I have a very large coon that I'm putting together.
I ordered the largest mannikin
I could find and need to modify the body slightly. I'm adding 2 inches
to the length (not a problem) but was wondering the best way to increase
the belly dimensions so the body is correctly proportioned? I don't
need much in the belly, prehaps an inch or slight over that.
Thanks in advance.
Cut strips from surplus foam, glue into place and form with a rasp. Cut the stips to shape and contour to reduce spaces between to a minimum. When the contour is approximately the size you desire, use a microlite body filler to fill any seams and then rasp and sand to shape.
Hello Dan,
There are a couple of ways you can do this that will be an easy process. The first thing you could do is to simply rough up the form in the belly area,mix your 2 part faom together and refoam to add onto the girth of the belly. I always dam up the area to restrict the foam from going beyond the area in which I intend to foam. Once cured, I will rasp or file down the area until I reach the desired size I need. Be sure to pay attention and maintain the correct shape and proportions of the natural animal.
OR
Remove the neck and head (Leaving the 2 attatched together)from the mannikin.Cut the Mannikin in half (The length of the body). Add a spacer between the 2 halves to obtain the size you need.Fasten together. Refoam the gaps. Rasp or file down any remaining flashing. When doing this, I always either card or tape up the oposite side in which I will be pouring the foam. This will prevent the foam from just running out the other end.
Both of these methods will work for you.
If I can assist you in any way, feel free to call me at (1-800)843-3320 ext.105 or e-mail me at this address.
Good luck and have a wonderful day,
Dave>VanDyke's Supply Co.
Just glue in a sheet of stock eps foam and glue the sandwich together. Let the foam stick out all around and then trim back to the mannikin contours. Remember that one inch in thickness adds a little more than three inches in diameter......make sure you have the room in the pelt to overcome that. If you only need about an inch in size, add the foam, don't cut the mannikin up. An inch of slack is just pocket change.
I have to totally agree with Cur.1 inch is not worth cutting up a form. This is why I put foaming the belly up first.If the one inch does'nt realy matter to you, You can eliminate the little slop you might have in the skin by inserting the excess skin into your relief cuts for that matter.
But,where there is a need for extremes, as far as widening the body,(Mannikin), that method works good.
I must say that I truely enjoy reading about other peoples techniques and methods. Just when ya begin to think that the method you've use for years was the best, someone comes along and blows your mind! What a great resource for information.If only someone can come up with a way to down load my brain onto a disc so none of this awsome information is lost.If you all hear a loud boom...it's just me.My head exlpoded!
Thank you everyone!
Dave>VanDyke's Supply Co.