>Sorry I know this is a
>old post, but you cannot
>re mount a life size
>or any mount period!! Look
>at it this way, have
>you ever had a wet
>leather glove? It shrinks and
>cracks...lol the cat was glued
>to the form and the
>cape was soaked in water
>you cant do it. If
>you ask for a re
>mount you get a different
>cape!!!! Or a whole new
>lion lol.........
Droptine,
I consider myself an experienced taxidermist and would not advise anyone without proper experience and skill to attempt a project like this. I had remounted shoulder mounts and lifesize mounts before. And they were in just as bad or worse condition as this one. When I took on this job I wasn't sure if it would work either. I soaked the lion and very carefully took it apart. I had a lot of time fixing areas where the skin had cracked and became brittle, especially in the tail and ears. I re-oiled the skin to help with softening the leather and give it better stretch again also. The original mannikin was a good lion form from Mckenzie, so I re-used it. I bought a new change-out head, new glass eyes, and a new tail form. I remounted the original skin and it turned out better than I hoped. I did not buy a different cape or use any parts from any other capes. This client was and still is very fortunate in how this turned out.
- Josh Hunt, owner Deer Creek Wildlife Studio, Morgan, Utah
