diff --git a/interface/src/avatar/Avatar.cpp b/interface/src/avatar/Avatar.cpp
index f722210a8e..24e786caa2 100644
--- a/interface/src/avatar/Avatar.cpp
+++ b/interface/src/avatar/Avatar.cpp
@@ -56,6 +56,8 @@ const float DISPLAYNAME_ALPHA = 1.0f;
 const float DISPLAYNAME_BACKGROUND_ALPHA = 0.4f;
 const glm::vec3 HAND_TO_PALM_OFFSET(0.0f, 0.12f, 0.08f);
 
+const AABox DEFAULT_AVATAR_SKINNED_MESH_BOUND(glm::vec3(-1.0, -1.0, -1.0), glm::vec3(2.0f));
+
 namespace render {
     template <> const ItemKey payloadGetKey(const AvatarSharedPointer& avatar) {
         return ItemKey::Builder::opaqueShape();
@@ -101,6 +103,7 @@ Avatar::Avatar(RigPointer rig) :
     _headData = static_cast<HeadData*>(new Head(this));
 
     _skeletonModel = std::make_shared<SkeletonModel>(this, nullptr, rig);
+    _skeletonModel->setSkinnedMeshBound(DEFAULT_AVATAR_SKINNED_MESH_BOUND);
 }
 
 Avatar::~Avatar() {
diff --git a/libraries/animation/src/Rig.h b/libraries/animation/src/Rig.h
index 1f9a02d8ab..3a27b9304b 100644
--- a/libraries/animation/src/Rig.h
+++ b/libraries/animation/src/Rig.h
@@ -221,6 +221,8 @@ public:
 
     void setEnableInverseKinematics(bool enable);
 
+    const glm::mat4& getGeometryToRigTransform() const { return _geometryToRigTransform; }
+
  protected:
     bool isIndexValid(int index) const { return _animSkeleton && index >= 0 && index < _animSkeleton->getNumJoints(); }
     void updateAnimationStateHandlers();
diff --git a/libraries/entities-renderer/src/RenderableModelEntityItem.cpp b/libraries/entities-renderer/src/RenderableModelEntityItem.cpp
index 312e1fcea5..e0d6c90758 100644
--- a/libraries/entities-renderer/src/RenderableModelEntityItem.cpp
+++ b/libraries/entities-renderer/src/RenderableModelEntityItem.cpp
@@ -54,6 +54,8 @@ void RenderableModelEntityItem::setModelURL(const QString& url) {
         // Here we reset those guards. This doesn't cause the entity values to change -- it just allows the model to match once it comes in.
         _model->setScaleToFit(false, getDimensions());
         _model->setSnapModelToRegistrationPoint(false, getRegistrationPoint());
+        AABox skinnedMeshBound(getPosition() - getDimensions() * getRegistrationPoint(), getDimensions());
+        _model->setSkinnedMeshBound(skinnedMeshBound);
     }
     ModelEntityItem::setModelURL(url);
 
@@ -76,6 +78,8 @@ void RenderableModelEntityItem::loader() {
     if (_model) {
         _model->setURL(getParsedModelURL());
         _model->setCollisionModelURL(QUrl(getCompoundShapeURL()));
+        AABox skinnedMeshBound(getPosition() - getDimensions() * getRegistrationPoint(), getDimensions());
+        _model->setSkinnedMeshBound(skinnedMeshBound);
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/libraries/model/src/model/Geometry.cpp b/libraries/model/src/model/Geometry.cpp
index df86ba2a8f..1c4072b6f3 100755
--- a/libraries/model/src/model/Geometry.cpp
+++ b/libraries/model/src/model/Geometry.cpp
@@ -111,7 +111,7 @@ Box Mesh::evalPartBound(int partNum) const {
     return box;
 }
 
