Skip to main content

Puppet Drama - Ups and downs of Goro's construction

The Goro puppet project has been going on quietly in the background. It is a learning experience and some things are going very much to plan while other things are decidedly not. 

My first positive is the back scales: 

I was able to crochet the back in a few hours. (Not in one sitting mind you.) I mixed metal with plastic scales which has a fun effect. I still have some left over plastic scales that I could sew into the body but I like how this looks. 

Victory 2: Body Structure
While the head has been my main focus I was able to take a break from that and morph some EVA foam sheets into a makeshift skeleton for the body. 

Positive 3: Started the yarn tails to see how they'll look compared to the body size. I've done this before so feel confident that I can do it again. 

Positive 4: While I did burn myself with hot glue, I made some ears with minky, stiff felt, and a bit of faux fur. I even painted them so the markings are correct. 

Positive 5: Mouth contructed!
I put in the jaw set, the tongue, and used black fabric to hide the back of the throat. 

Now to talk the drama that's been annoying me with the project. 

Setback 1: Eyes

So I 3D printed this lovely eye blinking system and what do you know...it's too big for the head. Because I had to shrink the head to fit my hand better, I ended up losing a lot of real estate that could have housed the blinking mechanism. 

The eyes could fit it if set back very far. 

I could manipulate it fine but...
To fit the eyes in the head with the lids, they sat far back in the sockets. When I put on the test fur, they all but disappeared completely. So for this first puppet, I'm abandoning the blinking. Because the eyes are the right size for the skull. 

Setback 2: Head fur pattern
It works but it's also taken a lot of manipulating. I hand sewed it together and I probably should have machine stitched the darts at least. Took a lot of gluing and manipulating...but honestly, this is looking okay. It's just the jaw doesn't open as wide as it used to or with the test fur piece. But I'm still fiddling. But it's got some weird puckers here and there. I haven't secured the fur to the eyes yet but I have around the mouth. I plan on using my 3D printing pen to outline gums and the eyes. Or maybe 3D puff paint would work better. Hmm...may bear some research. 
At least they look like smile wrinkles. 

I still need to decide how to make the body but I have lots of fabric to play with. :D 
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Hakama Series - Split Leg Hakama

This is the classic style that you likely think of when you hear the word "Hakama". Very wide-legged pleated trousers worn by swordsmen and warriors. Admittedly these are "modern" hakama. There are variations based on historical time period and social status. But these should suit most cases.  So, lets go over how to make them!  You will see examples of this in many games and Anime but some faves of mine include: Rurouni Kenshin, Bleach, Demon Slayer, XXXholic, Hell's Paradise and Genshin Impact.  UPDATE 4/10/2024: I've redone all my instructions. Now that I've actually made a pair of hakama and found some more resources, I felt this needed updating.  From Chihirohowe's Guide Design Elements Color For modern or fantasy character design, no limits to color! You can also use print fabric and add designs! Historically, these would be a solid color and often have a neutral color scheme (white, grey, black, brown). More colorful hakama were usually worn ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Hakama Series - Hibakama (Scarlet Hakama)

The bright red hakama with a white kimono is a common sight in both anime and video game characters. Shrine maidens or Miko also wear this combination of colors when they work at Shinto shrines. Honestly, there is a LOT of history and cultural significance wrapped up in this one.  Anime/Games: Inuyasha, Genshin Impact, Sailor Moon,  So let's talk Design. Design Considerations Cultural Significance This is one I'd pay attention to if I was creating a character of my own. I assume that already created characters have had this research done and have taken their artistic license.  Some of the research taught me a few things: The color is technically scarlet or vermillion, not "red". 🤷 Miko are not part of the Shinto clergy. Sometimes they are just seasonal workers.  Generally, Miko are young women in their teens or early 20s. After a certain age, they wear different colors.  This was based on Heian nobility colors and fashions.  Color Like I said earlier, the ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Hakama Series - Side Opening Covers/Pockets

The side openings on hakama can feel a bit exposing if you're not wearing a full kimono underneath or perhaps you just can't stand to be without pockets! While these things are not necessarily historically accurate for the area, you can make it work.  Modesty Panels These will be panels of fabric that hang from your waist at your sides where the openings of the hakama are. You can choose to attach these to the belts (himo) of your hakama or to make your own waistband.  You can use any kind of cloth but the idea is to use any left over clothe from making your hakama. But if you want different colors or prints go for it.  You will cut a rectangle with rounded corners that is 16" tall and about an inch wider than your side openings (sasahida). To keep it from fraying, either use a serger or overlock machine to finish the edges except at the top. Alternatively, use a zig-zag stitch on your regular sewing machine all around the edges except the top..  Make a waistband fro...
Post a Comment
Read more