Stone mounting part1
Contributors to this thread:Wild Sheep
From: Dennis Razza
22-Jan-14
I'm getting a few things ready for the ECFNAWS and thought a stone mounting thread would be appropriate.
If you have any questions feel free to ask and i'll do me best to answer. Hope you enjoy!
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From: Dennis Razza
22-Jan-14
First I will rehydrate & stretch the hide. This will give me a good start to order the form.
From: Dennis Razza
22-Jan-14
I'll do all the hide prep after I rehydrate the hide. Turn the ears and prep the seams. Repair all holes and thin the eyes,nose,and mouth.
From: Dennis Razza
22-Jan-14
I'm not going into all the hide prep details with this thread but want to point out one very important detail with hooved animals. You have to clean them to the very tip! There is alot of fatty, greasy material in the tip on the hoof that could cause problems down the road.
From: Dennis Razza
22-Jan-14
Lets get into the form alterations. The form was a bit small and they didn't have anything close to the pose he wanted. He wanted it steeper in the front. When we raised the front to the height he liked the legs were way off. I cut off all the legs to get the right angles. The next few pics will show this...
From: Dennis Razza
22-Jan-14
From: Dennis Razza
22-Jan-14
From: Dennis Razza
22-Jan-14
From: Dennis Razza
22-Jan-14
We then get the legs into position and screw them down. You can see in this pic the angle of the front legs compared to the back. Next we will get the front cut and positioned.
From: Dennis Razza
22-Jan-14
From: Dennis Razza
22-Jan-14
Next we foam them in place and sculpt the muscles back in place.
From: Dennis Razza
22-Jan-14
Now we move the front and the head.
From: Dennis Razza
22-Jan-14
From: Dennis Razza
22-Jan-14
we turn him upside down to poor the foam.
From: Dennis Razza
22-Jan-14
Mixing up the foam.
From: Dennis Razza
22-Jan-14
From: smarba
22-Jan-14
Head higher than rump looks SO much better for sheep & goats IMO. Don't see why so many folks like the butt up in the air.
Stone sheep are also the most striking IMO, so this should be a fantastic mount!
Thanks for sharing, Carl
From: Dennis Razza
22-Jan-14
Before I take the screws out I reinforce the arm with 5/8 threaded rod. This will give added strength so the arm won't break. I place 2-3 in each side.
From: Dennis Razza
22-Jan-14
After I get the legs and head roughed in I will add to the length.
From: Dennis Razza
22-Jan-14
I forgot to take pics but I also added to his belly to fill him out a bit. Now I have him to a point were I can test fit the hide again and make any minor adjustments needed.
From: Dennis Razza
22-Jan-14
Test fitting the skin.
From: Dennis Razza
22-Jan-14
I'll run a few rods down through the head and neck for support. I'm ready to set the horns now.
From: Dennis Razza
22-Jan-14
First we need to put the horns on the skull plate.
From: Dennis Razza
22-Jan-14
From: Dennis Razza
22-Jan-14
From: Dennis Razza
22-Jan-14
I can start my clay work and get ready to mount.
From: Dennis Razza
22-Jan-14
From: Dennis Razza
22-Jan-14
From: Dennis Razza
22-Jan-14
From: CurveBow
22-Jan-14
Looking Great Dennis!
>>>>-------->
From: Dennis Razza
22-Jan-14
From: Dennis Razza
22-Jan-14
Have you seen where they live?! I can understand why so big!!! lol
From: Dennis Razza
22-Jan-14
Getting ready to paste and mount.
From: Dennis Razza
22-Jan-14
From: Dennis Razza
22-Jan-14
From: Dennis Razza
22-Jan-14
Ok, I got side tracked and didn't take any pictures until he was almost done. Basically I slide the hide up and pinned it. Adjusted the face and around the horns. Adjusted, tucked and sewed his legs and adjusted the belly.
From: Dennis Razza
22-Jan-14
Done!
From: Dennis Razza
22-Jan-14
In part 2 I'll show how to finish the base and habitat. Thanks for following...Hope you enjoyed!
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From: loesshillsarcher
22-Jan-14
awesome. you are good at what you do!
From: t-roy
22-Jan-14
Extremely interesting & informative as always! Thanks Dennis
Do they make a left turn semi-sneak form for the gonads?!
