Sand Hill Crane Advise

The skin is pretty tough, get plenty of references, charge more than you think, dealing with wiring the wings and legs is a pain.

 

$1500. 8guage wire for the legs

 

I mount them like a turkey, skinned "ankle to ankle." This lets me get the legs built, finished and bullet proof attached to body. I double wire the wires; 12 gauge, one to the tip of the "backside" wing bone, thru a drilled hole and the other e-taped to the humerous. Takes some effort but provides a solid attachment. Big flying birds get my heavy duty support rod system; a 2" or so piece of 1" angle, drilled with holes, that is welded onto 3/8" rod, about 2" back from the sharpened tip. It gets bondoed into a cavity into the body. I make the "hole" before mounting, located to avoid any wires; neck or wings, then insert and bondo after mounting, before posing. I mix a little resin in to thin it and shoot it thru a jumbo syringe with a big tip. All this gets done before mounting; rod bent, attitude set, etc. It might be overkill, but when done it will withstand any crate and ship issues. A picture would help, but I'm not that tech savvy.

 

You need to become more tech savvy Jimmy!! LOL would love to see pics