Just purchased a tanned hide from somebody and it occurred to me that since i didn't skin this animal out myself, how am i going to figure the measurements on the mannikin i need to order. Should i rehydrate the hide and measure like that or should i measure before rehydrating.
Oh and one more thing, i've been doing this for a while now but i figured this is probably the best place to ask. The measurement from the corner of the eye to the nose: is it to the center of the tip of the nose or to the corner closest to that eye? I usually measure to the center of the nose, but for some reason i always find myself making alterations to the mannikins in this are because they are never right on.
I appreciate any comments you guys might have.
Thanks
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Since it's not Monday, I'm gonna be nice here. Rehydrate your cape and then measure the hide like all the catalogs have in their "measurement" diagrams. Order a form SLIGHTLY smaller than you measurements so that you can taxi the skin after you have it on the form.
Well done! Jake,the noses on forms are generally measured with calipers to the front of the nose.If you measure a limp skin,it may appear longer than it will be when wrapped around the form,so let the skin be completely relaxed when measuring nose to eye.Tanned hides tend to be stretched lengthwise-sometimes drastically,so pull it width wise all over after re-hydrating,especially the neck.Be on the conservative side when you measure the length.I often get more accurate measuements when I fold the hide in half( like you are looking at a silouhette of the animal).Especially on animals like deer,elk,sheep etc. the body and neck lengths are exaggerated.The circumferences are a little more reliable.