13 August 2009, 21:55
Frans Diepstratenbadger manekins and other questions
Three years ago I picked up a dead badger from the road that was in really great shape (apart from the fact that he was dead and his skull was crushed). I took some measurements, skinned it and dropped it off at the taxidermist, at the last moment deciding that I'd just get a dry tan done and not worry about trying my hand at taxidermy.
Fast forward almost 3 1/2 (!) years. My badger has been located, it is sitting as a wet-tanned skin in the taxidermist's freezer. Now what do I do? Those measurements are long lost, and even at the time I couldn't really find a manekin that came close. Just stretch it on a plank? Would still be nice to have some shape to the head...
Any suggestions?
Frans
14 August 2009, 02:22
L. David KeithIf the Taxidermist have a lot of experience, he should have no problem sorting out a form. If he can't, pick up your skin and: A. find another Taxidermist or B. Sell the skin. There are plenty of companies making Badger forms.
Good luck,
David
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15 August 2009, 04:24
Frans DiepstratenThanks for the suggestions. The taxidermist had already thawed the skin. It's semi-dry, and hanging from an antler tip in my office. I don't really want to refreeze it, I guess it will just be a skin hanging from a nail.
Which is fine. It was just a pick-up.
Frans
15 August 2009, 21:23
george roofActually, it isn't. If that was a wet tan and you've hung it to dry, when it dries it's going to be very brittle and will age quickly if moved at all. Wet tans have not been "broken" and, unlike soft tans that are quite soft and flexible, you hide will snap if bent later down the road.
15 August 2009, 22:39
Frans DiepstratenYes... I can see it is starten to harden up. I'd put some newspaper in the head to give it at least a bit of shape... It is getting quite stiff.
So what are the options? Can I make it wet again, stretch it and put it on a plank to dry, so as to give me something I can put on the wall? Or should I just be happy with the semi-rigid it will become?
Frans