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Puppet Prop Design: Head + Mechanics

Progress Report Time! The beginnings of the puppet are taking shape. The focus has been on getting the head infrastructure in place. 

3D model by Tioh

So this was kind of the "easy" part. I resized the models to fit the sketch size and then just let it print. I mean nothing too fancy. I've temporarily attached the lower jaw with zip ties but I'm not mad at how it's been working so far so I may just keep the zip ties on. 🤷 I did the same thing for the eye mechanics
Original by Tioh

The mouth was also resized and printed. These were so tiny but proportional so glad I didn't have to sculpt them. 


A beautiful fit!

Now the models still need some work. The eyes and teeth need to be the proper colors. The inside of the head needs a few things to prepare for internal mechanics. But before getting into all that, I will have to create a pattern for the fabric covering the head. I'll be taping down masking tape or painter's tape over saran wrap. The tricky part will be the jaw. I do expect and want to the cheeks to pucker or puff out when the mouth is closed. I also want to limit the amount the jaw opens. I'll show more detail once I do this.

The plan for the head's internal mechanics will be to use the principles for a weighted blink mechanic as this video outlines. 

So I'll need to make a wire rod to connect the two eyelid levers, make it more of a T-shape with a weighted object at the end of it. Tie string to it, feed it through thin tube casing or a series of beads secured to the 3D printed skull, then add a key ring/d-ring for my finger to manipulate it. I also need to make a mouth flap to manipulate the opening and closing of the mouth and to hide my hand. The plan is to keep it black. I'll also use black fabric to act like inner skin at the corners of the mouth to help limit how wide the jaw opens. 

Other little details I'm working on are making a silicone nose. I did 3D print the nose as you see, but I want it to be squishy and shiny. So I made an impression from the model in polymer clay and baked it.  

Also made some scales for his back.

I also need to make a tongue out of silicone. Which I should be able to do now that I have printed out the jaw set. 

There's so much to do but my brain jumps from thing to thing like bees on flowers. I've been pondering the paws, plotting the pattern for the body, and considering costume plans. I've also got a couple of costumed events coming up! One for dance. Another Ren Faire. And I'm tempted to make a mermaid tail again. GAHH! And I have so much knitting to do! 

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