I'm working on a gray squirrel in the walking position. I keep breaking the front legs of the manikin when putting the hide on, I have broke 3 so far. should I be cutting the legs of the manikin and inserting them into the hide befor pulling the hide over the body and if so what is a good way to reattach the legs. this is my first project ever so any advice on getting the skin to fit over the mount easier would be great.
thanks
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Jason, when mounting squirrels , I find it easier to cut the front legs off in a V formation that way they have no choice but to go back together the right way if youwere to cut them off straight then the legs can slip out of position easily. I then slip the fron legs into the skin and get the rest of the squirrel positoned and ready to sew. I then reattach the legs using hot glue or even bondo I also put a piece of wire thru the legs to give extra strenght. You should have an easier time by purposly cutting those front legs.good luck
Jason, I've done squirrels like woodchick describes but now I break off the legs from the elbows down and rebuild with critter clay or apoxie-sculpt. Much easier to fit the critter to wood and faster than re-attatching legs. You can work wires into 2 or 3 of the legs if you need them pretty easily. Enjoy, Aaron H.
thanks for the help woodchick and Aaron. I got another skin in the tan now so I can't wait to try out both technics.