mm, as far as your advice i'd have to say that you are right on. painting is the real key to a good job. my taxidermist does do all of his own molds, and the price is in line with the rest of the industry. it is possible to have a 50 lb. steelhead done,as i have access to a mold of that size.( it was taken from a 42 pound quinault steelhead and made longer and wider.)if someone was lucky enough to catch a fish that big,they could release it and still have something besides a picture to show off.