Welsh Wizard Posted February 23, 2014 Share Posted February 23, 2014 Hi Tomorrow I'm picking up this fish that a friend of mine has prepped for me. I think it looks fantastic and I hope you feel the same. It's a Dapedium sp. from the Lower Lias of Barrow on Soar in the UK and it's been a long time since these fish were collected as all the workings have now closed. The label that came with the fish showed it was probably from an old Victorian collection and in need of some TLC, so I decided to get it re-prepped. The fish is about 12 inches long with the preservation being a lovely orangey brown colour and it is contained in a limestone nodule. I'm going to post the process of preparing the fish and I hope people find it of interest. Regards Nick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Welsh Wizard Posted February 23, 2014 Author Share Posted February 23, 2014 The first picture shows the reverse side of the fish. Only the front part of the fish is in 3D, the back part is the underside of the scales from the other side. The fish was probably on the sea bed and underwent predation prior to being buried. The fish nodule was also broken in two and had been badly glued back together by what looked like some sort of plaster/cement and the fish covered in what looked like shellac. A patch of missing scales had been filled with cement and a criss-cross pattern added. Some resin was placed on the fish and a pilot hole was drilled from the other side to see if the scales were there. The nodule was then taken apart and re-joined using modern day glues. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Welsh Wizard Posted February 23, 2014 Author Share Posted February 23, 2014 The nodule was then completely backed with resin and ground down to remove excess limestone. The fish was then placed in acid and left for a number of weeks, until the scales of the fish started to appear. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Welsh Wizard Posted February 23, 2014 Author Share Posted February 23, 2014 The scales were then covered in wax to protect them from the acid and the fish was put back in the acid and left for another number of weeks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Welsh Wizard Posted February 23, 2014 Author Share Posted February 23, 2014 After weeks in acid, the fish is finally taken out and all of the wax removed. It's then time to move onto pneumatic chisels and air abraders to remove excess matrix from the scales and reveal the head and fins. The black area in the centre of the fish is where the scales were missing and this is where the resin is showing through. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Auspex Posted February 23, 2014 Share Posted February 23, 2014 What a painstaking and arduous process! Certainly worth the time and effort "There has been an alarming increase in the number of things I know nothing about." - Ashleigh Ellwood Brilliant “Try to learn something about everything and everything about something.” - Thomas Henry Huxley >Paleontology is an evolving science. >May your wonders never cease! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Welsh Wizard Posted February 23, 2014 Author Share Posted February 23, 2014 Detailing of the teeth and jaw area as matrix is removed: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Welsh Wizard Posted February 23, 2014 Author Share Posted February 23, 2014 And finally the finished fish. The fins have now been revealed and the head uncovered. The small resin area that showed through has been carved and left a different colour to the rest of the fish. The reverse re-preparation, has improved both the scientific value and looks of the fish enormously. You can see the detail on the scales that previously had been destroyed by the Victorian preparators and you can also see the fine decoration on the head and gill plates which wasn't there before. There's even a line of the small peg-like teeth showing. Regards Nick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kosmoceras Posted February 23, 2014 Share Posted February 23, 2014 A fine specimen! Brilliant preparation and a well deserved final finish. Thanks for sharing the process! Best regards, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeffrey P Posted February 23, 2014 Share Posted February 23, 2014 Wonderful specimen, and photos and explanation of the restorative process really raises my appreciation. Good show! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Taogan Posted February 23, 2014 Share Posted February 23, 2014 Lovely fish, Barrow produced such stunning specimens, it's nice to see one given a modern prep job. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Welsh Wizard Posted February 24, 2014 Author Share Posted February 24, 2014 What a painstaking and arduous process! Certainly worth the time and effort Thanks Auspex. I've just picked the fish up and it looks far better than I thought it would. I'm really pleased with how it's turned out. Nick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Welsh Wizard Posted February 24, 2014 Author Share Posted February 24, 2014 A fine specimen! Brilliant preparation and a well deserved final finish. Thanks for sharing the process! Best regards, Thanks Thomas. I wanted to show how much time and effort goes into some of the prep. Nick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Welsh Wizard Posted February 24, 2014 Author Share Posted February 24, 2014 Wonderful specimen, and photos and explanation of the restorative process really raises my appreciation. Good show! Thanks for the comments Jeffrey. I'm glad you liked it. Nick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Welsh Wizard Posted February 24, 2014 Author Share Posted February 24, 2014 Lovely fish, Barrow produced such stunning specimens, it's nice to see one given a modern prep job. Hi Taogan. Thanks for the comments. This may be the only Barrow fish that undergoes a reprep. You have to see it in person so to speak, to appreciate the detail on the skull and scales. Before, so much of the detail had been sheared during the prep process. Nick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xiphactinus Posted February 24, 2014 Share Posted February 24, 2014 That's just incredible! Thanks so much for sharing the process. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Welsh Wizard Posted February 25, 2014 Author Share Posted February 25, 2014 That's just incredible! Thanks so much for sharing the process. Hi Xiphactinus. You're welcome. I'm now trying to work out what type of Dapedium it is. Nick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fossildude19 Posted February 25, 2014 Share Posted February 25, 2014 Thanks for posting this, Nick. Glad that a classic fossil got restored properly. Regards, Tim - VETERAN SHALE SPLITTER VFOTM --- APRIL - 2015 IPFOTM -- MAY - 2024 _________________________________________________________________________________ "In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks." John Muir ~ ~ ~ ~ ><))))( *> About Me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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