Plaster Molds 15 



Mixing the Plaster 



Molding plaster must be mixed with care. Place the desired 

 amount of water ( of course the amount will vary with the size 

 of the object to be molded) in a pan, bowl, or other receptacle. 

 Do not place the plaster in the pan first. Sift the plaster into 

 the water gradually with a scoop or trowel. Proceed to spread 

 the plaster evenly over the entire surface of the water until the 

 plaster no longer disappears— a light powdery layer should be 

 obvious on the surface. 



Now, roll up your sleeve and run your hand slowly through 

 the mixture until all the plaster which remained on the surface 

 is incorporated within. While mixing, do not work your hand 

 in and out of the plaster, nor stir vigorously or needlessly; an 

 excessive formation of bubbles may arise. Squeeze all lumps 

 that may form until the entire mixture is smooth and fluid. 

 Wipe away all bubbles which gather on the surface. The 

 plaster is now ready for use. 



Molding a Fish 



Read the entire section on molding before attempting it. 



A two-piece mold is usually made of any fish the size of a 

 trout, salmon, bass, bluefish, striped bass, or perch. A one-piece 

 mold is made when a medallion-type plaster cast is desired, 

 when the skin is to be filled with plaster or other material, or 

 when the fish is too large to turn over (see Chapter 10). Oc- 

 casionally, an unusual job may require a mold composed of 

 several pieces. For example, on the shores of Peru I molded a 

 3,300 pound-plus giant manta measuring I8J2 feet from wing tip 

 to wing tip, which required a four-piece mold. Techniques em- 

 ployed in the field differ slightly from those used at home or in 

 the laboratory and will be discussed later in this section. How- 

 ever, let's review the basic steps first. 



Remove Slime. Unless the slime is removed from the surface 

 of the specimen, the mold will be unsatisfactory because the 



