Preserved cod jaws - can you solve the puzzle?

[Gorey1]

Hi everyone.
I have these estuary cod jaws ready to be mounted and I can't remember where the extra pieces on the upper jaw fit in and how they're orientated. They had grissle and tendons holding them together, but this was removed when I cleaned them and now I forget! They aren't completely necessary but they make the upper jaw the same length as the lower, so they will help with the finished look.

Photo 1 is the pieces.
Photo 2 is how I think the extra bits sit.
Maybe photo 3 way?
And photo 4 is some jack jaws I'm also about to mount, just for your interest.

I should have taken note when removing the jaws, but I hope someone can help.

[hooknose]

They look good Gorey, might have to go and catch another cod to solve the mystery mate !!!

[Gorey1]

Yeah I think you're right. Will have to land another one and have a peek in his gob.
Was hoping someone else may have done a cod mouth before.
I'll post some pics of the whole process in a couple of days when I get all the photos I've taken.

[hooknose]

Mate, use the search function to check through the old posts because there were a heap of posts about doing up jaws a while back. ;)

[Midnight]

Gday Gorey,
What did you use to get the jaws so clean? Did you boil them?
I have a set of Barrcuda jaws (still in the head in the freezer) that I would like to do up.
We used to put shark jaws on an ant hill and let them go to work.
Any tips will be appreciated.
Cheers,
Myles

[Gorey1]

Hey Myles.
I put the head in hot water until the jaws came out, just like cooking them really. Then I took the rest of the head out (threw it away) and just put the jaws back in. Then I kept taking them out, cleaning with a toothbrush and putting back in the water if needed to soften the tissue.
Pretty easy took about an hour and a half per head to get them really clean.

Then I let them dry for a day or so, and put them in a bleach bath. About an hour in the bleach (just household white king stuff) and the let them dry again. That got them nice and white. I also used ultra clear araldite to reattach teeth etc.

Then I sprayed them with canned enamel stuff from mitre 10 - same as you put on furniture. Couple of coats and drying time in between.

I have some photos of the whole process, but I'll have to wait till Friday to get the camera back and I'll post.

[Midnight]

Mate, that is awesome. Thanks for the tips.
I was worried about the teeth falling if I boiled the jaws. I guess it isnt too hard to work out where they go back in.

It certainly looks like it is worth the effort. Those Jack jaws look great.
Thanks again,
Cheers,
Myles