58 How To Make Fish Mounts 



snugly. If they don't, notice the spots which are responsible 

 and trim away a bit more of the cast. When you are satisfied 

 that the halves fit well, tie wire around each end of the mold 

 so that the halves cannot be jarred from position. Now reach 

 inside the cast and dampen, with a sponge and water, the area 

 along the seams where the two halves of the cast meet. With 

 a narrow spatula press compound (mixed with plaster and 

 water) along the seams. Then cut a few narrow lengths (an 

 inch or two wide depending on the size of the fish ) of cheese- 

 cloth into which casting compound has been pressed. Insert 

 these strips along the seams and bind them thoroughly to the 

 cast with more compound. 



Place the mold containing the cast over a radiator or in a 

 warm room for faster drying. If the cast is not thoroughly 

 dried when removing the mold, parts of the surface of the cast 

 will remain in the mold and thus your fish will be ruined. To 

 be certain no damage will occur to the show side, remove the 

 back side of the mold first— when it is set and dry. The back 

 side will usually be ready to come clear first. Then leave the 

 fish in the show side of the mold for another day or two in the 

 drying room— to make doubly sure that the cast is dried thor- 

 oughly. Then chip away, with a small hammer and chisel, 

 around the edges of the mold holding the cast. This procedure 

 will facilitate release of the cast from the mold. 



If slight defects or air pockets appear in the cast, repair them 

 with compound mixed liberally with plaster and water; or 

 plaster alone mixed with water can be used. 



Trim the body, fins, and tail and treat them lightly with fine 

 sandpaper. It will be necessary to add casting compound along 

 the outside of the seam where the two parts of the cast come to- 

 gether; allow to set, then trim and smooth with fine sandpaper. 



Drill holes through the cast where the fins are to be located. 

 Insert the bases of the artificial fins and secure them from the 

 inside with the compound. It may be necessary to support the 

 fins in position while the compound is setting. Modeling clay 

 may be used for this purpose. Also, it may be wise not to place 

 all the fins at one time. In other words, it is less awkward to 



