First of all thanks for taking the time to read this!
I am a full time taxidermist that does mainly birds/fish.
A close friend talked me into doing his Bobcat. Having never done one I bought McKenzies
Bobcat tape. Everything has gone fine except when I went to put the
cape on the form.( From tip of nose to tail base I took off 2.5inches
in the center of the body.) I seemed to have a hard time getting the hide on around the feet.
I had the post come through the part of the foot between the pad and
the toes. I seemed like it wanted to come through back behind of the pad.
Where is the correct spot. The back of the foot area and up a little
appeared to be to big for the hide I had. I rasped it down some yet
it still seemed to large. Needless to say I never got a prefit. I guess I will just
order a smaller form. The head area fit nice and the nose to eye fit
nice. I bondoed the ears and they are fine. I don't know if the belly
( Circumfrance) will fit or not. When I took my initial measurement of the
belly I allowed for some extra skin. Well I wet down the inside of the hide
and in the freezer it went. Now I have a form and don't really
know if it will fit or not. That's what I get trying to be a nice guy.
Incidently I did wrasp down all of the foot structure thinking I could
build it up with clay and form it because the hide didn't want to go all the
way up the leg because I thought the foot was to big.
In a nut shell does it sound like my form was to big?
Sorry about writing a book. I'm sure some of you will say stick with birds/deer and you may be right but how am I ever going to leard without
trying? I use this forum quite often and find it to be very
helpful. Thanks again in advance!
Gary
Gary,
did you make relief cuts in the legs? The feet of the form will be larger than the leg skin will allow, preventing you from slipping the foot of the form through the skin. Also, I always remove the majority of the form foot and model it in with clay. You want the threaded rod to exit the foot at the front portion of the pad. This keeps the rod from being visible once it is attached to the base. I'm not real clear on what your problem is exactly, but I hope this has been of some help. Good luck.
Headhanger
When you got the cat in, did you measure off the carcass after skinning? This is the best way to find the right size form. Also, ALWAYS, test fit the skin before starting the ears, applying hide paste,etc.Never go with a form larger than your measurements, the skin always fits better when you aren't trying to overstretch it.
they are always a custom job in my opinion. Your experience is normal for me anyway. I don't believe that I ever did a cat that did not need altering. Like Headhanger, I relief cut apox. 3 in. in back of leg above paws, fit legs (trim,cut away excess foam), clay paws ( like Gary)before mounting. And I sew up all incisions only after I have fitted all the skin to all the form. PS...You know the many was to skin a cat saying; Well not one cat is the same. Go figure.
I did take my length/girth measurements with hide off. I did not cut relief
cuts in the foot area. I did allow a little when I ordered the form
in the girth area. I did not want to fight the hide getting it together
on the dorsal cut. I never got it on enough to see if it would fit there or not.
I took off 2.5 inches of length which I knew was long. The head fit nicely so I bondoed
the ears. With the relief cuts Im now thinking that the form will fit.
Perhaps I will give it another shot. Thanks again guys for your advice.
You have been alot of help!
Gary