I just mounted a W/T shoulder mount the other day, the cape looked fine before it was placed on the maniken and even after it was sewed up but now since it has started drying it seems that a "black line" is showing in two places, 1 half way down the neck approx. 3" and another on the shoulder approx. 2", both are on the same side of the mount. It looks as if the hair slipped in this area and you can see the black/gray hair, these lines are only about 1/8 thick, What can be done to repair this. The hair did not slip on the hide anywhere else if that is the problem. Any help is greatly appreciated.
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I just mounted a deer that had two black lines also. These lines were not caused by slipage and I could find no damage to the skin under the hair. The cause was just the natural color of that deer. One of the lines was right in the thoat patch. I did nothing to hide the imperfections, as I try to mount the deer as close to the original animial as possible.
I've had dozens of other deer that have had cuts on thier skin that have caused noticable lines on the outside of the hair patterns. Some are scabed over and the scab along with the hair falls out after tanning. For these, I typically go over the cape very closely before mounting and I simply use super glue to close up the cuts from the outside of the skin. This hides them well even in facial areas, which is where I see most of those injuries.
Alot of the time if you check with your hands thoroughly in these areas, you will find little wrinkles or folds of the skin. You need to try to be aware of these areas after your finished mounting so you can adjust the skin before it dries.
Also it may not show as a wrinkle per se. You may not even be able to feel it. But the hide is not evenly stretched. Causing the dark tips of the hair to lay over top each other creating a line. proper stretching of the hide over the form will eliminate this. But in some cases it is not necessary to eliminate. as when deer turn their head? Neck. they display the same effect in real life.
Ya Dwayne
did hit it
I did a sholder yesterday with a dark 6 inch long line down the back of the neck right through the cut . now that it is starting to dry out I worked the wrinkles out this morning and it is realy looking great.