_heads/instruction_template.html
George, do you drill a hole in the back of the head the same size as the neck foam? Thanks!