-Box Mesh::evalPartBounds(int partStart, int partEnd, Boxes& bounds) const {
+Box Mesh::evalPartBounds(int partStart, int partEnd) const {
     Box totalBound;
     auto part = _partBuffer.cbegin<Part>() + partStart;
     auto partItEnd = _partBuffer.cbegin<Part>() + partEnd;
diff --git a/libraries/model/src/model/Geometry.h b/libraries/model/src/model/Geometry.h
index f9d9b0eeb4..b8873dba17 100755
--- a/libraries/model/src/model/Geometry.h
+++ b/libraries/model/src/model/Geometry.h
@@ -108,9 +108,9 @@ public:
 
     // evaluate the bounding box of A part
     Box evalPartBound(int partNum) const;
-    // evaluate the bounding boxes of the parts in the range [start, end[ and fill the bounds parameter
+    // evaluate the bounding boxes of the parts in the range [start, end]
     // the returned box is the bounding box of ALL the evaluated part bounds.
-    Box evalPartBounds(int partStart, int partEnd, Boxes& bounds) const;
+    Box evalPartBounds(int partStart, int partEnd) const;
 
     static gpu::Primitive topologyToPrimitive(Topology topo) { return static_cast<gpu::Primitive>(topo); }
 
diff --git a/libraries/render-utils/src/MeshPartPayload.cpp b/libraries/render-utils/src/MeshPartPayload.cpp
index 363def05a1..482d630cdb 100644
--- a/libraries/render-utils/src/MeshPartPayload.cpp
+++ b/libraries/render-utils/src/MeshPartPayload.cpp
@@ -52,17 +52,6 @@ MeshPartPayload::MeshPartPayload(model::MeshPointer mesh, int partIndex, model::
     updateTransform(transform, offsetTransform);
 }
 
-void MeshPartPayload::updateMeshPart(model::MeshPointer drawMesh, int partIndex) {
-    _drawMesh = drawMesh;
-    if (_drawMesh) {
-        auto vertexFormat = _drawMesh->getVertexFormat();
-        _hasColorAttrib = vertexFormat->hasAttribute(gpu::Stream::COLOR);
-        _drawPart = _drawMesh->getPartBuffer().get<model::Mesh::Part>(partIndex);
-
-        _localBound = _drawMesh->evalPartBound(partIndex);
-    }
-}
-
 void MeshPartPayload::updateTransform(const Transform& transform, const Transform& offsetTransform) {
     _transform = transform;
     _offsetTransform = offsetTransform;
@@ -71,6 +60,16 @@ void MeshPartPayload::updateTransform(const Transform& transform, const Transfor
     _worldBound.transform(_drawTransform);
 }
 
+void MeshPartPayload::updateMeshPart(model::MeshPointer drawMesh, int partIndex) {
+    _drawMesh = drawMesh;
+    if (_drawMesh) {
+        auto vertexFormat = _drawMesh->getVertexFormat();
+        _hasColorAttrib = vertexFormat->hasAttribute(gpu::Stream::COLOR);
+        _drawPart = _drawMesh->getPartBuffer().get<model::Mesh::Part>(partIndex);
+        _localBound = _drawMesh->evalPartBound(partIndex);
+    }
+}
+
 void MeshPartPayload::updateMaterial(model::MaterialPointer drawMaterial) {
     _drawMaterial = drawMaterial;
 }
@@ -316,10 +315,13 @@ template <> void payloadRender(const ModelMeshPartPayload::Pointer& payload, Ren
 }
 }
 
-ModelMeshPartPayload::ModelMeshPartPayload(Model* model, int _meshIndex, int partIndex, int shapeIndex, const Transform& transform, const Transform& offsetTransform) :
+ModelMeshPartPayload::ModelMeshPartPayload(Model* model, int _meshIndex, int partIndex, int shapeIndex, const Transform& transform,
+                                           const Transform& offsetTransform, const AABox& skinnedMeshBound) :
     _model(model),
     _meshIndex(_meshIndex),
-    _shapeID(shapeIndex) {
+    _shapeID(shapeIndex),
+    _skinnedMeshBound(skinnedMeshBound) {
+
     auto& modelMesh = _model->_geometry->getMeshes().at(_meshIndex)->_mesh;
     updateMeshPart(modelMesh, partIndex);
 
