Since some of us are bored, i'll throw this question out there. what is some of your opinions about mounting a flying bird with a standing form? (already have one here) do you shave down the breast or do you just use it as it is. Danny Owens body from slow-dykes, standing pheasent. also do you guys cut a knotch for the tail feathers or just caulk and pin?
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Does your basic body shape change when you sit down versus when you stand up? Neither does a bird. I see lots of manikins with flat breasts for a special pose. If you skin a duck out, you'll find that the keel bone is supported within the rib structure and "flattening" is virtually impossible.
As for the tail, I buy forms that have the tail butts moulded somewhat. Then I cut a wedge and pin the tail up inside.
think it really matters a whole lot which form you use. The breast bone is not going to change, but the breast and thigh muscles do. Cory Coruthers just gave a seminar and that is one of the things he showed. He took a half skinned bird and showed the differences between how the muscling changes with the different leg and wing positions. However, if your skin is loose on your form, I think either will work just fine. BP
I could not tell you much about flattening of breasts or not but I can say that the difference in Danny's flying vs standing is the leg position. If you are going to use a flying mannikin for a standing mount, you will have to adjust the leg position on the mannikin so that it drops down to a standing position. (Hope I'm right on this or he will kill me for this answer)
I'm actually doing it the other way around but i understand what your saying. Now what would be really great is if you could ask Danny to call Van Dykes and tell them to ship is product a little faster. haha. Thank you for your advice.
Patrick L.
Hey Patrick L, I used a fyling mannikin for a standing mount "as is" on a lesser scaup I just did and it worked great.
As far as the tail feathers, I don't do either. I card and support w/a wire temperarily and let sit for a couple weeks. Got a Pintail Drake drying as we speak (write). Never had any problems there.
I probably should add that I'm not an expert by any stretch of the imagination. I still consider myself a newbee.
Pat
Actually, if you look at the basics of a flying bird body, each rib pivots at two places. The position as it fits to the vertebrae is essentially fixed, but the juction of the sternal ribs move significantly, as does each sternal rib at its junction with the sternum - at least on ducks. Human rib cages rise and fall a good inch both laterally and dorso-ventrally, but birds primarily only do the dorso-ventral breathing.
In flight, on the upstroke, contraction of the muscles and tendons on the back pull the wings drastically up, and compress the breast significantly - I would guess at least 1/2 inch on a larger Anas. On the downstroke the breast muscles pull down the wings and the actual shape does change. A 1/2 inch difference can be visible on a bird whose dorso-ventral distance is only 3 and 1/2 inches. (But then someone who doesn't measure bird bodies wouldn't contemplate how they move.)
when ever there is a change in position be you human or bird - even if it is slight. However, I am not sure whether a customer would see a difference in the manikin choice or not. I have also never used a manikin straight from the supplier - I always seem to be making some modification in size and shape - From my view point, the main difference in a flying manikin and a standing manikin is the position of the legs. When the large muscles of the legs move so do a number of other large muscles. It is easiest to see this when you skin a bird and then move the legs to a flying position and back to a standing position. When the major anatomy is recreated in the correct place it is easier for me to taxi the skin and get the feather groups to go into the right places. Can one use a standing manikin for a flying bird - you bet. Will it provide the best anatomical appearance - in my opinion no.
Regarding the tail, I cut a slot in the manikin for the tail. However it depends on making sure that the manikin if the right length. If the manikin is a little short, I wire it in place. Good luck.
I just mounted a small standing widgeon hen on a flying green-wing teal form...go figure, but it turned out great...