Anyone know of a form manufacturer who has a shoulder / closed mouth black bear form with a eye to nose of 5x29+. This blackie was over 700lbs live and I am really having a hard time fiding a form for it. It only has a e to n of 5" but its head is as big as a cinder block? Its head swims in the 23" (McKenzies biggest) I really didn't want to use a change out head because the neck would still have to be built up to fit.
thanks for the help
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I don't think you are going to find a form that you don't have to alter.I think Research would have the largest- 5 7/8"x26".Your bear has a very short nose to eye for it's size,so you are going to have to shorten that no matter what.The largest McKenzie,"cast lip" head is that size head and has a 31" neck.It's an absolute pig.The problem is,it's open mouth.I would really like them to make those 2 largest heads in a closed mouth version and have aked them about it.If it were mine,I'd get the research form,quarter it and expand it-neck,shoulders head,then shorten the nose to eye if needed.Try the skin on before shortening the nose to eye.Those giant bears always take extra work.It's worse for lifesize.
I'll check out research. This is the biggest bear I have done yet and your right, they are extra work! The poor guy really wanted a life size but at over 7' he said he didn't have the room to fit it!
That's a shame.A bear like that is one of a lifetime.They make impressive lifesize mounts.McKenzie now has 2 forms that work for those,though I usually have to make the heads bigger.It wasn't too many years ago,when you got one of those in you had to bite the bullet and do a major form expansion or convert an expensive grizzly form-costly,either way.Shoulder mounts are fun though and that alteration isn't too bad.Good luck with it.
Try these guys out they have a good selection,
Knapton Studios, 1-800-565-5394 OR 1-705-389-1403
They are located in Dunchurch,On. Canada.
I know that they have a 5 3/4x15x30 slight, rt, cm.
Hope this helps.