Turkey Questions

I just replace the whole panel of whatever side is damaged. I would imagine what you are suggesting is doable just gonna take time. Gonna be hard to adjust anything though unless you attach the feathers to the skin

 

Kinda reminds me of Foghorn Leghorn when he blows up and says he keeps his feathers numbered for this very reason.

I agree w Jim. Replace the whole section, or better yet, the whole cape.

 

This is the best way in my opinion. I have replaced the whole breast, so that everything matched. Replacing the skin from another bird is by far easier than trying to replace feathers. I have tried replacing feathers and it came out ok, but not good enough for a customer.

 

Not high jacking this post but since we're talking parts and pieces of turkeys. Can someone explain the method of mounting the wings separate? I do the tail, legs separate but leave the wings attached. I saw Wally had a bunch with the wings and tails in place. Do you cut them down the side pocket and wrap the skin around the wing that's in place? Not needing a full step by step just a place to start or real simple how to. Thanks in advance

 

To remove the wings, cut between the scalps and the top of the wing feathers then keep going around the humorous, leaving about a 2” hole through the skin. After fleshing, washing and wiring the wing, the wire just plugs into a vertical hole or slot in the form for posing, as you saw in my pics. After the wings dry, remove them, put the skin on the form, then plug the wings back into the holes. Shane Smith has a video on YouTube showing all this except the skin cutting activity.
I have been using Smith bodies, but due to McKenzie running so far behind I am about to try Cally’s new form, which will require adjusting the wing wire attachment a little.

 

That makes perfect sense. Thanks for sharing your knowledge. Your turkeys look amazing. I get One maybe two in a year. Need to figure that strut pose out. Yours are spot on. Thanks again

 

Question: I've seen a couple replies on this subject suggesting to leave the scaps attached to the wings. They claim it's easier to make scapulas look right once reattached. Your opinion please. Thanks.

 

I haven’t tried it that way, so I’m not going to say one is better than the other. However, I like being able to pose wings and let them completely dry before completing my mount. I don’t think that would be practical if the scalps were attached to them.

 

I always left the scaps on the wings because I didn't pose the wings separate like Wally Gator is doing. After seeing those and watching Shane Smith's tutorial if I ever do a lifesize turkey again, I will give that a try. I have only been doing breast mounts for myself lately.

 

Makes since