busybeaver
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sockeye
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With the movement to total CnR It would be nice to be able to do replica mounting. Perhaps we can do a project that documents the process.
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Marty
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greg
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Marty, while not outside the abilities of the above-average do-it-yourselfer, it is a fairly involved project, and requires some specialized tools. I'm going to be doing a couple more this spring, and would be glad to document the process. The most difficult part is getting a realistic paint job.
Greg ![[BIG NATE!!]](graemlins/chromeswimmer3.GIF)
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Steelhead are where you find them!
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busybeaver
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sockeye
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Greg that would be great. If you think of it I would like to get a copy? of that replica article.
I was in Port Townsend on Sunday and looked at some incredible wood carvings of trout.
They also had some thick glass bowls with fish imprints there were really nice...only 2 grand a bowl....yikes.
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Marty
Welcome to my home ...
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greg
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Well, just got started on the replica of Don's big winter fish. I'm going to take pictures of the process of assembling the replica, building the base, and progress of the mount along the way. I hope to post photos every few days as the job progresses. Maybe Doug will chip in with a few hints, as well, especially when I get ready to paint this big sucker! Do ya want me to post them here, or email them to you to put in a separate page, or what?
Greg
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Steelhead are where you find them!
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busybeaver
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sockeye
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Greg posting here would be great for the journey to completion. Then when its done I can make a page that documents the process for those following your footsteps.
Look forward to seeing it.
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Marty
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greg
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Well, here goes: The first pic is of the basic components-the blank replica (body, fins, and head)and a couple of key supplies-the smaller containers are a slow-setting, somewhat thin epoxy compound that is used to make teeth (yes, each tooth in a salmonid has to be reproduced individually). The larger containers are a faster setting epoxy modeling compound, that is used to fill gaps, pinholes, add details that may be lost in the molding process, and blend in the junctions of the fins to the body, when the fins are attached. 
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Steelhead are where you find them!
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greg
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This is a close up of the head-I've already installed the eyes with the sculpting compound, and made the teeth. To do the teeth, mix up some of the proper compound, and each tooth is recreated with a little bit on a toothpick, one at a time. 
Next, the fins have to be prepared for installation. I use a Dremel with a cutoff wheel to feather the ends of the fin rays for realism. A tiny drill bit is used to drill holes in the fin butts to help the adhesive bond them to the body when they are installed. 
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Steelhead are where you find them!
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greg
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This fish is being prepared on a "habitat" base. The driftwood will be attached to a plywood base, and eventually covered with sand, replica and natural rocks and gravel, to suggest a river bottom scene. 
I've temporarily attached the basic parts of the mount together, to establish their relationships to each other, and ensure that the fins will have enough room to be positioned as desired. 
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Steelhead are where you find them!
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greg
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Next in the process is to install and paint the gills. Since the gill flaps will only be barely open on the finished piece, I have ground impressions of the gills into the body of the replica, and will enhance them with sculpting compound, paint and gloss them before glueing on the head. The head will be glued on with automotive Bondo (the taxidermist's friend!), and the parting line on the body, and where the head joins, finished with epoxy, and automotive spot putty, and lots of sanding. Then the fins are attached, (Bondo, again) and their junctions with the body sculpted with epoxy. (More pictures later)
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Steelhead are where you find them!
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busybeaver
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sockeye
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You are going to town!! Did you get a video to figure some of this out?
If you can keep a source list for pricing/availability that would awesome.
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Marty
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greg
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No, no videos for this one, though some good ones are available. As Doug will attest (I'm sure ![[Wink]](images/icons/wink.gif) ), there is probably nothing more boring than a taxidermy video...I have trouble staying awake through even the best ones! All the basic supplies (including the replica shown here) can be purchased from Research Mannikins , an Oregon based company that has a good selection for northwest taxidermists.
Greg
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Steelhead are where you find them!
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greg
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Attaching the fins...gills are completed and painted/glossed... 
...And the head is glued on. Next is modeling all the fin junctions with the body, and filling/sanding the seams and parting lines on the body and the body/head junction. 
Almost ready to prep/paint!
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Steelhead are where you find them!
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Doug Melvin
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Hey Greg!
Looks like you're on a roll!
