Hedgehog take two

Remember the hedgehog skeleton I posted a few months ago? Well, it was badly damaged by careless students soon after. This was partly my fault because I articulated with as little wire as possible (all carefully hidden) and no additional support, for a free standing finished mount despite the knowledge that it would be used in zoology practicums and it wasn't meant to be a display only specimen.
That being said, it's also due to the incredible carelessness of some students when handling natural history specimens. The need to handle those properly and carefully, especially when it comes to teaching collections which are used by generation of students, cannot be stressed enough.
Well, lesson learned, and I spent some time repairing it and reinforcing it with wires and additional support. Unfortunately, a toe was lost in the process.

I also added a brass plaque to the base, which always adds to the finished piece I think.

 Right side view

 Detail of the scapular belt area

 Detail of the right leg


Despite the fact that I don't like at all to come back on a specimen I consider finished, this was an interesting experience, since I usually don't build skeletons with that much wiring although I kind of like the look of it.

It's now back in the university teaching collections, let's hope it stays in one piece this time!