@@ -351,6 +353,36 @@ void ModelMeshPartPayload::notifyLocationChanged() {
     _model->_needsUpdateClusterMatrices = true;
 }
 
+void ModelMeshPartPayload::updateTransformForRigidlyBoundMesh(const Transform& transform, const Transform& clusterTransform, const Transform& offsetTransform) {
+    ModelMeshPartPayload::updateTransform(transform, offsetTransform);
+
+    // clusterMatrix has world rotation but not world translation.
+    Transform worldTranslation, geomToWorld;
+    worldTranslation.setTranslation(transform.getTranslation());
+    Transform::mult(geomToWorld, worldTranslation, clusterTransform);
+
+    // transform the localBound into world space
+    _worldBound = _localBound;
+    _worldBound.transform(geomToWorld);
+}
+
+void ModelMeshPartPayload::updateMeshPart(model::MeshPointer drawMesh, int partIndex) {
+    _drawMesh = drawMesh;
+    if (_drawMesh) {
+        auto vertexFormat = _drawMesh->getVertexFormat();
+        _hasColorAttrib = vertexFormat->hasAttribute(gpu::Stream::COLOR);
+        _drawPart = _drawMesh->getPartBuffer().get<model::Mesh::Part>(partIndex);
+
+        // this is a skinned mesh..
+        if (vertexFormat->hasAttribute(gpu::Stream::SKIN_CLUSTER_WEIGHT) && vertexFormat->hasAttribute(gpu::Stream::SKIN_CLUSTER_INDEX)) {
+            // use the specified skinned bounding box.
+            _localBound = _skinnedMeshBound;
+        } else {
+            _localBound = _drawMesh->evalPartBound(partIndex);
+        }
+    }
+}
+
 ItemKey ModelMeshPartPayload::getKey() const {
     ItemKey::Builder builder;
     builder.withTypeShape();
@@ -373,12 +405,6 @@ ItemKey ModelMeshPartPayload::getKey() const {
     return builder.build();
 }
 
-Item::Bound ModelMeshPartPayload::getBound() const {
-    // NOTE: we can't cache this bounds because we need to handle the case of a moving
-    // entity or mesh part.
-    return _model->getPartBounds(_meshIndex, _partIndex, _transform.getTranslation(), _transform.getRotation());
-}
-
 ShapeKey ModelMeshPartPayload::getShapeKey() const {
     const FBXGeometry& geometry = _model->_geometry->getFBXGeometry();
     const std::vector<std::unique_ptr<NetworkMesh>>& networkMeshes = _model->_geometry->getMeshes();
diff --git a/libraries/render-utils/src/MeshPartPayload.h b/libraries/render-utils/src/MeshPartPayload.h
index feccf7ee64..0aadf9baf8 100644
--- a/libraries/render-utils/src/MeshPartPayload.h
+++ b/libraries/render-utils/src/MeshPartPayload.h
@@ -64,6 +64,7 @@ public:
     bool _hasColorAttrib = false;
 };
 
+
 namespace render {
     template <> const ItemKey payloadGetKey(const MeshPartPayload::Pointer& payload);
     template <> const Item::Bound payloadGetBound(const MeshPartPayload::Pointer& payload);
@@ -73,16 +74,18 @@ namespace render {
 
 class ModelMeshPartPayload : public MeshPartPayload {
 public:
-    ModelMeshPartPayload(Model* model, int meshIndex, int partIndex, int shapeIndex, const Transform& transform, const Transform& offsetTransform);
-    
+    ModelMeshPartPayload(Model* model, int meshIndex, int partIndex, int shapeIndex, const Transform& transform,
+                         const Transform& offsetTransform, const AABox& skinnedMeshBound);
+
     typedef render::Payload<ModelMeshPartPayload> Payload;
     typedef Payload::DataPointer Pointer;
 
