Modeling clay for tail fan mount?

[bmc]

I've got the Van Dykes kit to mount my dad's bird's tail fan and beard. It says to use bondo on the the base of the tail feathers. I'm wondering if anyone has used Crayola Air Dry modeling clay instead of Bondo? I've got a tub of clay that I used when mounting deer antlers to plaques.

Thanks,

Brian

[Sturg]

I remove each feather (18 primary & 18 secondary feathers) and use a brass wire wheel(attached to a drill) to remove all the flesh. It takes about 20 seconds for each feather. Start on one side of the tail do one feather at a time. I use a foam poster board( with a horizontal line drawn across across the entire width about 4 inches up from the bottom, board 36"x24"). I also draw a vertical line 90 degrees to the horizontal line halfway across the width of the board. I cut a piece of screen in a half circle shape with a 4 inch diameter and 2.5 inch height. I staple that centered over the intersection of the two lines with the base of the half circle aligned on the horizontal line. I staple it over a piece of plastic bag (sandwich bag). This keeps the glue from sticking to the board. I lay the feathers out in the full fan just as there are attached to the bird. Then I drizzle Gorilla glue over the bare shafts and the screen. In an hour the glue is hardened and the tail is done without any flesh left there is no later bug problem, the feathers stay exactly where you place them, and it is easy to drill through and screw the fan to board with one screw. I also add the feathers from the turkey's back found in front of the fan. I just pull them clean- no skin attached and layer them on the fan, You can strip the shafts and cut them to shorten the feathers as you go until the layering goes low enough to be covered by your tail cover piece. The fan ends up being about 1&1/4"-1 & 1/2" thick. You have complete control over the finished result and there is no waiting three weeks for flesh to dry out and hope the feathers don't shift as they dry in left on flesh. The whole process might take 1 &1/2 hours.I have used bondo but it doesn't always apply evenly and sometimes feathers come loose. It sounds like a lot of work but it is really easy to do.

[sticknstring]

Sturg - That sounds like a great way to do it. I've got fans drying out in the garage now and it would be slick to get everything done in one afternoon and not worry about bugs. Post some pics of your results and where you get your supplies if you get a chance. I'm always looking for a better way.

[Sturg]

Will do next week, I'm heading up to try some fishing.

[Wallydog]

Fellas,

20 Mule team borax keeps any and all bugs away. I've been drying them for 20+ years simply cleaned well (removing all the fat and muscle) pinned on a cardboard box coated well with borax. Then you can do the bondo process if you choose.

WD

[Shane Simpson]

All you need is table salt and a few heavy objects to hold the fan in place. After a day, replace the salt with fresh salt and by the second day, it's ready for mounting. I've used this method for years and had no problems.

[mngoosehunter]

I second what shane said. dump table salt over the flesh and let it dry. the salt will soak into the meat therefore you have to add more salt after a day or two and do this a couple times and it lasts forever.

[harvey lee]

Yes, you can use your modeling clay as long as once its applied, you can shape it and it dries hard.

[Scott M]

I mix 50/50 salt and borax. Haven't had a problem with bugs and things look great. This year when things dried down, I took a dremel to the backside knob of flesh to get it to lay more flush with the mounting board.

[harvey lee]

One should try and flesh out all of the meat one can at the base of the tail.

Don't get into the feather base as they could then slip out.