"Mounting Up"-Double Axis with a Twist

[b.latiolais]

I may have to hit you up when I finally shoot my first axis. Had 3 in the scope this weekend but not the ones I wanted. Still holding out for the right one and hoping I can get it with my bow instead of a rifle.

[Bowtech Lefty]

That's looking good Ryan, can't wait to see the finished product! Just curious what kind of antler stain will you be using?

[Howard]

ANYTHING but straight.
No matter how good the mount, they still look like a deer in the headlights with something up his rump.

Just my opinion.

completely agree on wt and especially a beautiful axis.... but to each his own

[whitetailslayer]

That's looking good Ryan, can't wait to see the finished product! Just curious what kind of antler stain will you be using?

It'll probably be a custom mixed stain-classic oak, mission oak, a little walnut (got to play with the proportions) thinned down with Acetone.

[whitetailslayer]

I don't know how many of you other taxi's here on TBH have had the luxury/daunting task of mounting up an Eland (Common) before but I think this one gave me a run for the money. An animal with so much extra skin to work with has become relentless. I finally just decided to cut part of the dewlap off of this beast and will be forming my own just so that the wattle skin will fall naturally into place. I doubt this is the right way/proceeding step of recreating this but I am going to make an incision along the thick hair line, and either put clay to form or inject silicone to form it to shape. What say you Taxi brain trust?

[Chance Love]

I don't know how many of you other taxi's here on TBH have had the luxury/daunting task of mounting up an Eland (Common) before but I think this one gave me a run for the money. An animal with so much extra skin to work with has become relentless. I finally just decided to cut part of the dewlap off of this beast and will be forming my own just so that the wattle skin will fall naturally into place. I doubt this is the right way/proceeding step of recreating this but I am going to make an incision along the thick hair line, and either put clay to form or inject silicone to form it to shape. What say you Taxi brain trust?

It's not a test so don't worry about cheating. Do what you gotta do to make it natural and back to it's original contours. Those mannikins are "general purpose" and don't always work perfect. I like the clay idea better than silicon. But I have a question...did you test-fit the cape first? Eland are a booger to mount. Every one that I have mounted has been a pain, as is pretty much every African critter.

[whitetailslayer]

It's not a test so don't worry about cheating. Do what you gotta do to make it natural and back to it's original contours. Those mannikins are "general purpose" and don't always work perfect. I like the clay idea better than silicon. But I have a question...did you test-fit the cape first? Eland are a booger to mount. Every one that I have mounted has been a pain, as is pretty much every African critter.

3x over on the test fitting. So much so that the cape was drying out on me to boot. The original manikin shape of the dewlap seemed off to begin with...meaning that you'd think with gravity, it would put the leading edge of the wattle pointing straight down when the form is at a 90 with the wall. It was poured at a forward lean and just doesn't seem right. I'll see if I can find a pic illustrating that.

I appreciate you taking the time Chance to aid me in this decision. Clay may be the way I go.

[whitetailslayer]

Redfish habitat in the works. The redfish was done by David Hammack here in Kerrville. It's my old man's fish (37" out of Port A) who was able to reel it in on a gold spoon. So my job is to supply the habitat. Here's what I've got going on so far.

Laying the fish across the 24"x48" .220" acrylic sheet, I traced out a pattern that will be going over the fish.

Using a jig saw, I cut out the piece that will be used.

With a marker, I hatched in where the dorsal and tail fins will be protruding the the glass (water).

[whitetailslayer]

I ordered a shad to add to the piece as this is what the red was boiling on.

He'll be squirting out of the water as well.

[gator89]

That's awesome! My trout on the wall is getting lonely, I may have to get a red to join her. I really dig the water on top. Tuned in to see the finished product. You've got skills cuz!

[whitetailslayer]

Going airborne:

[double lung]

Awesome work on all the projects. That red is going to be awesome.

[whitetailslayer]

Finally finished up the double axis mounts. The thinned down stains were Minwax Dark Walnut and Gunstock 231 applied to the antlers. The Gunstock had enough red hue to achieve that blood stain look while the Dark Walnut gave it that darker/dirtier shade and additional depth. Kevin (Texastaxi) had sent me the paint schedule a couple of years ago that I still use today for the nose. Kudos dude!

[rhodes520]

Looks great as always !

[Copper87]

Im ready to see the fish