-    void notifyLocationChanged() override;
+    virtual void updateMeshPart(model::MeshPointer drawMesh, int partIndex) override;
+    virtual void notifyLocationChanged() override;
+    void updateTransformForRigidlyBoundMesh(const Transform& transform, const Transform& jointTransform, const Transform& offsetTransform);
 
     // Render Item interface
     render::ItemKey getKey() const override;
-    render::Item::Bound getBound() const override;
     render::ShapeKey getShapeKey() const override; // shape interface
     void render(RenderArgs* args) const override;
 
@@ -99,6 +102,15 @@ public:
 
     bool _isSkinned{ false };
     bool _isBlendShaped{ false };
+
+    AABox _skinnedMeshBound;
 };
 
+namespace render {
+    template <> const ItemKey payloadGetKey(const ModelMeshPartPayload::Pointer& payload);
+    template <> const Item::Bound payloadGetBound(const ModelMeshPartPayload::Pointer& payload);
+    template <> const ShapeKey shapeGetShapeKey(const ModelMeshPartPayload::Pointer& payload);
+    template <> void payloadRender(const ModelMeshPartPayload::Pointer& payload, RenderArgs* args);
+}
+
 #endif // hifi_MeshPartPayload_h
diff --git a/libraries/render-utils/src/Model.cpp b/libraries/render-utils/src/Model.cpp
index 0a483914df..e47f8caf65 100644
--- a/libraries/render-utils/src/Model.cpp
+++ b/libraries/render-utils/src/Model.cpp
@@ -102,6 +102,7 @@ void Model::setRotation(const glm::quat& rotation) {
 
 void Model::setScale(const glm::vec3& scale) {
     setScaleInternal(scale);
+
     // if anyone sets scale manually, then we are no longer scaled to fit
     _scaleToFit = false;
     _scaledToFit = false;
@@ -130,22 +131,46 @@ void Model::setOffset(const glm::vec3& offset) {
 void Model::enqueueLocationChange() {
     render::ScenePointer scene = AbstractViewStateInterface::instance()->getMain3DScene();
 
-    Transform transform;
-    transform.setTranslation(_translation);
-    transform.setRotation(_rotation);
+    Transform modelTransform;
+    modelTransform.setScale(_scale);
+    modelTransform.setTranslation(_translation);
+    modelTransform.setRotation(_rotation);
 
     Transform offset;
-    offset.setScale(_scale);
-    offset.postTranslate(_offset);
+    if (_geometry && _geometry->isLoaded()) {
+        offset = Transform(_rig->getGeometryToRigTransform());
+    } else {
+        offset.postTranslate(_offset);
+    }
 
     render::PendingChanges pendingChanges;
-    foreach (auto itemID, _renderItems.keys()) {
-        pendingChanges.updateItem<MeshPartPayload>(itemID, [transform, offset](MeshPartPayload& data) {
-            data.updateTransform(transform, offset);
+    foreach (auto itemID, _modelMeshRenderItems.keys()) {
+        pendingChanges.updateItem<ModelMeshPartPayload>(itemID, [modelTransform, offset](ModelMeshPartPayload& data) {
+            //data._model->updateClusterMatrices(data._transform.getTranslation(), data._transform.getRotation());
+            const Model::MeshState& state = data._model->_meshStates.at(data._meshIndex);
+            if (state.clusterBuffer) {
+                data.updateTransform(modelTransform, offset);
+            } else {
+                // HACK: check for bugs...
+                AnimPose clusterMat(state.clusterMatrices[0]);
+
+                Transform xform;
+                xform.setScale(clusterMat.scale);
+                xform.setRotation(clusterMat.rot);
+                xform.setTranslation(clusterMat.trans);
+                data.updateTransformForRigidlyBoundMesh(modelTransform, xform, offset);
+            }
             data.notifyLocationChanged();
         });
     }
 
