detached bodies

The "Copydex" method I mentioned is also simple. The Copydex, which is a
liquid rubber type carpet adhesive, but other adhesives like "Evostick" and
some other so called "Contact adhesives" will also work, are spread thinly
on a sheet of glass. When dry, this is cut to a tapered shape using a razor
blade or scalpel, and then rolled into tapered bodies. One may incorporate
tails etc when rolling, colour the latex with pantone or similar pens, etc
etc. One may "dub" the bodies as well, using adhesive, and rolling them in
the appropriate dubbing.

You only need the adhesive, a piece of glass, no concrete, no twenty pounds,
and no special tools.

One may also use several adhesives for the following method. It should be
clear quick drying flexible waterproof adhesive. I use "Durofix", but there
are plenty of others. To test whether the adhesive you find will work, do
the following. Place a small drop of the adhesive on your right index
finger. Wait a second, or less, and then "roll" the adhesive between your
thumb and forefinger. If it forms a flexible sausage, it is OK. If it does
not, or you have to have your thumb and forefinger surgically separated,
then it was the wrong adhesive. Joking apart, DO NOT TRY THIS WITH
CYANOACRYLATE GLUE, ( "Superglue") or similar.

If you got the right adhesive, then take a feather, place a drop of the
adhesive on your index finger as before, and immediately draw the feather
through the drop, between your thumb and forefinger. The treated feathers
dry almost immediately. One can use this mehod for a whole host of things. I
use it, among a lot of other things, for making caddis wings for instance;

Take a partridge or similar game bird feather. Treat as described above.
Allow to dry completely, ( only a few seconds). The feather is now
relatively sharply tapered, and a solid mass. Fold the feather in half
along the quill. Cut the tip off at an angle, and you have a very robust,
completely waterproof, and perfectly coloured and mottled caddis wing. (
Varying feathers give varying effects of course, but several gamebird
feathers produce almost perfect imitations with regard to shape and
colouration). This is easily tied in, sits, and looks perfect. It will not
split or break, and the resulting fly floats like a cork. You may use other
feathers and materials in the same way. For extended bodies, legs, etc etc.

You will not find this particular method anywhere else, as I invented it
quite some time ago, and up to now I have only told a few people about it.

You can of course try treating the feathers with concrete, or winding them
around expensive and completely superfluous needle tools. This is a matter
of personal choice.

TL
MC