Very specifically I am looking to find out how to reform the head of a fox that was tanned (for a wall-hanging I suppose) and dried out and 'curled up'. I would like to try and soften the face, so that I could reform it and put some glass/acrylic eyes in it to assemble onto a sporran I am making.

First of all, is my objective realistic at all?

Secondly, what can I use to soften the hide of the face (water, some sort of tanning agent)?

I'm assuming that once I get it pliable I can put some sort of form under it (shaped styrofoam or even some form of shaped cardboard - shot in the dark) to provide a decent shape and to anchor the eye inserts. Does any of that make sense?

Thanks for any and all inputs.