More work on the feet

     This afternoon I did more work on the feet.  I further defined the shapes of the pads on the undersides of the toes and the overlapping scales on the upper surfaces.  I purposely "dislocated" one of the toes on the left foot and repositioned it slightly to change the "cross" arrangement of the toes to the more realistic "X" shape.  I thought I might have to do this with both feet, but the right foot looked OK.

    I shortened the tarsometatarsus to make the proportions more like those I saw in my reference photos, and bulked up the shaft with epoxy clay to match the diameter of the carved, wooden portion of the leg.  I also bent the wire armature slightly at the point of insertion into the wood to give the leg a little more biological realism.

    The photos below show my progress today, which was cut short somewhat because of a rain shower that drove me inside.  You may notice in the photos (or at least you will after I mention it) that I broke off some of the toe claws.  I will glue new claws in place once the epoxy hardens.  The legs are not permanently in place, I can easily pull them out.  When I have eventually glued them in place, I will fill any gaps in the seam with epoxy clay, allow that to harden, and then carve and detail a smooth transition between the wood and epoxy parts of the legs.

    I think you will agree that the legs look less "cartoony" and more in proportion to the body and head.  That will do it for today, I think I will sit out in the yard under the canopy for the rest of the afternoon, listening to the raindrops, looking at the birds on the feeder with my new binoculars, and/or reading my book.

    Sixty-five hours now.