Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith
ilmarinen - MODERATOR
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Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
- Joined
- Aug 20, 2004
- Messages
- 38,392
J.Marsillo,
Sorry, I got this topic running waaayyy OT.
Seriously, you ought to try stuffing one. It is super simple on a small critter with little body fat.
For a mouse:
Just made a small cut on the belly from anus to mid belly,and turn it inside out.Carefully cut away at the tail,lips,feet, and ears.Make an "armature"(new carcass) from news paper and masking tape.(Hint - put a couple moth balls in the center of the paper wad.),using the old body as a reference. Don't worry about the legs,just the head and body. Clean up the skin well, rub down with borax,then rub with salt, Borax again,then rub in some kind of oil . Take four 2" pieces of light wire (18 gauge) and make little legs by wrapping cotton on them with thread. Slip the wire wire "legs" in the skin,bringing the extra wire out the feet. Work the armature back in the body, turning it right-side out as you go.Stitch or glue up the belly cut and the lips (crazy glue works great). Drill holes on the mounting base for the wires to insert into. Arrange the mount in a lifelike position (bend, squeeze,block up,etc.). Use paper clips, clothes pins, rubber bands and clamps to keep in the desired position.A BB inserted in the eyelids will do for an eye (paint it later),A small black glass bead from the craft shop will work even better.Put in a dry location to dry out and firm up (Put in a plastic tub with floral drying silica to really dry it well). After a week it should be firmly set and you can remove the braces and clamps.Paint the lips ,feet, tail, and anything you want/need to touch up.Spread a bit of white glue around the mounted animal (on ther wood) and sprinkle on dirt or sand.When dry,shake off the excess. You now have a mounted mouse. Add some small accents,like leaves and a little pine cone....well you get the idea.
Stacy
Sorry, I got this topic running waaayyy OT.
Seriously, you ought to try stuffing one. It is super simple on a small critter with little body fat.
For a mouse:
Just made a small cut on the belly from anus to mid belly,and turn it inside out.Carefully cut away at the tail,lips,feet, and ears.Make an "armature"(new carcass) from news paper and masking tape.(Hint - put a couple moth balls in the center of the paper wad.),using the old body as a reference. Don't worry about the legs,just the head and body. Clean up the skin well, rub down with borax,then rub with salt, Borax again,then rub in some kind of oil . Take four 2" pieces of light wire (18 gauge) and make little legs by wrapping cotton on them with thread. Slip the wire wire "legs" in the skin,bringing the extra wire out the feet. Work the armature back in the body, turning it right-side out as you go.Stitch or glue up the belly cut and the lips (crazy glue works great). Drill holes on the mounting base for the wires to insert into. Arrange the mount in a lifelike position (bend, squeeze,block up,etc.). Use paper clips, clothes pins, rubber bands and clamps to keep in the desired position.A BB inserted in the eyelids will do for an eye (paint it later),A small black glass bead from the craft shop will work even better.Put in a dry location to dry out and firm up (Put in a plastic tub with floral drying silica to really dry it well). After a week it should be firmly set and you can remove the braces and clamps.Paint the lips ,feet, tail, and anything you want/need to touch up.Spread a bit of white glue around the mounted animal (on ther wood) and sprinkle on dirt or sand.When dry,shake off the excess. You now have a mounted mouse. Add some small accents,like leaves and a little pine cone....well you get the idea.
Stacy
