What's On Your Workbench May 2023

Looks like your off to a great start. You using artificial leg inserts? The holes are a great idea TWood

 

I used the Anthony Eddie drum sticks with a hole down the center to accept the drum stick bone.
I usually discard the drumstick bone and drill down the tarsus bone from the ankle joint down through the foot and out of the middle toe around the first joint if standing out the toe further toward the tip if walking. I clean out the the large amount of marrow of the center of the bone with borax and pipe cleaners. Then, I use a 6 gauge wire through the foot and up into the center of the bone and attach the wire to the mannikin. Then build up the wire to match the drumstick meat that was removed with the drumstick bone.

On this one, I wanted to leave the drumstick bone on and use the artificial drumsticks. I drilled from the foot up through the middle of the tarsus bone and up through the ankle joint into the middle of the drumstick bone with a looooong drill bit. I the took the bit and moved it back and forth and in and out to remove the marrow from the tarsus bone. Then I went up to the top of the drumstick bone (the knob removed) and ran my drill bit up and down as I did with the tarsus to remove the marrow from there. Then borax and pipe cleaners.

I ran my wire (threaded on the foot end) up through the center of those two bones out the top of the drumstick. Slid my artificial drumstick on and used clay to smooth the ankle joint/ drumstick union. I made my bends and ran hot glue down the inside of the drumstick to center the wire. Then I bent a loop in the end and attached it to the form. I normally use Bondo to attach it. I was out of it so I used hot glue. It is very sturdy. I ran some 3" dry wall screws into the drums stick to further prevent any movement.

Every mount I do is an experiment with a method and materials I have not use before.

 

There will be a grass habitat under his feet when done.

 

Got another pair added.

 

Josh the water color is spot on . . . great choice

 

Casualty shot Juvi drake king. Wanted to do somthing a bit different since they are pretty brown birds aside from the head.

 

Would only let me "like" this, even tho I wanted to "love" it.

 

Butterball from my bench this week.

 

Research Mannikins medium strut head. Tried out a different paint technique. I don't like how the beak turned out and not sure I like the rest of the head or not.

 

Great work you all … That water scene is just sick .. Man that’s frikin cool .. Great work for sure ..
I had a few birds I keep as spares or for parts but they were getting old so I had to mount them .. One thing with juvie Blues besides lots of pinfeathers , they all look different .. I put the snow in the middle for contrast .... Need to go find some barn wood to finish it .. Probably get to keep this one .. the wife likes it ..The head on the speck is completely pour foam .. It’s not perfect .. just wanted to try it .. works good enough for production taxidermy , show work probably not ..