The Construction

Using all the information I had gathered and my knowledge of bird anatomy, a scale model of a Plasticine dodo was sculpted. Once the overall shape was achieved the pose was chosen. Many recreation dodos are made standing, whereas I believe a walking pose would give movement and interest.

Happy with the finished manikin the head and feet were removed and remodelled separately. Slight alterations were made to the body to make the casting easier and a fibre glass jacket was used to produce foam blanks.

The feet were made initially by moulding turkey's feet in a walking pose then using an expanding process to increase the size   and produce large life-like feet and these were finally cast in a two part plastic. The head was sculpted with apoxy over a cast skull and modelled with the eyes removed. Once moulded this was cast in a two part plastic using a swilling technique to produce a hollow head and the eyes were fitted from the inside.

Now all the main components were put together, the feet were attached to the body and the head added to achieve the correct angle.   Large sections of feathers were placed on the manikin and working from back to front, using taxidermy techniques and feather placement, the model was finally covered. Using historical descriptions and colour shading from birds of a similar feathering, the head and feet were painted.

Small detail finally completed the bird.