diff --git a/interface/src/avatar/Avatar.cpp b/interface/src/avatar/Avatar.cpp
index 2b72fe2c23..6ceca9b426 100644
--- a/interface/src/avatar/Avatar.cpp
+++ b/interface/src/avatar/Avatar.cpp
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@
 #include <PacketHeaders.h>
 #include <PerfStat.h>
 #include <SharedUtil.h>
+#include <StreamUtils.h>    // adebug
 
 #include "Application.h"
 #include "Avatar.h"
@@ -52,6 +53,7 @@ const float DISPLAYNAME_BACKGROUND_ALPHA = 0.4f;
 Avatar::Avatar() :
     AvatarData(),
     _skeletonModel(this),
+    _skeletonOffset(0.0f),
     _bodyYawDelta(0.0f),
     _velocity(0.0f),
     _positionDeltaAccumulator(0.0f),
@@ -762,6 +764,21 @@ bool Avatar::findCollisions(const QVector<const Shape*>& shapes, CollisionList&
     return collided;
 }
 
+void Avatar::setSkeletonOffset(const glm::vec3& offset) {
+    const float MAX_OFFSET_LENGTH = _scale * 0.5f;
+    float offsetLength = glm::length(offset);
+    if (offsetLength > MAX_OFFSET_LENGTH) {
+        _skeletonOffset = (MAX_OFFSET_LENGTH / offsetLength) * offset;
+    } else {
+        _skeletonOffset = offset;
+    }
+    std::cout << "adebug set offset = " << offset << std::endl;  // adebug
+}
+
+glm::vec3 Avatar::getSkeletonPosition() const { 
+    return _position + _skeletonOffset; 
+}
+
 QVector<glm::quat> Avatar::getJointRotations() const {
     if (QThread::currentThread() != thread()) {
         return AvatarData::getJointRotations();
diff --git a/interface/src/avatar/Avatar.h b/interface/src/avatar/Avatar.h
index cbdebc6a48..29fb4cf241 100755
--- a/interface/src/avatar/Avatar.h
+++ b/interface/src/avatar/Avatar.h
@@ -69,6 +69,7 @@ class Texture;
 class Avatar : public AvatarData {
     Q_OBJECT
     Q_PROPERTY(quint32 collisionGroups READ getCollisionGroups WRITE setCollisionGroups)
+    Q_PROPERTY(glm::vec3 skeletonOffset READ getSkeletonOffset WRITE setSkeletonOffset)
 
 public:
     Avatar();
@@ -146,6 +147,10 @@ public:
 
     quint32 getCollisionGroups() const { return _collisionGroups; }
     virtual void setCollisionGroups(quint32 collisionGroups) { _collisionGroups = (collisionGroups & VALID_COLLISION_GROUPS); }
+
+    Q_INVOKABLE void setSkeletonOffset(const glm::vec3& offset);
+    Q_INVOKABLE glm::vec3 getSkeletonOffset() { return _skeletonOffset; }
+    virtual glm::vec3 getSkeletonPosition() const;
     
     Q_INVOKABLE glm::vec3 getJointPosition(int index) const;
     Q_INVOKABLE glm::vec3 getJointPosition(const QString& name) const;
@@ -184,6 +189,7 @@ signals:
 protected:
     Hair _hair;
     SkeletonModel _skeletonModel;
+    glm::vec3 _skeletonOffset;
     QVector<Model*> _attachmentModels;
     float _bodyYawDelta;
 
diff --git a/interface/src/avatar/MyAvatar.cpp b/interface/src/avatar/MyAvatar.cpp
index aae1907b76..5b6433365c 100644
--- a/interface/src/avatar/MyAvatar.cpp
+++ b/interface/src/avatar/MyAvatar.cpp
@@ -108,6 +108,20 @@ MyAvatar::~MyAvatar() {
     _lookAtTargetAvatar.clear();
 }
 
+QByteArray MyAvatar::toByteArray() {
+    CameraMode mode = Application::getInstance()->getCamera()->getMode();
+    if (mode == CAMERA_MODE_THIRD_PERSON || mode == CAMERA_MODE_INDEPENDENT) {
+        // fake the avatar position that is sent up to the AvatarMixer
+        glm::vec3 oldPosition = _position;
+        _position += _skeletonOffset;
+        QByteArray array = AvatarData::toByteArray();
+        // copy the correct position back
+        _position = oldPosition;
+        return array;
+    }
+    return AvatarData::toByteArray();
+}
+
 void MyAvatar::reset() {
     _skeletonModel.reset();
     getHead()->reset();
@@ -1052,6 +1066,14 @@ void MyAvatar::setAttachmentData(const QVector<AttachmentData>& attachmentData)
     _billboardValid = false;
 }
 