+    foreach (auto itemID, _collisionRenderItems.keys()) {
+        pendingChanges.updateItem<MeshPartPayload>(itemID, [modelTransform, offset](MeshPartPayload& data) {
+            data.updateTransform(modelTransform, offset);
+            data.notifyLocationChanged();
+       });
+    }
+
     scene->enqueuePendingChanges(pendingChanges);
 }
 
@@ -497,8 +522,11 @@ void Model::setVisibleInScene(bool newValue, std::shared_ptr<render::Scene> scen
         _isVisible = newValue;
 
         render::PendingChanges pendingChanges;
-        foreach (auto item, _renderItems.keys()) {
-            pendingChanges.resetItem(item, _renderItems[item]);
+        foreach (auto item, _modelMeshRenderItems.keys()) {
+            pendingChanges.resetItem(item, _modelMeshRenderItems[item]);
+        }
+        foreach (auto item, _collisionRenderItems.keys()) {
+            pendingChanges.resetItem(item, _modelMeshRenderItems[item]);
         }
         scene->enqueuePendingChanges(pendingChanges);
     }
@@ -514,14 +542,25 @@ bool Model::addToScene(std::shared_ptr<render::Scene> scene, render::PendingChan
 
     bool somethingAdded = false;
 
-    foreach (auto renderItem, _renderItemsSet) {
+    foreach (auto renderItem, _modelMeshRenderItemsSet) {
+        auto item = scene->allocateID();
+        auto renderPayload = std::make_shared<ModelMeshPartPayload::Payload>(renderItem);
+        pendingChanges.resetItem(item, renderPayload);
+        pendingChanges.updateItem<ModelMeshPartPayload>(item, [](ModelMeshPartPayload& data) {
+            data.notifyLocationChanged();
+        });
+        _modelMeshRenderItems.insert(item, renderPayload);
+        somethingAdded = true;
+    }
+
+    foreach (auto renderItem, _collisionRenderItemsSet) {
         auto item = scene->allocateID();
         auto renderPayload = std::make_shared<MeshPartPayload::Payload>(renderItem);
         pendingChanges.resetItem(item, renderPayload);
         pendingChanges.updateItem<MeshPartPayload>(item, [](MeshPartPayload& data) {
             data.notifyLocationChanged();
         });
-        _renderItems.insert(item, renderPayload);
+        _collisionRenderItems.insert(item, renderPayload);
         somethingAdded = true;
     }
 
@@ -541,7 +580,19 @@ bool Model::addToScene(std::shared_ptr<render::Scene> scene,
 
     bool somethingAdded = false;
 
-    foreach (auto renderItem, _renderItemsSet) {
+    foreach (auto renderItem, _modelMeshRenderItemsSet) {
+        auto item = scene->allocateID();
+        auto renderPayload = std::make_shared<ModelMeshPartPayload::Payload>(renderItem);
+        renderPayload->addStatusGetters(statusGetters);
+        pendingChanges.resetItem(item, renderPayload);
+        pendingChanges.updateItem<ModelMeshPartPayload>(item, [](ModelMeshPartPayload& data) {
+            data.notifyLocationChanged();
+        });
+        _modelMeshRenderItems.insert(item, renderPayload);
+        somethingAdded = true;
+    }
+
+    foreach (auto renderItem, _collisionRenderItemsSet) {
         auto item = scene->allocateID();
         auto renderPayload = std::make_shared<MeshPartPayload::Payload>(renderItem);
         renderPayload->addStatusGetters(statusGetters);
@@ -549,7 +600,7 @@ bool Model::addToScene(std::shared_ptr<render::Scene> scene,
         pendingChanges.updateItem<MeshPartPayload>(item, [](MeshPartPayload& data) {
             data.notifyLocationChanged();
         });
-        _renderItems.insert(item, renderPayload);
+        _collisionRenderItems.insert(item, renderPayload);
         somethingAdded = true;
     }
 
