diff --git a/interface/src/avatar/Hand.cpp b/interface/src/avatar/Hand.cpp
index 201b332a8c..e5be719b40 100644
--- a/interface/src/avatar/Hand.cpp
+++ b/interface/src/avatar/Hand.cpp
@@ -262,15 +262,6 @@ void Hand::simulate(float deltaTime, bool isMine) {
     
     if (isMine) {
         _buckyBalls.simulate(deltaTime);
-    }
-    
-    const glm::vec3 leapHandsOffsetFromFace(0.0, -0.2, -0.3);  // place the hand in front of the face where we can see it
-    
-    Head& head = _owningAvatar->getHead();
-    _baseOrientation = _owningAvatar->getOrientation();
-    _basePosition = head.calculateAverageEyePosition() + _baseOrientation * leapHandsOffsetFromFace * head.getScale();
-    
-    if (isMine) {
         updateCollisions();
     }
     
@@ -465,7 +456,7 @@ void Hand::calculateGeometry() {
                     const float standardBallRadius = FINGERTIP_COLLISION_RADIUS;
                     _leapFingerTipBalls.resize(_leapFingerTipBalls.size() + 1);
                     HandBall& ball = _leapFingerTipBalls.back();
-                    ball.rotation = _baseOrientation;
+                    ball.rotation = getBaseOrientation();
                     ball.position = finger.getTipPosition();
                     ball.radius         = standardBallRadius;
                     ball.touchForce     = 0.0;
@@ -487,7 +478,7 @@ void Hand::calculateGeometry() {
                     const float standardBallRadius = 0.005f;
                     _leapFingerRootBalls.resize(_leapFingerRootBalls.size() + 1);
                     HandBall& ball = _leapFingerRootBalls.back();
-                    ball.rotation = _baseOrientation;
+                    ball.rotation = getBaseOrientation();
                     ball.position = finger.getRootPosition();
                     ball.radius         = standardBallRadius;
                     ball.touchForce     = 0.0;
diff --git a/interface/src/renderer/Model.cpp b/interface/src/renderer/Model.cpp
index 76cf655c1e..c6c820a0f9 100644
--- a/interface/src/renderer/Model.cpp
+++ b/interface/src/renderer/Model.cpp
@@ -798,7 +798,10 @@ bool Model::restoreJointPosition(int jointIndex, float percent) {
     const QVector<int>& freeLineage = geometry.joints.at(jointIndex).freeLineage;
     
     foreach (int index, freeLineage) {
-        _jointStates[index].rotation = safeMix(_jointStates[index].rotation, geometry.joints.at(index).rotation, percent);
+        JointState& state = _jointStates[index];
+        const FBXJoint& joint = geometry.joints.at(index);
+        state.rotation = safeMix(state.rotation, joint.rotation, percent);
+        state.translation = glm::mix(state.translation, joint.translation, percent);
     }
     return true;
 }
diff --git a/libraries/avatars/src/HandData.cpp b/libraries/avatars/src/HandData.cpp
index 7fc0c79b47..81d4469486 100644
--- a/libraries/avatars/src/HandData.cpp
+++ b/libraries/avatars/src/HandData.cpp
@@ -16,8 +16,6 @@
 const int fingerVectorRadix = 4;
 
 HandData::HandData(AvatarData* owningAvatar) :
-    _basePosition(0.0f, 0.0f, 0.0f),
-    _baseOrientation(0.0f, 0.0f, 0.0f, 1.0f),
     _owningAvatarData(owningAvatar)
 {
     // Start with two palms
@@ -26,11 +24,11 @@ HandData::HandData(AvatarData* owningAvatar) :
 }
 
 glm::vec3 HandData::worldPositionToLeapPosition(const glm::vec3& worldPosition) const {
-    return glm::inverse(_baseOrientation) * (worldPosition - _basePosition) / LEAP_UNIT_SCALE;
+    return glm::inverse(getBaseOrientation()) * (worldPosition - getBasePosition()) / LEAP_UNIT_SCALE;
 }
 
 glm::vec3 HandData::worldVectorToLeapVector(const glm::vec3& worldVector) const {
-    return glm::inverse(_baseOrientation) * worldVector / LEAP_UNIT_SCALE;
+    return glm::inverse(getBaseOrientation()) * worldVector / LEAP_UNIT_SCALE;
 }
 
 PalmData& HandData::addNewPalm()  {
@@ -254,6 +252,15 @@ bool HandData::findSpherePenetration(const glm::vec3& penetratorCenter, float pe
     return false;
 }
 
+glm::quat HandData::getBaseOrientation() const {
+    return _owningAvatarData->getOrientation();
+}
+
+glm::vec3 HandData::getBasePosition() const {
+    const glm::vec3 LEAP_HANDS_OFFSET_FROM_TORSO(0.0, 0.3, -0.3);
+    return _owningAvatarData->getPosition() + getBaseOrientation() * LEAP_HANDS_OFFSET_FROM_TORSO *
+        _owningAvatarData->getTargetScale();
+}
 
 void FingerData::setTrailLength(unsigned int length) {
     _tipTrailPositions.resize(length);
diff --git a/libraries/avatars/src/HandData.h b/libraries/avatars/src/HandData.h
index ef9009312e..4faf408fca 100755
--- a/libraries/avatars/src/HandData.h
+++ b/libraries/avatars/src/HandData.h
@@ -50,10 +50,10 @@ public:
 
     // position conversion
     glm::vec3 leapPositionToWorldPosition(const glm::vec3& leapPosition) {
-        return _basePosition + _baseOrientation * (leapPosition * LEAP_UNIT_SCALE);
+        return getBasePosition() + getBaseOrientation() * (leapPosition * LEAP_UNIT_SCALE);
     }
     glm::vec3 leapDirectionToWorldDirection(const glm::vec3& leapDirection) {
-        return _baseOrientation * leapDirection;
+        return getBaseOrientation() * leapDirection;
     }
     glm::vec3 worldPositionToLeapPosition(const glm::vec3& worldPosition) const;
     glm::vec3 worldVectorToLeapVector(const glm::vec3& worldVector) const;
@@ -86,10 +86,12 @@ public:
 
     friend class AvatarData;
 protected:
-    glm::vec3              _basePosition;      // Hands are placed relative to this
-    glm::quat              _baseOrientation;   // Hands are placed relative to this
     AvatarData* _owningAvatarData;
     std::vector<PalmData>  _palms;
+    
+    glm::quat getBaseOrientation() const;
+    glm::vec3 getBasePosition() const;
+    
 private:
     // privatize copy ctor and assignment operator so copies of this object cannot be made
     HandData(const HandData&);