Hello. **Shy wave**

I'm brand-spanking new both to this forum and to puppet-making. ^^' I DO have experience with prop-building, as well as doll-making and plushies. I'm also a fair seamstress, with a boyfriend who does engineering.

Here's the scoop. I'm a cosplayer - one of them crazy convention-hopping folks. I'm doing a costume from a series called Soul Eater...a character by the name of Crona. Now, everyone who does Crona only does the sword, but I would like to do a step further and stand out - I want to do Ragnarok, a character who literally emerges from Crona's bloodstream, as a puppet on my back.




He's gonna be a little smaller than this, but it gives you an idea. XD' Since I'm new to this, I want something relatively simple - his arms will be on rods so I can move them, but I want some kind of mechanism for his head or jaw.


What I need to work out is:

-I bought a plastic skeleton I've dismembered to build on, and a backpack to butcher. The joints, of course, are AWFUL. What should I use? Rubber for flexibility? I need to be able to punch myself in the head. XD'''''

-How to rig him up to my back exactly.

-A way to either make the head move or the jaw open that could be built relatively cheaply and the control for which would be concealed in my sleeve.

-Any other advice that can be given on his construction.


Thank you so much - I've always wanted to do a puppet for a costume, so I can't wait to try this out!

 Lady Vincira

First I would like to Welcome you to Puppets and stuff. Your project sounds exciting......................... I'll have to let some more of our advanced builders help you with this one. I can't wait to see how it turns out. Don't forget to take step by step pictures as you build it. We love pictures and it is always good to look back at where you started.

Billy D.

Thanks for the kind words - not to worry, I've been ordered to take progress shots, anyhow. XD'

Welcome to P&S

That would it be a nice great (well, difficult to make) puppet. But, you will find greats teachers, adviser and artists as well, that will help you in this exotic, weird project.

And like Mr. Fuller said, please put pics as you doing this work.

Miguel!

Thank you very much, Miguel! Y'all are making me feel so welcome. <3

I will!

You very welcome.

 

Miguel!

welcome, manga/anime lady :D
I'm a beginner, but if I'll be able to help you somehow, I do

Iza

Thanks, Tsu! I can use all the advice I can get. XD I found out today that there's a puppet theatre/museum a short ways away from where I live, so I'll go there sometime soon to ask, too.

hello and welcome

Hi, your project seems quite difficult, but very nice.

Regarding the joints, if the puppet is to be dressed, as in the picture, I think you don't need to make real joints. Make each arm with two tubes of foam, one from shoulder to elbow, one from elbow to wrist.
Set the foam tubes with oblique ends at the elbow end (something like this ___\ /____) and you glue them them with a strip of leather or a hard fabric (jeans could be fine), just in the bottom part of the diagram, which would be the back part of elbow. ___\ /___, the fabric will work as a hinge. A second strip of fabric in the front part of elbow, which woul be glued to arm, then to nothing (in the non-foam grove) then to forearm,will prevent the elbow to fold backwards.

For the jaw, perhaps a bicycle brake, would work well. The wire could run along your sleeve and  be attached to one of the rods

I hope this ideas help.
Looking forward to see your progress