birds feet mounting

[Hank B]

I have been working on a small bird carving that I ordered as a kit. It came with pewter feet.
There were no instructions on how to mount and form the feet to a branch, or at what stage of the project do you mount the bird to the branch. before, after, or at the same time as mounting them to the Bird? I am afraid to try to heat or bend the pewter without knowing how to do it the right way and ruining the feet. I suspect it is a multi- step process.because at some stage the feet will require painting. Can anyone guide me through the process or is there a book that illustrates how to do this process?
Any help will be deeply appreciated.
Thanks

[chipmunk]

if the feet r pewter they should be easy to bend u may try a soilding iron to heat the toes[try on 1 first] heat a little bit the see if it bends easy if it breaks u maybeable to soilder it together i haven't worked with any of the kits some of the birds i did i used copper wire for legs and clay or epox puddy to make the outsides modeler clay can be baked hard in the oven

[BobBlaney]

Do not apply heat to the pewter, it will melt almost instantly. The pewter will bend easily by hand for shaping to the branch.
I use copper wire for the legs and to mount the bird. Make the wire legs so that the end can be set into holes drilled in your habitat. Then epoxy or CA the feet on the wires so that it looks like the feet are holding the branch.
The pewter is not strong enough to hold the carving, the copper wire is.

Hope this helps.

[Hank B]

BoB,
Thank you for the help I will give it a try.

[Wildbirdcarver]

You can dip the feet into hot water for a few seconds, then take them out and gently bend the toes. Look at your fingers and note what the joints should look like...more of an angle at the joints rather then rounded.