I understand that when you order a mannikin, it is best to go a size smaller if there is not one available to your measurements. What about eye/nose measurement? Is it better to go smaller with that to? The cape I have now is 1/4" difference larger or smaller in every catalog I have looked in.
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i would not worry about a 1/4" either way. if you order one that is larger you may get some streth out of your cape and will be ok. if you get one smaller you can add in a little clay around the nose to fill things in. either way you will be fine. a lot depends on the animal you are working with. for instance a deer will be more forgiving than a fox where the eye to nose is a lot shorter. hope this helps.
Sandals, I prefer to go with a (slightly) smaller eye to nose maniken. A looser fit is a little easier to taxi the skin in the right places and there is less pulling during the natural shrinking of the hide. Customers will never notice the 1/4 inch difference in the eye to nose length. A slightly smaller manniken means less pulling, tugging and cussing which is better on the deers hair, my muscles and on my dogs ears since he hangs around in the shop. You will be surprised at how easily you can taxi the extra skin to places that are not seen. Good luck and enjoy.
Dont worry about a 1/4 inch either way if the cape is longer than the head its better and you will find you can stack the hide while mounting and this will give the animal a much fuller look in the face and not pull lips, eye or nose while drying.