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Description
Here it is!! I'd still like to get some more realistic shine to the nictitating membranes and around the eyes, but other than that this is done. I was so excited to get to work on this haha. It was an amazing experience to take a wet scruffy pelt to something that at least resembles a living animal again! It really feels like a huge accomplishment, and it's something I've been wanting to learn how to do for at least a couple of years (but probably more). I had an awesome time doing it too, and learned a ton. I went back home to work on it in my dad's shop building so I didn't fill my small apartment with bondo smell again lol. Because I ended up doing this on a Sunday afternoon/evening, I had to get back on the road before it got too late (had work in the morning and I was pushing it already). So I left off carding the ears for a while and I think the edges of them may have suffered from that. I wish I had gone ahead and done it, I ended up getting back way late anyway and they looked a lot better before they dried x'D Now it's a thing I'll know to do better on next time. I also ended up cutting the nose off the form because I got frustrated with trying to get the nose skin all on it right, and just stuck some clay in it and sculpted it into shape. I'll probably do this next time as well, as I enjoyed it and would like to get better at it. I kind of feel the same way about Bondo ears too, I love getting to incorporate scultping into the process. For all the places it could be better, I'm very pleased with this for a first mount! I was really afraid of doing a bad job and not doing the animal justice. I'm glad I could preserve him in at least a decent way ^^ Wish I could know what his life story was! In addition to the scar across the muzzle, he also has a few scattered around his mouth (one in the righthand corner, one on the chin, and one that doesn't show much but is on the front upper lip).
Also I learned that Apoxie Sculpt is magical 8D I'm so glad I found out it exists lol. I had to patch in a couple significant areas of texture on the nose, and I think it worked out pretty well! I made stamps of the existing nose texture with Sculpey clay, then used those to replicate a natural nose texture as well as possible. Like an IRL clone stamp! : D I'll post pictures of that when I get my progress pics together.

Done using the CHC88 Brian Harness form (shaved down in some areas) and eyes from Tohickon. Ears are done using Bondo.

A list of some things I intend to improve on for my next project (mostly for my own reference):
- I think I mis-measured the eyes and got ones that were too big (20mm). 18mm seems to be a common coyote size from what I could find, might go with that next time
- Ears: The hair wants to flow in the wrong direction. Also they were pretty blown, and my repair attempts afftected the shape (esp. around edges and on left ear). Need a more even distribution of Bondo, I'm still getting the hang of it. Also not convinced by my paint job, but I think part of the problem there is you shouldn't be seeing that much of the inside of the ear anyway if the hair was going the right way. Also carding.
- need better blending between form and clayed-in nose, I can poin out exactly where I cut the nose off the form by looking at it. Also improve nose shaping
- whiskers! their directions aren't great--I saw something in a Research Mannikins tutorial though that I want to try next time
- Lip slot too wide, lips slipped out very slightly when drying. Just use smaller screwdriver/tool to tuck them in
- also make more room in lip slot for lip corners to keep them from bunching
- symmetry in general
- the hair patterns on the right side of the face look off, I think some skin got shifted too far up or something
- there was a small hole in the skin near the right eye I was hoping I'd be able to cover better. Need to find better ways to fix tiny holes in thin short-furred skin. He was also missing eyelashes on that eye, but I don't know what can be done about that :U

This isn't the last you'll be seeing of this guy! C: I have a plan for a display plaque, hopefully it all comes together well~

If you don't agree with taxidermy, I can understand that But please respect others even if their opinions differ, and don't leave rude/negative/violent/etc. comments here. Thank you!

Process shots here! ~> fav.me/db758se

Description
Here it is!! I'd still like to get some more realistic shine to the nictitating membranes and around the eyes, but other than that this is done. I was so excited to get to work on this haha. It was an amazing experience to take a wet scruffy pelt to something that at least resembles a living animal again! It really feels like a huge accomplishment, and it's something I've been wanting to learn how to do for at least a couple of years (but probably more). I had an awesome time doing it too, and learned a ton. I went back home to work on it in my dad's shop building so I didn't fill my small apartment with bondo smell again lol. Because I ended up doing this on a Sunday afternoon/evening, I had to get back on the road before it got too late (had work in the morning and I was pushing it already). So I left off carding the ears for a while and I think the edges of them may have suffered from that. I wish I had gone ahead and done it, I ended up getting back way late anyway and they looked a lot better before they dried x'D Now it's a thing I'll know to do better on next time. I also ended up cutting the nose off the form because I got frustrated with trying to get the nose skin all on it right, and just stuck some clay in it and sculpted it into shape. I'll probably do this next time as well, as I enjoyed it and would like to get better at it. I kind of feel the same way about Bondo ears too, I love getting to incorporate scultping into the process. For all the places it could be better, I'm very pleased with this for a first mount! I was really afraid of doing a bad job and not doing the animal justice. I'm glad I could preserve him in at least a decent way ^^ Wish I could know what his life story was! In addition to the scar across the muzzle, he also has a few scattered around his mouth (one in the righthand corner, one on the chin, and one that doesn't show much but is on the front upper lip).
Also I learned that Apoxie Sculpt is magical 8D I'm so glad I found out it exists lol. I had to patch in a couple significant areas of texture on the nose, and I think it worked out pretty well! I made stamps of the existing nose texture with Sculpey clay, then used those to replicate a natural nose texture as well as possible. Like an IRL clone stamp! : D I'll post pictures of that when I get my progress pics together.

Done using the CHC88 Brian Harness form (shaved down in some areas) and eyes from Tohickon. Ears are done using Bondo.

A list of some things I intend to improve on for my next project (mostly for my own reference):
- I think I mis-measured the eyes and got ones that were too big (20mm). 18mm seems to be a common coyote size from what I could find, might go with that next time
- Ears: The hair wants to flow in the wrong direction. Also they were pretty blown, and my repair attempts afftected the shape (esp. around edges and on left ear). Need a more even distribution of Bondo, I'm still getting the hang of it. Also not convinced by my paint job, but I think part of the problem there is you shouldn't be seeing that much of the inside of the ear anyway if the hair was going the right way. Also carding.
- need better blending between form and clayed-in nose, I can poin out exactly where I cut the nose off the form by looking at it. Also improve nose shaping
- whiskers! their directions aren't great--I saw something in a Research Mannikins tutorial though that I want to try next time
- Lip slot too wide, lips slipped out very slightly when drying. Just use smaller screwdriver/tool to tuck them in
- also make more room in lip slot for lip corners to keep them from bunching
- symmetry in general
- the hair patterns on the right side of the face look off, I think some skin got shifted too far up or something
- there was a small hole in the skin near the right eye I was hoping I'd be able to cover better. Need to find better ways to fix tiny holes in thin short-furred skin. He was also missing eyelashes on that eye, but I don't know what can be done about that :U

This isn't the last you'll be seeing of this guy! C: I have a plan for a display plaque, hopefully it all comes together well~

If you don't agree with taxidermy, I can understand that But please respect others even if their opinions differ, and don't leave rude/negative/violent/etc. comments here. Thank you!

Process shots here! ~> fav.me/db758se