From: warthog
22-Jan-14
very cool thanks for taking us along
From: Paul@thefort
22-Jan-14
Some big game species just lend themselves to a full mount and that Stone is one of them. Did not realize they had so much tan color on their rear and stomach.
I really enjoyed the trip through your studio and to see your work. Quite an artist you are and I am sure the hunter will be very pleased.
Will be waiting to see the full mount on its habitat setting.
My best, Paul
From: Bowboy
22-Jan-14
Very nicely done!
From: BULELK1
22-Jan-14
You are an artist!
Thanks for sharing.
Good luck, Robb
From: AZ~Rich
22-Jan-14
Very nice Dennis. You do a great service by sharing the step by step with us. Do you also anchor the horn sheaths to the cores with screws or brads after they are bondo'ed?
From: BO-N-ARO
22-Jan-14
Another great thread! I have found most have no idea what it really takes to put a piece like that together and this shows it! Great job my man!!
From: PAstringking
22-Jan-14
A dark stone is a beautiful animal. Dennis does it justice
From: elmer@laptop
22-Jan-14
wow. that was cool!
From: Adventurewriter
23-Jan-14
Fantastic....Like to see some close ups if possible. I am actually under the direction and help from my taxidemist doing this years Billy full body...it will be my first full body try. Had planned on a head mount but when I saw that hairy beast laying there he had to be a full body. I am a sculptor and artist so feeling like I can pull it off with my taxis help.
Great job on a beautuful ram....
From: bill v
23-Jan-14
Thats awesome Dennis, you bringing that mount to the ECWSF?
See you there,
Bill V
From: prezboys
23-Jan-14
All I can sat Dennis is, You sure have talent!!!
Great looking animal
From: OFFHNTN
23-Jan-14
I love your taxi threads! Thanks for posting!
From: TREESTANDWOLF
23-Jan-14
I really look forward to these Dennis, you are an artist !
From: writer
23-Jan-14
That was fun...thanks.
From: bowonly
23-Jan-14
Wow you have great talent my friend!!!!
From: brettpsu
24-Jan-14
Very nice Dennis! Wish I was going to the sheep show again but can't make it this year.
From: havoc
24-Jan-14
Thanks for sharing the photo's and taking the time to create the post, AWESOME Job!!!!
From: Stonegoat
24-Jan-14
Great Thread! Looking forward to Part II
From: ilandhunter
24-Jan-14
I really enjoy these threads, thanks
From: Dennis Razza
24-Jan-14
Thanks for all the comments!
Az- I don't put any nails or brads through the horn. I clean and degrease the horn and just use bondo.
Bill- I plan to take it to the show. Look forward to talking with you.
Brett- Bummer that you're not gonna make the show. Not sure but I think they opened the bidding up to the phones this year.
Here's a few pics for you adventurewriter.I will need to remodel and paint yet. I will update the closeups after he is complete. Best of luck on your billy mount!
Thanks again.
From: elk1@50
26-Jan-14
Sir, you do awesome works of art , craftmanship, photography, snd tutorials ! So impressed with your work .thanks for sharing I did taxidermy. When it was a big secret know one would share or help.without a payout. Love your base work too. awesome awesome glenn ps.i wish I could do all that , and keep such a clean shop
From: Dennis Razza
18-Sep-14
With all the sheep threads up I thought this would be a good one to bring back around. Thanks, Dennis
From: BO-N-ARO
19-Sep-14
Great work Dennis!!
From: KTH
20-Sep-14
Good job! This is not helping my impatience to get my sheep on the wall!
From: never2sharp
20-Sep-14
Awesome. Great detail. Sent you a PM.
From: ridgerunnerron
20-Sep-14
Thanks for bringing this back up...fantastic artist skills and work here! Great looking real dark colored Stone! A great specie choice to lifesize!
From: tenpoint
20-Sep-14
Hey Dennis, Thanks for sharing your beautiful work with us on Bowsite ! Looking forward to hunting with you again in 2016. Paul
From: Dennis Razza
20-Sep-14
Thanks guys.
Kyle,That is a fine ram you got. I would be excited to get it back too! Congrats again.
Paul, I will be thinking about that hunt everyday until it gets here. We have a great group of guys in camp. I'll let you know when I leave for my Illinois hunt... maybe get out for a few days.
Never2sharp, got it. Thanks