+glm::vec3 MyAvatar::getSkeletonPosition() const {
+    CameraMode mode = Application::getInstance()->getCamera()->getMode();
+    if (mode == CAMERA_MODE_THIRD_PERSON || mode == CAMERA_MODE_INDEPENDENT) {
+        return Avatar::getSkeletonPosition();
+    }
+    return Avatar::getPosition();
+}
+
 QString MyAvatar::getScriptedMotorFrame() const {
     QString frame = "avatar";
     if (_scriptedMotorFrame == SCRIPTED_MOTOR_CAMERA_FRAME) {
diff --git a/interface/src/avatar/MyAvatar.h b/interface/src/avatar/MyAvatar.h
index 98fc5ff74d..34a8ec6f5e 100644
--- a/interface/src/avatar/MyAvatar.h
+++ b/interface/src/avatar/MyAvatar.h
@@ -41,7 +41,8 @@ class MyAvatar : public Avatar {
 public:
 	MyAvatar();
     ~MyAvatar();
-    
+
+    QByteArray toByteArray();
     void reset();
     void update(float deltaTime);
     void simulate(float deltaTime);
@@ -133,6 +134,8 @@ public:
     virtual void setFaceModelURL(const QUrl& faceModelURL);
     virtual void setSkeletonModelURL(const QUrl& skeletonModelURL);
     virtual void setAttachmentData(const QVector<AttachmentData>& attachmentData);
+
+    virtual glm::vec3 getSkeletonPosition() const;
     
     void clearJointAnimationPriorities();
 
diff --git a/interface/src/avatar/SkeletonModel.cpp b/interface/src/avatar/SkeletonModel.cpp
index a1fccf1a10..cf14038331 100644
--- a/interface/src/avatar/SkeletonModel.cpp
+++ b/interface/src/avatar/SkeletonModel.cpp
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@ const float PALM_PRIORITY = DEFAULT_PRIORITY;
 const float LEAN_PRIORITY = DEFAULT_PRIORITY;
 
 void SkeletonModel::simulate(float deltaTime, bool fullUpdate) {
-    setTranslation(_owningAvatar->getPosition());
+    setTranslation(_owningAvatar->getSkeletonPosition());
     static const glm::quat refOrientation = glm::angleAxis(PI, glm::vec3(0.0f, 1.0f, 0.0f));
     setRotation(_owningAvatar->getOrientation() * refOrientation);
     setScale(glm::vec3(1.0f, 1.0f, 1.0f) * _owningAvatar->getScale() * MODEL_SCALE);
diff --git a/libraries/avatars/src/AvatarData.cpp b/libraries/avatars/src/AvatarData.cpp
index ef7083e3bf..d8679d5550 100644
--- a/libraries/avatars/src/AvatarData.cpp
+++ b/libraries/avatars/src/AvatarData.cpp
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ AvatarData::~AvatarData() {
     delete _referential;
 }
 
-const glm::vec3& AvatarData::getPosition() {
+const glm::vec3& AvatarData::getPosition() const {
     if (_referential) {
         _referential->update();
     }
diff --git a/libraries/avatars/src/AvatarData.h b/libraries/avatars/src/AvatarData.h
index 1fd4052974..d6636ff384 100755
--- a/libraries/avatars/src/AvatarData.h
+++ b/libraries/avatars/src/AvatarData.h
@@ -138,15 +138,15 @@ public:
     AvatarData();
     virtual ~AvatarData();
 
-    const QUuid& getSessionUUID() { return _sessionUUID; }
+    const QUuid& getSessionUUID() const { return _sessionUUID; }
 
-    const glm::vec3& getPosition();
+    const glm::vec3& getPosition() const;
     virtual void setPosition(const glm::vec3 position, bool overideReferential = false);
 
     glm::vec3 getHandPosition() const;
     void setHandPosition(const glm::vec3& handPosition);
 
-    QByteArray toByteArray();
+    virtual QByteArray toByteArray();
 
     /// \return true if an error should be logged
     bool shouldLogError(const quint64& now);