Im having some real problems getting this steer skin to fit on the form. I am a beginner, but have done one longhorn before. While the first one needed some serious form alteration, this one seems to be even worse. The problem I'm running into is not in the face, but right under the jawbone, the skin keeps bunching up there. If I flatten the skin smooth all the way down the front, the skin is not long enough to sew together at the back. I've been trimming away the brisket of the form some, but I dont think thats helping at all. The only other thing I can think of is cut the head off and add a few inches between the head and shoulders, hoping that the extra distance will give me the proper amount of skin to work with. I hope someone understands what I'm trying to say here, and has some suggestions. Thanx in advanced BSO
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I done a watusi once used a longhorn form from Van Dykes after approx. 2 days of altering and a few choice words I finally got the skin to fit if I ever do one of them again it would be $1,800 minimum what alot of bull---- not very fun I know. good luck.
Put a bunch or elephant paste under the neck and turn them into natural wrinkles. That or you can cut the head off and lift the head up a little and they will probably come out also. Good luck.
Leslie
we have this problem with aftrican forms a lot. It sounds like you have the same problem as I have with a kudu. The actual neck on the forum may be too short and thick. How does the face fit? Tight, to short/long?
Lay the skin out on the floor. Arrange it in the pose of the mannikin (skin folded in half so you have a side view of the animal). Now take measurements. Make marks on the insid of the hide where you measure (three measurements on the neck starting from right behind the ears, halfway down the neck, neck/shoulder junction), measure the length of the neck starting from right behind the head to the neck/shoulder junction, measure the length of the neck, meaure the width of the brisket/shoulder area.
Now compare these measurement to the ones on the form. If your necklength is off on the form lengthen/shorten it to the approriate measurement of your hide. There may be a lot of cutting and altering and refitting of the skin, but let the skin tell you what is correct. Don't assume the manninkin is right. Most the time the mannikins are off quite a bit, especially for large animals.