Casts 55 



fin or tail is to be curved, it is not necessary to immerse the en- 

 tire cast. 



Fins 



If a more realistic cast is desired, all fins can be cut from the 

 wax cast body of the fish and replaced with fins carved out of 

 Celluloid or other plastic-like material which is available in 

 sheet form. Another method is to mold the fins and cast them 

 in plastic ( see Fins in the latter part of this chapter) . In either 

 method it is necessary to carve out holes in the wax body to 

 receive the artificial fins. When producing the fins, leave 

 enough material at their bases for anchoring within the wax 

 bodv. Insert the fins, place in position, and anchor them from 

 behind the wax cast with cotton and hot wax. Finish anchor- 

 ing one fin before starting on another. An addition of wax will 

 be necessary to the base of the fins at the show side of the fish. 

 Do this carefully with a )i- or &-inch brush. Then model for 

 correct anatomy by scraping or adding wax as needed. The 

 areas where the fins were inserted can be made smooth by going 

 over them with a piece of cloth which has been dipped in 

 turpentine. 



CASTS IN COMPOUND 



Before plastics were developed commercially to a point 

 where thev could be poured or spread in a mold and set with- 

 out oven treatment in high degrees of heat, I cast fish in a 

 compound or composition material which proved satisfactory in 

 producing fairly strong and durable mounts. The composition 

 that is referred to as casting compound in this book is a mixture 

 of asbestos, dextrin, whiting, glvcerin, molding plaster, and a 

 touch of carbolic acid. The formula and the directions for pre- 

 paring this compound are found in Chapter 12. Casting in 

 compound requires much more time than casting in plastics 



