# Action figure taxidermy? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 11, 2010, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/action-figure-taxidermy/553436 "2010-09-11T21:21:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![dzero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/5f9b8f/32.png) [@dzero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dzero)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2010, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/action-figure-taxidermy/553436/1 "2010-09-11T21:21:18Z")
This is probably an odd thought, but I was wondering if there was any form of taxidermy that would let you pose the final product. So if I wanted to get a dead cat or squirrel stuffed, is there anyway to do it so that I could put them in various poses? What I had in mind was using something like that to do stop action animation or maybe just an animated gif file. I’m sure there are probably some software products that can do the virtual equivalent, but let’s assume that I really want to be ab to pose a real (stuffed) animal. Any thought? ---
**Author:** ![OldGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/3bc359/32.png) [@OldGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldGuy)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2010, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/action-figure-taxidermy/553436/2 "2010-09-11T21:29:57Z")
I’d guess to use an articulated metal skeleton with joints stiff enough to hold their positions when moved to given position and stuff around that. ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2010, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/action-figure-taxidermy/553436/3 "2010-09-11T21:49:49Z")
I don’t know the direct answer to your question as in someone to call but I take it you haven’t traveled around rural America much especially in the South. There are lots of really talented taxidermists out there and some consider themselves artists. I have seen examples of animals dressed up and put in poses and elaborate costumes and things like that. Some of the really good ones love a challenge. If you are seriously interested in that type of thing my answer would be that there has to be someone that can do it well. They have lots of different techniques from using most of the original body to sewing the hide over an artificial skeleton and the latter makes anything possible. Hell, I work in a body parts factory, know some of the top Hollywood special effects experts, as well as a few taxidermists. Between us, I know that we could get it done. ---
**Author:** ![drachillix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/48db29/32.png) [@drachillix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drachillix)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2010, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/action-figure-taxidermy/553436/4 "2010-09-11T22:12:45Z")
I have a customer who is a taxidermist, I will call him on monday. From my extensive discussions of his business however I would assume that the skins and such would end up being too brittle over time to be consistently reposable. ---
**Author:** ![Superhal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Superhal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superhal)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2010, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/action-figure-taxidermy/553436/5 "2010-09-11T22:26:49Z")
> [@drachillix](#): > > From my extensive discussions of his business however I would assume that the skins and such would end up being too brittle over time to be consistently reposable. Couldn’t you just make joints, and the fur would hide the seams? ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2010, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/action-figure-taxidermy/553436/6 "2010-09-11T22:28:36Z")
Yeah, they _pose_ them all the time - see: your local museum with the “mad at you” bobcat. But I seriously doubt they can "_repose"_ them again and again - what’s in them is a stiff foam. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2010, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/action-figure-taxidermy/553436/7 "2010-09-11T22:33:13Z")
If your intention is to RE-pose an animal and need flexible skin, replace the original skin with something synthetic that stretches. You didn’t think that the eyes were the originals, did you? Only a tiny portion of any stuffed animal came from nature. ---
**Author:** ![sitchensis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sitchensis/32/4892_2.png) [@sitchensis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sitchensis)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2010, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/action-figure-taxidermy/553436/8 "2010-09-11T22:55:19Z")
> [@](#): > > From my extensive discussions of his business however I would assume that the skins and such would end up being too brittle over time to be consistently reposable. > [@](#): > > If your intention is to RE-pose an animal and need flexible skin, replace the original skin with something synthetic that stretches. You didn’t think that the eyes were the originals, did you? Only a tiny portion of any stuffed animal came from nature. Its leather, all you would have to do is have it tanned and it would be flexable for a long time, just like a wallet or a pair of boots. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2010, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/action-figure-taxidermy/553436/9 "2010-09-11T23:39:03Z")
> [@Shagnasty](#): > > I work in a body parts factory That sounds intriguing. ---
