Date: Mon, 18 Feb 2002 22:21:26 +1000
Subject: PUPT: Riding a pig body puppet


While I fear this is outside my construction skills I'm keen 
to tackle the project...

I have been asked to make a large pig puppet that two 
people ride such that their legs become the pig's feet. This 
is a variation of the two men in a horse...the difference 
being that the performers are exposed as riders from the 
waist up. With various devices(false legs, a hole for each 
performer, etc) the body is pretty straightforward and the 
head, as such, is a common everyday garden variety 
sculpting job. But they want to have a head that turns,rises 
& falls, opens its mouth and maybe(!) blinks its eyes. 
While such options can be expressed through vent figure 
techniques I'm having trouble working out how I can join 
the head to the body so that  I can get the movement I 
want.

I'm thinking that perhaps I can put a bridle and reins on the 
pig for the head control, utilize gravity weighted eyes that 
open and close  and leave out the moving mouth option 
(with a bit in place that makes sense).

A ball and socket join would carry this head  but surely 
there is a form of cable -- like a coaxial cable -- that is 
strong enough, and flexible enough to allow the head to be  
moved  with a bit of tension on the reins.

Any suggestions?

Dave Riley<-    -    -    -   -    -    -    -   -   ->
Puppet Intervention
PO Box 103 Northgate 4013
Brisbane AUSTRALIA
dhell-AT-ozemail.com.au
http://www.ozemail.com.au/~dhell/intervention.htm
Ph: (07) 3266 4281



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