@@ -559,11 +610,16 @@ bool Model::addToScene(std::shared_ptr<render::Scene> scene,
 }
 
 void Model::removeFromScene(std::shared_ptr<render::Scene> scene, render::PendingChanges& pendingChanges) {
-    foreach (auto item, _renderItems.keys()) {
+    foreach (auto item, _modelMeshRenderItems.keys()) {
         pendingChanges.removeItem(item);
     }
-    _renderItems.clear();
-    _renderItemsSet.clear();
+    _modelMeshRenderItems.clear();
+    _modelMeshRenderItemsSet.clear();
+    foreach (auto item, _collisionRenderItems.keys()) {
+        pendingChanges.removeItem(item);
+    }
+    _collisionRenderItems.clear();
+    _collisionRenderItemsSet.clear();
     _meshGroupsKnown = false;
     _readyWhenAdded = false;
 }
@@ -1191,10 +1247,14 @@ void Model::segregateMeshGroups() {
         return;
     }
 
-    Q_ASSERT(_renderItems.isEmpty()); // We should not have any existing renderItems if we enter this section of code
-    Q_ASSERT(_renderItemsSet.isEmpty()); // We should not have any existing renderItemsSet if we enter this section of code
+    // We should not have any existing renderItems if we enter this section of code
+    Q_ASSERT(_modelMeshRenderItems.isEmpty());
+    Q_ASSERT(_modelMeshRenderItemsSet.isEmpty());
+    Q_ASSERT(_collisionRenderItems.isEmpty());
+    Q_ASSERT(_collisionRenderItemsSet.isEmpty());
 
-    _renderItemsSet.clear();
+    _modelMeshRenderItemsSet.clear();
+    _collisionRenderItemsSet.clear();
 
     Transform transform;
     transform.setTranslation(_translation);
@@ -1220,9 +1280,14 @@ void Model::segregateMeshGroups() {
                     _collisionHullMaterial->setMetallic(0.02f);
                     _collisionHullMaterial->setRoughness(0.5f);
                 }
-                _renderItemsSet << std::make_shared<MeshPartPayload>(networkMesh._mesh, partIndex, _collisionHullMaterial, transform, offset);
+                _collisionRenderItemsSet << std::make_shared<MeshPartPayload>(networkMesh._mesh, partIndex, _collisionHullMaterial, transform, offset);
             } else {
-                _renderItemsSet << std::make_shared<ModelMeshPartPayload>(this, i, partIndex, shapeID, transform, offset);
+                AABox geometrySkinnedMeshBound = _skinnedMeshBound;
+
+                // transform bound from model into geometry space.
+                geometrySkinnedMeshBound.transform(Transform(glm::inverse(_rig->getGeometryToRigTransform())));
+
+                _modelMeshRenderItemsSet << std::make_shared<ModelMeshPartPayload>(this, i, partIndex, shapeID, transform, offset, geometrySkinnedMeshBound);
             }
 
             shapeID++;
@@ -1245,13 +1310,21 @@ bool Model::initWhenReady(render::ScenePointer scene) {
         offset.setScale(_scale);
         offset.postTranslate(_offset);
 
