I was wandering when ordering a lifesize form are the mneasurements taken with the skin on or off. Thanks
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When ordering mannikins, any mannikins, whether that be lifesize, shoulder mount or whatever, you should always take your measurements and order your form based on the measurements of the skin right before you are ready to mount it!
This means after is has been skinned, fleshed, tanned, holes sewed up, and fully prepped out. Once you have done all this, pull/stretch the skin out a bit, not too much-then take your measurements, order the mannikin BASED ON THESE MEASUREMENTS, then toss the skin in the freezer until your order comes in.
If you measure ANYTIME before these steps have been done.......................theres a chance that the form you order won't match your skin. Makes sense don't it! I don't mean to sound condescending, but I've said it before and I'll say it again-this ain't rocket science. Skullboy.
Skin will stretch one of two ways. Either long or wide. But not both.
When we flesh a hide its normally back to front, this of course is the long way.
So now its up to you to pull and tug and stretch the hide back to the correct width.
When I skin any animal for lifesize, I measure the nose to base of tail length and subtract 2 inches fur on, I also take the girth measurements with fur on and pull the tape tight.
This will work to give you the extra skin to move it around and adjust as needed.
Rob, You were asking for THE way to measure for proper fit and what you can see by now is there isn't any "THE WAY" in taxidermy- just lots of different right answers. I measure the carcase after skinning on lifesize except for the eye-to-nose which I measure before skinning. When doing lifesize critters it is a good idea to save the skinned carcase for comparison to the form which helps when making the necessary alterations for fit. Main thing is don't get into trying to make everything bigger than it was, that's a road to hard work and disappointment. Enjoy, Aaron H.