Nyala Wall Pedestal Taxidermy

[gizmo]

Hello all, I just got this Nyala finished. Nyala are some of the prettiest animals in all of Africa.

 

[gizmo]

Here is a few more pics with different lighting

 

[kevin masters]

spectacular!! What is that pose?

 

[gizmo]

spectacular!! What is that pose?

Thank you. It is a left turn wall pedestal. We did a some modification to it. Once we got it mounted Gary and I fiddled with the ears for a bit and ultimately decided to set the left ear back.

 

[cpr0312]

Well done! Looking good!

 

[Jeffrey]

IMO the prettiest plains game animal in Africa. Beautiful mount.

 

[rinehart0050]

Nice work! Nyala are awesome.

 

[MAdcox]

Very nice, beautiful animal and set up.

 

[gizmo]

Thank ya'll very much, we have an eland pedestal mount on one of my custom bases, a mountain lion descending down a rock and limb, two kudu, one gemsbok, and a warthog all being worked on right now. Kelly, Gary, Blake and I are hustling right now and our rears are on fire! Stay tuned because we're going to have some spectacular stuff coming up.

 

[MAdcox]

Thank ya'll very much, we have an eland pedestal mount on one of my custom bases, a mountain lion descending down a rock and limb, two kudu, one gemsbok, and a warthog all being worked on right now. Kelly, Gary, Blake and I are hustling right now and our rears are on fire! Stay tuned because we're going to have some spectacular stuff coming up.

Can't wait to see the Eland.
Trying to keep from losing my mind since my may trip for Eland has been postponed.

 

[Mort Hill]

Great work.

 

[gizmo]

I forgot about the two 1/2 body Aoudad we are building bases for now also.

 

[MarkB]

Looks awesome, face veins on form? Did you do anything to lift them, accentuate? My fingers are still crossed for my late June departure. Nyala is on list.

MB

 

[Shootist43]

Eric, that is a nice looking mount, I'm sure your customer will be very happy with it.

 

[gizmo]

Looks awesome, face veins on form? Did you do anything to lift them, accentuate? My fingers are still crossed for my late June departure. Nyala is on list.

MB

So it depends upon the form. That particular for did have very suttle veins but we brought them out. The majority of the face and body accents that you see are done by hand before putting the cape on. Its a lot of sculpting work.

 

[Brent in Az]

Very nice. I like the pedestal mounts.

 

[gizmo]

Very nice. I like the pedestal mounts.

me too!

 

[MarkB]

So it depends upon the form. That particular for did have very suttle veins but we brought them out. The majority of the face and body accents that you see are done by hand before putting the cape on. Its a lot of sculpting work.

Keeping the fine detail in face and wrinkles is an issue I have had, making the veins pop out, seams most of my skins "drummed" past the details in face, even in body for my eland. Maybe need more expertise, we get very few African animals, Canadian fall species have thick skins and heavy fur. On my African stuff I used reg hide paste, maybe my problem or not enough rough sanding of forms. Next ones I will try and use 2 part ear adhesive for detail places? Or maybe epo grip? Did you rope and pin?

Love your pics, great to see a real pro's work.

Thanks

MB

 

[gizmo]

Keeping the fine detail in face and wrinkles is an issue I have had, making the veins pop out, seams most of my skins "drummed" past the details in face, even in body for my eland. Maybe need more expertise, we get very few African animals, Canadian fall species have thick skins and heavy fur. On my African stuff I used reg hide paste, maybe my problem or not enough rough sanding of forms. Next ones I will try and use 2 part ear adhesive for detail places? Or maybe epo grip? Did you rope and pin?

Love your pics, great to see a real pro's work.

Thanks

MB

Thank you. So I use hot glue for veins, wrinkles are either just the skin, clay, or actually hide paste. I’ve also used caulk. It just depends on the size of the animal and what I’m tryin to accomplish.
Hide paste. Really there is only one. Once I found Buckeye Supreme all the drumming problems went away. Most of my hides/capes are wet tanned but it works every bit as well with dry tanned also. I will card and pin in certain areas and leave for 2 days ( we have low humidity here and most are like concrete the next day). After two days I pull pens and cards. Since I started using buckeye issues of pulling away at horn bases etc.... went away. That stuff works very well. I used to use McKenzie’s hide paste. It sux and I was always fighting drumming and pulling away.

 

[MarkB]

That really helps, thanks again. Your help will make my next African specimens a little closer to your work. Doing a life size big old male lynx tomorrow, leaping for bird, form work and prep done today, so a sew day followed by a face day. Wish we were closer, currently working for knowledge only. Still owe my mentor.

I say again this site and your help, advice and assistance really help.

Thanks

MB