Sorry if it seems that I've been ignoring this project. I haven't been around much lately and just saw this thread today. I've been spending alot of time hunting with my youngest son. It's his first season. Btw, you might remember when I posted about his first steelhead last spring. Well his birthday is day after tomorrow (he'll be 10) and I'm just putting the finishing touches on his mount. Maybe I'll post a pic when it's done.
Anyway, you're doing a fine job on this project. Not much I would add. I try to stay away from Research blanks simply because some of them are good and some of them are junk. You never know until it arrives. The one you're using looks pretty good. Which one is it?
You're sure right about those boring videos, LOL! Most have alot of good info but you've got to be pretty dedicated to learning this art in order to stay awake very long!
Gotta run, but keep up the good work. I'll try to follow the progress a little more closely.
Doug
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[url=http://www.twinriverstaxidermy.com]www.twinriverstaxidermy.com[/url]
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greg
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Thanks Doug. That's a PRO-140 (40x20) replica blank from Research. Not too bad for a commercial replica, pretty good detail overall. Now if I can do a decent paint job on this guy...
Anyway, here are some more photos of the base construction. "Rocks" are carved and rasped to shape from urethane foam, covered with fiberglass resin, and painted. 
The plywood is painted flat black, and an oak trim moulding is mitered to fit around it. the rocks are glued in place with hot glue, and the plywood is covered with a mixture of glue and sand.  Finally, small gravel is epoxied in the crevices around the larger rocks, and the entire base sprayed with a matte clear acrylic finish, to tie all the components together.
The replica, with all seams filled and sanded smooth, receives a light coat of black paint. This is then rubbed off with steel wool, to highlight the scale detail of the blank.  
Here the prepped blank is mounted on the finished base, to finalize the attachment points. 1/4" steel rods were epoxied into the back of the blank, and will be used to attach the fish to the base. 
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Steelhead are where you find them!
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WoodsyWayne
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Dang
Nice Job Greg!!
Been lurking here watching.....
You are doing a fantastic job!!
That looks like a fun project!!
Keep up the good work!
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Fishermans Prayer: G-d grant that I may fish until my dying day, and when it comes to my last cast I then most humbly pray, When in the the lord's safe landing net I'm peacefully asleep, that in his mercy I be judged as big enough to keep
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greg
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Thanks guys. I should have the finished job posted sometime this weekend, with some more pictures. The first coats of color went on earlier this week, followed by two evenings of hand painting each individual scale, one at a time...next is adding the pearls and shimmers that make it look real, final detailing, and the final gloss coats. It's starting to come together!
Greg
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Steelhead are where you find them!
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greg
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Here is the replica getting the first layers of color. It seems a little vivid here, but these are the basis for all the detail work that follows. 
Next, two evenings (about 6 hours total) of hand tipping each individual scale with irridescent silver. Don't have pictures of that part, weather turned to crap and I had to move the operation indoors. After the scale tipping, pearls, shimmers, and much more (about 4 more hours) of detail work with my airbrush, and the finished project... 
Here is the mount sitting on my entertainment center...Don may not get this one for a while . 
Hopefully, you guys now understand a little of what goes into a project like this (and why they cost so much!)
Greg
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Steelhead are where you find them!
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busybeaver
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sockeye
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Nice job!! Hmmm..... replica in a 41 x 20 3/4
Maybe at some point I can do one of these too.
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Marty
Welcome to my home ...
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Doug Melvin
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Very nice job Greg! I'm impressed! There are plenty of guys who call themselves professionals who can't do them as good as you've done.
If you make it up this way sometime give me a call. Maybe you could stop by and we could talk fish.
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[url=http://www.twinriverstaxidermy.com]www.twinriverstaxidermy.com[/url]
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greg
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Thanks for the nice words, Doug, but I think being a professional and having to turn out jobs on a timetable would take a lot of the fun out of it. I just enjoy being a hobbiest, but I also try to make each job a little better than the last...I'll make a point of stopping by the next time I'm up in PA, which shouldn't be too long, now that some rain is on the way!
Greg ![[jumping steelhead]](graemlins/steeliewalk.GIF)
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Steelhead are where you find them!
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Stew
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Greg you are an artist! Very impressive work!
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RELEASE WILD TROUT and STEELHEAD
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