Date: Tue, 13 Apr 1999 17:16:59 -0400 From: Dave&Ann Yates <monet-AT-lincoln.midcoast.com> Subject: Re: PUPT: multiple marionette controllers I love the visual way you write_ I can "see" it/them Gives me a great lead to work from. Having someone think it through ..helps me think about how to engineer it. Thanks! Annie of the right brain thinking Jim Wrote: >Dear Whomever was inquiring about a controller to manipulate multiple >marionettes: > > There are several parameters: Do you want several (1-4) marionettes >in tandom (meaning one in front of the other) or side by side (as the name >implies). Do you want individual marionettes to be capable of being >individually operated, as for example one-by-one joining a line of >marionettes? > > I have built all these acts e.g, (1) can-can girls (side by >side..SBS) (2) furry creatures with body & legs only, who join a line as the >act progresses (line up in Tandon..TN) (3) Mexcan Hats, with only feet, >which join up as in #2, (4) Ball room dancers where the male and female face >each other, (5) Rand Turk where one character breaks into five smaller >figures, (6) line of Russian Cossacks, (7) Two Russian Cossacks each >manipulated by one hand doing two different dance steps, (8) two sets of four >marching toy soldiers..see my Nutcracker video for set of 12 marching toy >soldiers. etc., etc. Each type of multiple act requires a different type of >controller. I have worked and studied Rufus's controller, which controlled >as #1 above. It was quite complictated, but when broken down to the basic >components, easy to understand. > > So first you must decide on which of the multiple marionette acts you >wish to control. Some figures require a spacer to keep them at the proper >distance apart. You could rig a circulular ring or dowel with cross parallel >strings to tie several together to allow for the heads to turn in unison.. >The knee ankle strings for can-can dancers need to have a cross bar dowel to >pull all the strings fairly vertical. If the strings are pulled at an angle, >tied to a ring, for example, they should run through eye screws on the main >control in order that all strings tied to the same body part are pulled the >same vertical distance, otherwise the end marionettes will kick higher or >lower than the middle characters. > > Weight is also a consideration. The figures could get heavy, and >it's not much fun hanging them around your neck for support. I've used >"rocking" Cross bars (with extenders) both to hold the shoulders and heads to >support multiple figures, and to rotate the extenders to cause the legs to >kick (on a set of Russian Cossacks, for example.) > > Does this help? There simply is no ONE WAY to construct controllers >for all multiple marionette acts. Wish I had the time to draw all this out >for you, but if you'll consider my remarks above, hopefully you can get on >the right path. Jim Gamble > > > --- Personal replies to: Jimsan777-AT-aol.com > --- List replies to: puptcrit-AT-lists.village.virginia.edu > --- Admin commands to: majordomo-AT-lists.village.virginia.edu --- Personal replies to: Dave&Ann Yates <monet-AT-lincoln.midcoast.com> --- List replies to: puptcrit-AT-lists.village.virginia.edu --- Admin commands to: majordomo-AT-lists.village.virginia.edu
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