I have a deer with a eye to nose measurement of just under 7 3/4".
The form I'd like to use only only has a 7 1/4 eye to nose measurement. Am I asking for trouble with this much difference in the eye to nose measurement?
Unless you have a real freakish deer to mount with an extra long nose, that seems like a big difference in measurments, and the form would be too small for the cape. If you are sure the form is the right size and it just has an extra long nose, cut the nose behind the mouth and insert a 1/2 inch thick piece of foam from an old form that you are not going to use, or blue foam, or whatever you have. glue it in, rasp it down and use some clay (I use ear base rather than clay in all applications) to blend it all together smooth. It's easier to have to stretch a little than to deal with a form too small. It would be difficult to mount a 7 3/4 nose on a 7 1/4 form. I wouldn't mess with anything more than a 1/4 inch difference. Good luck.
if the neck measurement is close to what you want, the half inch from nose to eye is no big deal. The form you are using must be a special pose. You can as was posted above add to the eye -nose but having the extra skin to work with will make a very soft looking face. Use your reference and happy mounting.
Sounds like a deer we get here in PA. Hate to say it but you don't have a frekish deer. There nose to eye measurements are always wrong to the neck measurements.
To fix the simple problem First run a long wire through the nose. This helps keep center for you. Then I would cut it about an 1/2 behind the nose. Pull the nose forward about 1/4" or a hair more. Do not go any further than that. If you do,your deer face will really look out of place. If you plan and have to make up that 1/2 inch make another cut between the eye and the end of the lip line. On any face you should never make up a 1/2 in one cut. Now there is a wide abundace of materials you can use to fill the space. Whatever you choose make sure you have it lined up right.
This is all you need to fix the problem. The extra 1/4 will be nice and easy to work with.
The other thing you can do is buy yourself a change out head. Every company makes them because they know that they can't accommodate every deer we have.
McKenzie has a full line of change out heads if cutting the muzzle scares you. But it would probably mount well on the 7 1/4 anyway.
I get them like that it has a 73/4 eye to nose and a 191/2 c measurement. T best you can do on the neck is a 21 or 22 at the c I would rather add to the face than fight the neck so I order by neck size and adjust the face. If you go with the bigger neck size you have a mismatch all the way down the form. It is much easier toadjust the face. When it comes to 1/4 of a inch difference I wouldn,t worry about it as mentioned above. Put some lines on the form with a sharpie pen to help you line it up when you reattache it.
Looks like either way may work. Thanks for all the input.
With respect to extending the form myself, could I use all critter clay to fill the gap which I cut out? I was just thinking that if I run the wire through the snout to keep it in place, I could fill around the wire with clay and then let it harden? Seems like that might have the same result as foam or bondo as a filler (neither of which I have on hand)
Go to Lowes or any outher hardware store they will have sheets
of foam 1/4" 1/2" up to useually 2" buy on of these sheets they
are cheep and they are the right thickness just cut a squair a
little bigger then needed glue "not hot glue" any epoxie glue
or bondo and shape with file and or sandpaper use the wire to
help hold in place while the glue sets up.