ich
the plaster will hold. Any hollows or projections will form "under cuts"
necessitating making the mold in a number of pieces that it may relieve
or be lifted off the cast. Molds of heads from which to cast paper forms
are often wanted and are easily made. With the skinned head of a fox,
let us say, on the table, the lower part is embedded in fine sand or
clay about on a line with the mouth. Cover half of the exposed upper
part of the head also with clay. Pour to the depth of at least 1/2 inch
on the remainder.

Remove the clay from the other half of the face, and after
countersinking two or three shallow holes in the edge of that part of
mold already made and coating that edge with clay water, pour plaster
for the second piece of mold. When this hardens pick up head from its
bedding of sand or clay and turn over so the final piece of model can be
made.

Always coat the edges with shellac or clay water to prevent adhesion and
countersink a few holes for dowels to aid in holding the pieces in
place. Dry out thoroughly and shellac the whole interior and joining
edges. If it is slightly oiled before using a great number of casts may
be made from it. This will give us a complete cast of a fox head with
closed mouth.

A shorter method to obtain molds of the upper part of the head and face
for making paper half-head forms, is to imbed in sand or clay as
directed and stick a piece of stout thread or cord along the central
lines of the head and face. A little clay will hold this in place and
there should be a few inches surplus at each end. Mix the plaster and
cover the entire top and sides of the head with it. Just as the plaster
begins to harden draw the thread upward through the stiffening plaster
cutting it in two parts which are easily removed when hard. When dry
coat with shellac, tie together and they are ready for use.

[Illustration: MAKING MOULD FOR HALF HEAD.]

To cast half head forms soak some paper and after coating one side with
paste, press into the mold with the fingers. The first layer should be
quite soft so as to crowd into all depressions. About six layers of
building paper is thick enough for a fox head size. When dry cut the
cords and detach the mold.

Molds for deer head forms are made in two pieces, one for each side of
the head, and are necessarily not carried completely around the antlers.
This gap is just filled in the head form by the plate of bone bearing
the antlers, which is sawed from