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Turtle Prep


Ptychodus04

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I’ve been out of the prep lab for a week with an illness that knocked me on my rear. Yesterday, I got back in the lab and got to work on the initial prep on a large turtle from the Green River Formation. This beast is about 5’ long and came from the Mini Fish Layer.

 

The matrix is a bit sticky but the bone quality is exceptional. It was found with a skidsteer while clearing loose rock at the start of last season, so it’s in multiple pieces. That makes it a more manageable prep but it would have been cool in one piece! This little guy is going to take me several months to complete.

 

This section contains the head, part of the carapace and the left foreleg.

 

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:popcorn:

    Tim    VETERAN SHALE SPLITTER

   MOTM.png.61350469b02f439fd4d5d77c2c69da85.png      PaleoPartner.png.30c01982e09b0cc0b7d9d6a7a21f56c6.png.a600039856933851eeea617ca3f2d15f.png     Postmaster1.jpg.900efa599049929531fa81981f028e24.jpg    VFOTM.png.f1b09c78bf88298b009b0da14ef44cf0.png  VFOTM APRIL - 2015  

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"In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks."
John Muir ~ ~ ~ ~   ><))))( *>  About Me      

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2 hours ago, Ptychodus04 said:

This beast is about 5’ long and came from the Mini Fish Layer.

Is it called the Mini Fish Layer, because this turtle ate all the larger fish? Glad you're feeling better and I can't wait to see more progress on this.

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What a trooper! Barely back from the brink of death and you're already working on dead things.. :D

Accomplishing the impossible means only that the boss will add it to your regular duties.

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4 hours ago, Nanotyrannus35 said:

:popcorn::popcorn:Wow! So you have this and the bird to work on?

Yep, and a few smaller projects I’m the midst of it all. The work keeps me busy enough that I don’t have time to get into trouble. :P

 

4 hours ago, Top Trilo said:

Is it called the Mini Fish Layer, because this turtle ate all the larger fish? Glad you're feeling better and I can't wait to see more progress on this.

Possibly. I think it has more to did with the occurrence of schools of 2” or smaller Knightia preserved in the layer. It’s pretty uncommon to find much else there.

 

4 hours ago, daves64 said:

What a trooper! Barely back from the brink of death and you're already working on dead things.. :D

It’s amazing what having a deadline will do for one’s initiative. I’m trying to get this thing prepped before the Denver show in September. 

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Glad your feeling better Kris, but just one question?  When are you going to set this little stuff aside and get to the bigger stuff like complete sauropods and stuff?  :heartylaugh:

 

RB

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On 5/18/2022 at 7:33 AM, RJB said:

Glad your feeling better Kris, but just one question?  When are you going to set this little stuff aside and get to the bigger stuff like complete sauropods and stuff?  :heartylaugh:

 

RB

 

Baby steps my friend, baby steps. I have most of the needed tools (definitely would need to upgrade the air compressor) but am missing the warehouse facility for a big project. :P Something is keeping me from committing to $5k/month in rent on some space.

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I'm very glad you're felling better. 

Tidgy is much more concerned with the results here, not being an empathic organism. 

:popcorn:Tortoise.gif.45a3c5d43880275238049172c488ac82.gif:popcorn:.

Life's Good!

Tortoise Friend.

MOTM.png.61350469b02f439fd4d5d77c2c69da85.png.a47e14d65deb3f8b242019b3a81d8160-1.png.60b8b8c07f6fa194511f8b7cfb7cc190.png

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1 hour ago, Tidgy&#x27;s Dad said:

I'm very glad you're felling better. 

Tidgy is much more concerned with the results here, not being an empathic organism. 

:popcorn:Tortoise.gif.45a3c5d43880275238049172c488ac82.gif:popcorn:.

 

That's understandable, seeing as I'm prepping one of Tidgy's ancestors.

 

I appreciate your empathy though. Maybe, your example will wear off on Tidgy. :P

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I made some more progress on the turtle (Scout has been making consolidated time prepping a difficulty). :P
 

The head is at the bottom left of the piece and it’s HUGE!

 

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On 5/19/2022 at 12:29 PM, Ptychodus04 said:

 Something is keeping me from committing to $5k/month in rent on some space.

I've got the funny feeling your wife wouldn't take too kindly to being called "something".. :shakehead:

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Accomplishing the impossible means only that the boss will add it to your regular duties.

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4 hours ago, Ptychodus04 said:

I made some more progress on the turtle (Scout has been making consolidated time prepping a difficulty). :P
 

The head is at the bottom left of the piece and it’s HUGE!

 

A1A29519-A830-4DEA-AD48-682188AE7555.thumb.jpeg.318ffadc6578812ba6995386e468c4cf.jpeg

Looking good! That turtle sure does have a very big head! 

 

Looking forwaard to the next update!

 

-Micah

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More progress on the turtle. Some of the bone is a bit rotten and punky which makes the prep a bit harder. Lots of stopping to stabilize.

 

It’s not the best picture but I didn’t feel like pulling it out of the prep box. :P

 

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5 hours ago, Ptychodus04 said:

I didn’t feel like pulling it out of the prep box. :P

 

DCBC3DCA-FAFE-495C-BB31-2151569C954B.thumb.jpeg.ede8698f779d7b9c5dea455e3c3cf057.jpeg

So the owner of the turtle is going to get it back pre-framed in your prep box? How very nice of you. :D

Accomplishing the impossible means only that the boss will add it to your regular duties.

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3 hours ago, daves64 said:

So the owner of the turtle is going to get it back pre-framed in your prep box? How very nice of you. :D


I would need a bigger prep box for that! This turtle is huge.

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19 minutes ago, Ptychodus04 said:

The skull is slowly emerging. The key word here is slowly. :duh2:

  HURRY!!!    :default_rofl:

 

RB

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