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Hello, trying to reconstruct this horn. I would like to practice filling the gap with something removable before I do anything more permanent. Any suggestions? Most things I find are for small gaps, not large. Can paranoid b72 be used for large gaps? How removable is it? Is there a removable wax I can try?

I have been looking at a post today regarding a fossil fish and shrimp plate from Lebanon. The shrimp had been drawn around in pencil to make it stand out from the rock (although i suspect it had some bits drawn on) at the fish on the same plate looked to have been inked. It got me thinking how much restoration work I do on my own fossils, and I was wondering about techniques people have for restoring their own fossils. As this is a part of the process that people tend not to talk about. The nature of how fossils are collected (14lb sledge hammer for large ammonite blocks) lends itself to the preparator having to get to grips with certain techniques regarding restoration. When is restoration called for? If it is just for aesthetics, what are peoples thoughts on this? One thing I hate to see is fossils that have been restored but are stated in the description as being 100% genuine. I was helping a friend in his workshop and he had a consignment of Moroccan pieces to clean up from a wholesaler. Some of the pieces were laughable, a lump of rock with no end of stuck together ammonites just glued all over it. Still makes me chuckle now. What materials do people use and on what type of fossils? When restoring fossils of bone I use 2 part car body filler. You can mix a little gouache in with it to match the colours roughly, it sets very quickly and can be carved and sanded very easily and unlike different type of putty it will never fall out. I prefer not to use any filler in my work if I can get away with it. I like the 'as fossilised' natural look of pieces. Preserving and presenting fossils. I use artists varnish, uv stable and does not colour over time, used for protecting paintings. Any filler will need touching in, What types of paints do people use? I know some prefer acrylic over oils, what have people found that works best? Just some thoughts. Dan