MODELS OF FISHES IN MODELLING-GLUE 275 



undercuts. Use the fingers to prise and pull, and follow up 

 every advantage without undue violence. Sometimes, when 

 getting out such an undercut object as a coiled snake, in which 

 the head — though properly above — is at the bottom of the 

 mould, and therefore the last to be got out, it will be best 

 to relieve the tip of the tail first and follow the coils around. 

 These, when the model is cast solid, are so held at certain 

 points as to absolutely hurt the fingers, pressing them upon the 

 sharp edges of the mould as each fold is delivered ; therefore, 

 thrust in a piece of rag as a wedge, until, coming to the head, 

 a gentle pull with a rocking motion will relieve the whole. 



Imperfections in these glue models of fishes are dealt with 

 in a variety of ways. Supposing there are " blows " or holes 

 in the body, these, if small, may be plugged with a small piece 

 of the trimming taken from the model, i.e. a piece of cold com- 

 position, and this just warmed in by the application of a slightly 

 heated tool (say No. 34) ; but this is, needless to say, a very 

 delicate operation, as the heat of the tool may melt more than 

 is necessary. A better method, in the case of small holes, is 

 to fill them with thick white lead (flake white) and leave this to 

 dry, but when the imperfections are large, the very best plan 

 is to boldly cut out the piece irregularly, no matter where it 

 occurs, to replace the model in its mould, and to pour into the 

 gap a sufficiency of very hot composition ; if well and quickly 

 done, no join will be observable. Imperfect fins may also be cut 

 away and replaced by the same method without the least fear. 



When fins are cast separately from the remainder of the 

 model, and are to be modelled and affixed in a certain way as 

 if swimming, they should be made very thin at their distal 

 extremities and of the full thickness at their bases ; this is 

 accomplished by brushing the composition very rapidly and 

 thinly over the mould of the fins, and afterwards filling up the 

 hollow bases with more composition. These, when trimmed — 



