Dead River Posted March 4, 2014 Author Posted March 4, 2014 meant to include, the three fish above are commercial blanks that are marketed by companies that specialize in this with lines so to speak. imho, the best blanks are the ones which are cast by individual taxidermists around the country. Also, while the three fish pictured above look good, none of them have competition grade paintjobs, the fish laying in the grass has a quasi competition grade paint job, like I said where every scale is individually painted. it's all according to how much coin you want to spend, there are people that do museum quality work for a price Quote
Super User AK-Jax86 Posted March 4, 2014 Super User Posted March 4, 2014 I just told you why I didn't post a photo, because as the process went on it became more of a composite or amalgam fish...unless you get a custom replica done, your fish is not going to be an exact duplicate of your fish, even if it is structurally identical the fish will have some paintjob nuances that's for sure. you don't have any replicas, I'm about to have my sixth one- I know something about this. You have 6 I have none (when I read that I literally laughed sounds like something I use to hear when I was a child kinda like the line you are not invited to my birthday party lol) but when I get my one I would want an accurate representation, either skin (if fish died) or replica, of the fish I caught. Not saying you did this But if someone was like I like this color from google image 1305, and these fins from google image 1402, and this jaw structure from google image 478. That's what the fish I caught should have looked like that's not a replica of the fish caught just a replica of the ultimate representation of that species according to that person creating it. But I think, could be reading this wrong again lol, you were going for a replica of a Shoal Bass probably with the same size & measurements oppose to the actual fish you caught itself. Quote
Dead River Posted March 4, 2014 Author Posted March 4, 2014 You have 6 I have none (when I read that I literally laughed sounds like something I use to hear when I was a child kinda like the line you are not invited to my birthday party lol) but when I get my one I would want an accurate representation, either skin (if fish died) or replica, of the fish I caught. Not saying you did this But if someone was like I like this color from google image 1305, and these fins from google image 1402, and this jaw structure from google image 478. That's what the fish I caught should have looked like that's not a replica of the fish caught just a replica of the ultimate representation of that species according to that person creating it. But I think, could be reading this wrong again lol, you were going for a replica of a Shoal Bass probably with the same size & measurements oppose to the actual fish you caught itself. there are not very many shoal bass blanks available, not very many spotted bass blanks available. we had to make due with what was out there. we did use multiple references for markings and such, so it did not turn out exactly like my first reference photos, but the blank is also a bit different due to the limitations of what we are talking about. I've caught a lot of shoal bass, I've caught fish that look like that. I'm very happy with it. my point in saying that comment earlier is that through my experience and acquisition of these replicas I've learned a lot about the process and what to expect and so forth. I think your expectations for your replica to be pristine an contain every nuance on your reference photo might be a bit too high. if you're that particular, maybe wait it out until the 3d printing catches up. no offense. Quote
Super User AK-Jax86 Posted March 4, 2014 Super User Posted March 4, 2014 there are not very many shoal bass blanks available, not very many spotted bass blanks available. we had to make due with what was out there. we did use multiple references for markings and such, so it did not turn out exactly like my first reference photos, but the blank is also a bit different due to the limitations of what we are talking about. I've caught a lot of shoal bass, I've caught fish that look like that. I'm very happy with it. my point in saying that comment earlier is that through my experience and acquisition of these replicas I've learned a lot about the process and what to expect and so forth. I think your expectations for your replica to be pristine an contain every nuance on your reference photo might be a bit too high. if you're that particular, maybe wait it out until the 3d printing catches up. no offense. I think replicas are the best way to go like I said earlier unless you catch that big one and it dies on you. Butile you said and I did a replica will never be the exact representation of your fish only exact thing will be the length and girth. Those pics you posted all look good was that the Jacksonville guy or you just having him do the Shoal and your 10+ largemouth? Check these ones out, to me they could pass as skin. He has a 16lb 7oz and 10lb 8oz largemouth and a 11.5" bluegill Quote
Dead River Posted March 4, 2014 Author Posted March 4, 2014 well that big fish is a arp3d blank, the paintjob looks good on it but it doesn't have any shiny scale tipping. when you look inside the mouth the taxidermist did not epoxy the area where the gills/rakers attach to the tongue. That fish has nice color on it but it needs to have more scale tipping and powders put on it to make it look more like a competition grade work of art. the other fish I showed are all very nice and lifelike but don't have the scale tipping which takes time and costs money. I think replicas are the best way to go like I said earlier unless you catch that big one and it dies on you. Butile you said and I did a replica will never be the exact representation of your fish only exact thing will be the length and girth. Those pics you posted all look good was that the Jacksonville guy or you just having him do the Shoal and your 10+ largemouth?Check these ones out, to me they could pass as skin. He has a 16lb 7oz and 10lb 8oz largemouth and a 11.5" bluegill Quote
Basswhippa Posted March 5, 2014 Posted March 5, 2014 Dead River, you have some spectacular mounts and seem to have an aptitude for taxidermy yourself.. You know what looks good. Ever thought about taking it up? I know it is a difficult skill to master, and not everyone has the fine motor skills to do it. Quote
Super User Grizzn N Bassin Posted March 5, 2014 Super User Posted March 5, 2014 i love that pics duuuuude! can't wait to see the new one coming in! Quote
Hyrule Bass Posted March 5, 2014 Posted March 5, 2014 I don't think you're looking close enough, good replicas are casts of actual fish, you must've seen some of the archie Phillips junk. how does this fish blank look fake? looks pretty fake to me. the skin mounts look much more natural. replicas often look way too bright and shiny as well. lots of people can put together a model and paint it. and they can make it look like anything they want. from reading your posts, youre not even getting actual replicas of your fish, just models of what you want a fish to look like. as for skin mounts, thats what i call real taxidermy, not replicas. i have an excellent taxidermist who does all types of REAL animal mounts and they look great. i wouldnt call putting together a model and painting it taxidermy at all. youre just customizing a fish to your likings is what i get from your posts. well hell, i can do that without having never caught a fish. and dont mistake me, im not singling your replicas out, i feel the same way about every replica i have ever seen. now that ive elaborated on my thoughts about replicas i wont hijack the thread any further. all im saying is they look fake and factory produced, you have every right to be proud of the fish youve caught, but i cant get down with a fake looking replica, much less one that was altered and designed to not look like the actual fish its supposed to be based upon... 1 Quote
Dead River Posted March 7, 2014 Author Posted March 7, 2014 Not interested in a melee here but I did want to share these better photos of my shoalie replica. the fish is a lot darker than the original pics let on, which is very much to my liking. we worked off of my personal best reference and then another better photo for detail. but I have to confess this fish favors a giant I lost on the Ocmulgee last year the most. This year I will have my revenge. 2 Quote
boostr Posted March 7, 2014 Posted March 7, 2014 Its crazy how the real one looks like a smallie, but it isn't. The mount looks good. The eye detail is awesome. Quote
FrankW Posted March 7, 2014 Posted March 7, 2014 Hi Dead River, Congratulation on getting a replica instead of killing that great fish. You did good! That is a nice mount. I would frame your picture and mount it above or below the mount with the information of the catch. Frank Quote
Maico1 Posted March 9, 2014 Posted March 9, 2014 You should be proud that is a very sweet mount...Congrats. Quote
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