-        foreach (auto renderItem, _renderItemsSet) {
+        foreach (auto renderItem, _modelMeshRenderItemsSet) {
+            auto item = scene->allocateID();
+            auto renderPayload = std::make_shared<ModelMeshPartPayload::Payload>(renderItem);
+            _modelMeshRenderItems.insert(item, renderPayload);
+            pendingChanges.resetItem(item, renderPayload);
+            pendingChanges.updateItem<ModelMeshPartPayload>(item, [transform, offset](MeshPartPayload& data) {
+                data.notifyLocationChanged();
+            });
+        }
+        foreach (auto renderItem, _collisionRenderItemsSet) {
             auto item = scene->allocateID();
             auto renderPayload = std::make_shared<MeshPartPayload::Payload>(renderItem);
-            _renderItems.insert(item, renderPayload);
+            _collisionRenderItems.insert(item, renderPayload);
             pendingChanges.resetItem(item, renderPayload);
-            pendingChanges.updateItem<MeshPartPayload>(item, [transform,offset](MeshPartPayload& data) {
-                data.updateTransform(transform, offset);
+            pendingChanges.updateItem<MeshPartPayload>(item, [transform, offset](MeshPartPayload& data) {
                 data.notifyLocationChanged();
             });
         }
diff --git a/libraries/render-utils/src/Model.h b/libraries/render-utils/src/Model.h
index 4e51dc4f33..019795f116 100644
--- a/libraries/render-utils/src/Model.h
+++ b/libraries/render-utils/src/Model.h
@@ -44,6 +44,7 @@ namespace render {
     typedef unsigned int ItemID;
 }
 class MeshPartPayload;
+class ModelMeshPartPayload;
 class ModelRenderLocations;
 
 inline uint qHash(const std::shared_ptr<MeshPartPayload>& a, uint seed) {
@@ -222,6 +223,9 @@ public:
 
     const glm::vec3& getRegistrationPoint() const { return _registrationPoint; }
 
+    // bounding box used for mesh that is influnced by multiple animated bones.
+    void setSkinnedMeshBound(const AABox& skinnedMeshBound) { _skinnedMeshBound = skinnedMeshBound; }
+
 protected:
 
     void setPupilDilation(float dilation) { _pupilDilation = dilation; }
@@ -371,8 +375,12 @@ protected:
     bool _renderCollisionHull;
 
 
-    QSet<std::shared_ptr<MeshPartPayload>> _renderItemsSet;
-    QMap<render::ItemID, render::PayloadPointer> _renderItems;
+    QSet<std::shared_ptr<MeshPartPayload>> _collisionRenderItemsSet;
+    QMap<render::ItemID, render::PayloadPointer> _collisionRenderItems;
+
+    QSet<std::shared_ptr<ModelMeshPartPayload>> _modelMeshRenderItemsSet;
+    QMap<render::ItemID, render::PayloadPointer> _modelMeshRenderItems;
+
     bool _readyWhenAdded { false };
     bool _needsReload { true };
     bool _needsUpdateClusterMatrices { true };
@@ -382,6 +390,9 @@ protected:
 
     friend class ModelMeshPartPayload;
     RigPointer _rig;
+
+    // 2 meter^3 box
+    AABox _skinnedMeshBound { glm::vec3(-1.0, -1.0, -1.0), glm::vec3(2.0f) };
 };
 
 Q_DECLARE_METATYPE(ModelPointer)
diff --git a/libraries/shared/src/AABox.cpp b/libraries/shared/src/AABox.cpp
index 0b453e6f36..786ef40257 100644
--- a/libraries/shared/src/AABox.cpp
+++ b/libraries/shared/src/AABox.cpp
@@ -17,6 +17,8 @@
 #include "GeometryUtil.h"
 #include "NumericalConstants.h"
 
+const glm::vec3 INFINITY_VECTOR(std::numeric_limits<float>::infinity());
+
 AABox::AABox(const AACube& other) :
     _corner(other.getCorner()), _scale(other.getScale(), other.getScale(), other.getScale()) {
 }
@@ -34,7 +36,7 @@ AABox::AABox(const glm::vec3& corner, const glm::vec3& dimensions) :
     _corner(corner), _scale(dimensions) {
 };
 
-AABox::AABox() : _corner(std::numeric_limits<float>::infinity()), _scale(0.0f) {
+AABox::AABox() : _corner(INFINITY_VECTOR), _scale(0.0f) {
 };
 
 glm::vec3 AABox::calcCenter() const {
@@ -475,8 +477,15 @@ AABox AABox::clamp(float min, float max) const {
 }
 
