Help needed for bell-shaped head

[Na]

Please help me asap - I need to finish my puppet head in the next couple of days.

I am trying to make a bell-shaped muppet head, with the mouth at the wider end of the bell - I am talking about the top of the head, not the bottom jaw, as I am using a three-piece head method. I am extremely stuck, in that I have the perfect paper pattern, but when I apply it to my foam, it doesn't come out as a bell-shape, but rather as an oval.

What I can't work out is why the paper pattern works, and the foam version doesn't. I've made muppet heads before, but never a bell-shape, and I can't quite get my brain to figure this one out.

Attached is a photo of my pattern - it is for the front of the head only. I don't have a photo of how the foam turned out, because I hacked at it a bit in trying to figure out how to fix it.

I know people may suggest to start again and try a wedge method, or to find or buy a pattern, but I am extremely keen to find a way to get the pattern to work. If nothing else because I've spent the last day trying to figure out how to do just the paper pattern, and it's driving me crazy.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. I can provide more info, since the above is probably a bit ambiguous.

Thanks,

Na

[Shawn Sorrell]

Looking at your paper pattern and what you have so far I would say you might try removing or centering your "tuck" at the top of the head.  I then think you are going to need an oval "tuck" farther down center of the pattern to help create the flare of the bell.  Is your pattern at this point the front and back of the head or the sides?

Hey that is a "Phantom of the Opera" advertisement or poster that you used for your pattern!  Didn't realize it at first.   ig

[Na]

Thanks - I'll try later, once I'm home from work, your suggestion. My pattern at this stage is for the front of the head only, I'm making a separate pattern for the back; mainly because I ended up with a pattern for the front that is not at right angles at the sides... The stupid thing is that the pattern is fine, it's transposing it to the foam that is giving me issues. And my brain has stopped working for some odd reason.

Yes, the Phantom is currently on in Melbourne (Aus). I was using an old Sunday arts section/TV guide as scrap paper for my pattern. Handy things. I think I've torn up half of it just to get this head right!

[Nikole H.]

I, too, was going to suggest that you need a center opening....I would try a daimond cut out in the very center of the pattern and then glue it shut on itself.  You need some sort of tuck in the middle or it will do as you say....make an oval only.  You need that curve to get that bell shape.  Looks great so far and can't wait to see the final results.

Stick to it...you are almost there!
Nikole

[Puppet-Planet]

Another method might be to make it using three pieces with a flat front and flat back. A long rectangle strip in the middle to give it some dimension. Then a protruding mouth with upper and lower "lips". See my pathetic drawing below. 

I haven't done a whole lot of outward mouth plate attachments like this, a few... and they've worked well for me. But Cher at www.puppetsbycher.net is successful at attaching them using many different methods & on lots of different shapes to bring otherwise normal "objects" to life with the protruding mouth. Try contacting her for some suggestions too.

-Michele

[Na]

Thanks for everyone's suggestions. I took Shawn's idea, and didn't use the top dart. I did add a centre tuck, but in the end, it didn't need to be glued. I still had problems getting it exactly the shape that I wanted, so at the sides, at the back, I'm going to glue a small part of the inside edge of the foam to the top of the mouth.

Here's some pics of the foam head - it's only the front part, and only pinned to the mouth. What do you think?




(Sorry for the crappy side photo)

[Shawn Sorrell]

Ah, yes I see where you are going with this now. I look forward to seeing the end result.

[Na]

Yes - I've made the back piece of the head now, and all is coming along well. I'll post some pics when the head is attached and covered, and looking pretty.

Thanks again for everyone's suggestions and help. I spent two days trying to get my head around the pattern, and why it wasn't working, and was really at the end of sanity - then I thought "why not ask the guys at Puppets and Stuff". I'm really glad I did 

[Puppet-Planet]

Awesome Na!  I'm glad that you were able to find some direction & inspiration from our group. Please do Keep us posted with the pictures because I would personally love to see the end result!

-Michele

[Na]

Hey everyone! I finished my puppet last night, and just wanted you all to know; it came out very well!

I'm meeting the film maker on Mon to show him the result, and if I'm lucky I'll get permission from him to post a photo.

Thanks again for all your help, it's been fantastic!