| Hairy Plumes Build | The making and mounting of the Caterpillars Hairy Plumes have 4 Stages of Making Them. First you take at least 2 feet of Black Antron Body Wool and place in a vice on your bench and twist the Antron with your fingers until the Antron is tight and then stretch and place the other end in another vice on your bench. Now using a cocktail stick put a drop of Super Glue on the Antron at each 1-1/2 inch intervals along the Antron and wait until this dries naturally ( Do not rub your fingers along the Antron in hope to dry the glue, this will only spread the glue within the fibres and you will have to start again). Once Dry remove the Antron from the vice and unravel the twists of the Antron and then you will see the Hairy Plumes Forming, Cut off each Hairy Plume leaving only 2mm of the area containing the hardened Super Glue (Use a Razor to make a clean cut not scissors)
Mounting the Caterpillar Hairy Plumes, First Prepare the hook shank by applying a thin coating of Epoxy Glue along the Hook Shank as this is important as the Super Glue takes easier to this that the bare shank. Now simply start applying each Hairy Plume along the top of the hook shank leaving a space the same width of the Chenille you are going to use later.
This mounting may seem difficult at first but you will soon see that it only takes a tiny drop of super glue applied to the tip of each Hairy Plume and soon mounts straight on top of the hook shank., Once you have completed the top row of Plumes apply Epoxy Glue with a Cocktail Stick to each base of Hairy Plume. Now simply go to the next stage and apply the same along each side and keeping each Plume in line with the others. When complete finally cover the base of the plumes and hook shank with Epoxy Glue using another Cocktail Stick.
Now tie on your Chenille of your colour choice (The Chenille I have used on this particular one is alternate Black and Orange Chenille like a tigers tail) although you can also use Orange Fritz Material that also makes an excellent caterpillar. Wind your material between each space you have created with the Hairy Plumes and tie off near the hook eye. Then again using Tying Floss or thread of your colour choice build a fairly large head and cover first with super glue and finally Epoxy Glue to make the pattern robust and long lasting. Now finally to finish the pattern by giving it a Hair Cut! And trim al the Hairy Plumes to Length as in the Photo.
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