 AABox& AABox::operator += (const glm::vec3& point) {
-    _corner = glm::min(_corner, point);
-    _scale = glm::max(_scale, point - _corner);
+
+    if (_corner == INFINITY_VECTOR) {
+        _corner = glm::min(_corner, point);
+    } else {
+        glm::vec3 maximum(_corner + _scale);
+        _corner = glm::min(_corner, point);
+        maximum = glm::max(maximum, point);
+        _scale = maximum - _corner;
+    }
 
     return (*this);
 }
@@ -489,11 +498,25 @@ AABox& AABox::operator += (const AABox& box) {
     return (*this);
 }
 
-void AABox::scale(const glm::vec3& scale) {
+void AABox::embiggen(float scale) {
+    _corner += scale * (-0.5f * _scale);
+    _scale *= scale;
+}
+
+void AABox::embiggen(const glm::vec3& scale) {
+    _corner += scale * (-0.5f * _scale);
+    _scale *= scale;
+}
+
+void AABox::scale(float scale) {
     _corner *= scale;
     _scale *= scale;
 }
 
+void AABox::scale(const glm::vec3& scale) {
+    _corner *= scale;
+    _scale *= scale;
+}
 
 void AABox::rotate(const glm::quat& rotation) {
     auto minimum = _corner;
diff --git a/libraries/shared/src/AABox.h b/libraries/shared/src/AABox.h
index ec06c60121..000d4be734 100644
--- a/libraries/shared/src/AABox.h
+++ b/libraries/shared/src/AABox.h
@@ -58,7 +58,6 @@ public:
     const glm::vec3& getMinimumPoint() const { return _corner; }
     glm::vec3 getMaximumPoint() const { return calcTopFarLeft(); }
 
-
     bool contains(const glm::vec3& point) const;
     bool contains(const AABox& otherBox) const;
     bool touches(const AABox& otherBox) const;
@@ -93,6 +92,10 @@ public:
     void scale(float scale);
     void scale(const glm::vec3& scale);
 
+    /// make the AABox bigger (scale about it's center)
+    void embiggen(float scale);
+    void embiggen(const glm::vec3& scale);
+
     // Transform the extents with transform
     void transform(const Transform& transform);
 
diff --git a/tests/shared/src/AABoxTests.cpp b/tests/shared/src/AABoxTests.cpp
index fd709a488c..41f05616c4 100644
--- a/tests/shared/src/AABoxTests.cpp
+++ b/tests/shared/src/AABoxTests.cpp
@@ -151,3 +151,15 @@ void AABoxTests::testTouchesSphere() {
     }
 }
 
+void AABoxTests::testScale() {
+    AABox box(glm::vec3(2.0f), glm::vec3(1.0f));
+    QCOMPARE(box.contains(glm::vec3(0.0f)), false);
+    box.scale(glm::vec3(10.0f));
+    QCOMPARE(box.contains(glm::vec3(0.0f)), false);
+    QCOMPARE(box.contains(glm::vec3(2.0f * 10.0f)), true);
+
+    AABox box(glm::vec3(2.0f), glm::vec3(1.0f));
+    QCOMPARE(box.contains(glm::vec3(0.0f)), false);
+    box.embiggen(glm::vec3(10.0f));
+    QCOMPARE(box.contains(glm::vec3(0.0f)), false);
+}
diff --git a/tests/shared/src/AABoxTests.h b/tests/shared/src/AABoxTests.h
index fe7afede57..c777f8e94f 100644
--- a/tests/shared/src/AABoxTests.h
+++ b/tests/shared/src/AABoxTests.h
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ private slots:
     void testCtorsAndSetters();
     void testContainsPoint();
     void testTouchesSphere();
+    void testScale();
 };
 
 #endif // hifi_AABoxTests_h