**Author:** ![dzero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/5f9b8f/32.png) [@dzero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dzero)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2010, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/action-figure-taxidermy/553436/10 "2010-09-11T23:40:41Z")
As everyone can see, I know very little about taxidermy. As a child, I had a stuffed baby alligator that I managed to wear out. I think the skin eventually cracked but I don’t recall exactly. > [@drachillix](#): > > I have a customer who is a taxidermist, I will call him on monday. > > From my extensive discussions of his business however I would assume that the skins and such would end up being too brittle over time to be consistently reposable. Please don’t go to any trouble on my account. If you’re just curious and want to know, of course I would be interested too, but at this point I don’t have a “subject” in mind. Although the cats are looking at me funny and I might have to take them out before they get me first. (kidding guys - just kidding). > [@sitchensis](#): > > Its leather, all you would have to do is have it tanned and it would be flexable for a long time, just like a wallet or a pair of boots. That’s interesting. My first response would have been that you have to remove the fur in order to tan something although I don’t know why I think that. After all, you do have bear skin rugs, some of which I assume are the genuine article. Even if they have the original fur, they can remain flexible - right? Not sure I’ve ever seen one in person though so I can’t say. > [@Musicat](#): > > If your intention is to RE-pose an animal and need flexible skin, replace the original skin with something synthetic that stretches. You didn’t think that the eyes were the originals, did you? Only a tiny portion of any stuffed animal came from nature. I knew about the eyes. It troubles me a little that I knew, but I did. I guess you could do a “fur transplant” and put plugs of fur into some other material. Even for just the joints though it would have to crazy expensive. ---
**Author:** ![sitchensis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sitchensis/32/4892_2.png) [@sitchensis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sitchensis)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2010, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/action-figure-taxidermy/553436/11 "2010-09-12T00:01:57Z")
Yes, Bear skin rugs are flexible and leather, just like fur coats. In fact, I bet you could make one pretty easy with some foam and some flexible wire. You can buy tanned pelts on the internet, probably not a squirrel, but definitely rabbit or mink. A taxidermist could do a better job with a fresh animal, depends on the realism you’re looking for. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2010, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/action-figure-taxidermy/553436/12 "2010-09-12T00:08:22Z")
If you replace the skin, and replace what’s inside the skin, why do you even need to start with a dead animal in the first place? ---
**Author:** ![dzero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/5f9b8f/32.png) [@dzero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dzero)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2010, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/action-figure-taxidermy/553436/13 "2010-09-12T00:31:02Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > If you replace the skin, and replace what’s inside the skin, why do you even need to start with a dead animal in the first place? I don’t, but as Sitichensis (thanks btw) points out, it won’t look as real. I was just throwing out and responding to ideas about what the possible limitations might be and how one might get around them. Were I ever to do this and invest a significant amount of time, I would probably want something realistic. Although going the campy, haphazard route can be appropriate too depending upon your goals. South Park and Robot Chicken come to mind in the latter context. Although maybe “haphazard” wasn’t the best choice of words (my apologies to the fans of each). ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2010, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/action-figure-taxidermy/553436/14 "2010-09-12T04:54:39Z")
We took Max and Maxine, our two toy poodles, to a taxidermist. He asked if we wanted them mounted, but my wife said “Oh, goodness, no… but maybe just holding hands would be nice.” ---
**Author:** ![Reply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reply/32/15952_2.png) [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2010, 6:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/action-figure-taxidermy/553436/15 "2010-09-12T06:58:02Z")
> [@digs](#): > > We took Max and Maxine, our two toy poodles, to a taxidermist. > > He asked if we wanted them mounted, but my wife said “Oh, goodness, no… but maybe just holding hands would be nice.” That is the creepiest thing I’ve ever heard. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2010, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/action-figure-taxidermy/553436/16 "2010-09-12T20:57:08Z")
> [@GuanoLad](#): > > > [@Shagnasty](#): > > > > I work in a body parts factory > > That sounds intriguing. Quite intriguing. How about an OP in IMHO “Ask the guy who makes body parts”? ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2010, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/action-figure-taxidermy/553436/17 "2010-09-13T00:07:16Z")
> [@t-bonham@scc.net](#): > > > [@GuanoLad](#): > > > > That sounds intriguing. > > Quite intriguing. > > How about an OP in IMHO “Ask the guy who makes body parts”? I might do that sometime but I am not sure if it is a good idea. My employer is like Big Brother except more competent and effective at finding things out that you say and do. I don’t make the body parts, the technicians in the labs do that. I just make sure they get to where they need to go no matter what and am on call 24/7/365 even during vacation and it gets used. It was a little freaky when I first started but then I got used to it. I watched the movie Wargames a few months ago again though and the NORAD type scenes did seem perfectly realistic and familiar. It is a deadly serious game. ---
**Author:** ![Gulo\_gulo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bcef8e/32.png) [@Gulo\_gulo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gulo_gulo)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2010, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/action-figure-taxidermy/553436/18 "2010-09-13T21:49:36Z")
I sometimes work for a taxidermist and I really can’t see this as possible as a complete _realistic_ lifesize. While a tanned hide is flexible, it still won’t stretch & recover like skin can. You’d have a baggy, unrealistic looking beast once you moved it a few times. If you really wanted to do this, you could articulate the foam body then cut the bits off the hides and mount each section separately on each joint. I can’t imagine it would look very good but if you’re not going for realism, it would work. Today’s mounts use a dense foam material and I doubt they’d last long being moved around a lot. I have seen articulated deer made for the Department of Wildlife that consist of a head turning back and forth. They don’t last very long and definitely don’t stand up to close inspection…but it fools the poachers.