hello everyone...

Yes.. its been a while.. things have been busy.. I've changed jobs twice and am now working closer to home but not at home.. I'm also 5 months pregnant! 

So.. I would like to build a table top puppet with a head and forearms controlled by a little peg /stump at the back kinda like bunraku are. I am happy to either try my hand at wood carving, sculpy or papier mache for the head and hands and think that will work just fine but can't seem to find anywhere how to make the body and limbs! They're not going to be seen, they'll be under clothes but what is the best thing.. wooden dowels with metal hook ring links between? How will I get it to sit up on its own when its not being used? What should be the basis for the head and hands rather than solid Sculpy should I build over that hard blue foam? but then I can't dry the sculpy in the oven right? an armature wire base or wood for the skull?

any advice gratefully received (pictures would be handy too!),

thanks guys!

wyoh

This might give you some ideas:

http://spiritsdancing.com/sdblog/2005/06/03/rough-cut-bunraku-puppets/

Haven't seen any bunraku tutorials really - I'm hoping to make one myself very soon using a recycled toy

Thanks Na,
Have been looking through your website earlier actually and its really great. Hopefully my website will be live at some point although you have a lot more useful general stuff on your, I think mine will be more selfish!

That link is great thanks. I think that probably the best idea yet. If I go for about 18'' high model with a little wood rod at the back of head and elbows and then thin plywood or similar with hard foam on top or even styrofoam or some kind with sculpy / fimo / paperclay for head and hands that should work. I think I'll give that a go.

Let us see some pics of yours when its finished!

Wy

I'm glad to see you back Wy 

Billy D.

You might want to have a look at Patti's Arabian Nights project http://puppetsandstuff.com/community/index.php/topic,592.0.html  The puppets where larger then table top but the same principles could be applied I think.

A simple fabric rag doll base could also work for table top work I think.  Just insert dowel rods for manipulation. They would be inserted into the same place as seen on the link that Na gave. Nice resource NA!

Thanks Na,
Have been looking through your website earlier actually and its really great. Hopefully my website will be live at some point although you have a lot more useful general stuff on your, I think mine will be more selfish!

Thank you     So happy people find it useful. I'll be posting a big toy theatre tutorial/video tomorrow, which should be good.

That link is great thanks. I think that probably the best idea yet. If I go for about 18'' high model with a little wood rod at the back of head and elbows and then thin plywood or similar with hard foam on top or even styrofoam or some kind with sculpy / fimo / paperclay for head and hands that should work. I think I'll give that a go.

Let us see some pics of yours when its finished!

Yeah, those pictures really inspire me to do something similar. When I have more time I'd like to try it; my bunraku tutorial is going to be much much simpler. I'll definitely post it here when I've done it.

(By the way, the site I linked to is Hilary Talbot's, who is the web admin for the Aussie UNIMA site. She has some fantastic skills!)