Attaching the Legs to the Body

Note: Select the correct size mannikin by using the weight of the bird in the table. Test fit the skin.

Detach the legs from the skin. Cut the legs loose around the feather line at the top of the knee joint, leaving the drumstick bone attached.

Find the correct length using the Turkey Bone Size and Form Reference Chart.

Measure the leg from the center of the spur to the end of the drumstick.

Mark the length up the drumstick with a black marker and wrap black tape around the leg bone on the knee joint side of the mark.

Cut through the bone quickly with a pair of cable cutters.

Clean two 36-inch pieces of 3/16-inch diameter steel rod with lacquer thinner. Sharpen both ends of the leg rod wire with a pair of bolt cutters.

Run the leg rod into the middle of the tendon on the back of the knee joint. Be careful not to run the wire out the back of the leg.

When the leg rod has been run through the leg leave 4-inches extending past the drumstick bone. Wrap the wire to the drumstick bone tightly with black tape.

Run the wire down the back of the leg.

Bring the wire out the third pad, just back from the toenail on the center toe.

Now bend the wire at a 90 degree angle toward the spur. Bend the wire right at the top of the drumstick bone.

Next bend the leg slightly at the knee joint to take away the straight look of the leg.

Run the wire at the top of the drumstick bone into the drumstick slot at the top.

Make sure the bone is lying properly against the mannikin.

Now take two flat safety hangers and cut the top of the hanger off.

Note: Don't over tighten the hangers so that it pulls the bone away from the mannikin at the knee joint. The bone needs to lay flat against the mannikin.

Attaching the Turkey to the Base

Start by creating a base of your choice and prepare to attach the turkey or you may choose one of already made Pre-Finished Habitat Scenes for turkeys by McKenzie.

Start by bending the wire and center toe up at a ninety degree angle toward the knee joint.

Center the mannikin on the base and mark the base with a pin where the leg rod exits the toe.

Drill a hole straight down through the base where the pins had marked using a 1/4-inch drill bit.

Turn the base over and countersink a hole 1/2-inch deep with a 1-1/4 inch wood bit.

Attach the Bird to the Base as You Prefer or Use the Following Method:

Use pliers, side cutters, or vice grips. Make sure the bend is not rounded. Start by bending the rod where it comes out of the toe, straight down at a 90-degree angle.

After bending the wire, cut it off 3-1/4 inches from the bottom of the toe or however long is necessary for your base.

Here you will use a 3/8-inch drive and a 16 point 5/8-inch socket with a 10-24 Snap-on threader. The socket needs to be a deep well socket. Also use a 1/4-inch power socket adapter to attach the socket to an electric or cordless drill.

Lubricate the rod coming out or the toe with Snap-On cutting oil CL-6. Then thread the rod to within 1/2-inch of the bottom of the toe.

Put the bird on the base attaching it with a 10-24 size nylon insert lock nut and washer.

Use a 3/8-inch deep well socket and ratchet to tighten the nut.

At this time the bird should have a good front and side profile. If not, do any alterations at this time.

Leave the mannikin attached to the base and fill the drumstick slots with bondo. Trim off any excess when the bondo has cured.

Epoxy around the knee joints. Epoxy or use clay to make a smooth transition from the leg bone and wire to the mannikin.

When the bondo is set, inject the feet with Masters Blend foot injection fluid. Use a 20 gauge needle with a 12 cc syringe. Lubricate the plunger and inside of the syringe with Vaseline.

Draw up equal parts of A and B into the syringe, with a small amount of air. Shake it up and squeeze out the excess air. Then inject the toe. When you pull the needle out of the toe insert a 2 inch T-pin into the syringe hole to hold in the fluid. Four cc's of A and B work best at a time. You need to work quickly because the injection fluid will set up in 1 1/2 to 3 minutes.

After you have injected the feet, clean them well with alcohol. In four to five days remove the pins from the feet, scrape off any injection fluid and wipe them down with lacquer thinner. You can now airbrush the feet.