At some point I'd like to make different designs of cable puppets, but some of my ideas don't lend themselves well to the scrunched up fabric around the neck method I used on my prototype. Since Noodle is made of fur anyway the extra fabric around his neck joint isn't too noticeable. But I'd like to make a sleeker creature with less fuzzy fabric, and I don't want the bunchy fabric look! I had an idea of basically making a rigid neck covered with the skin fabric, then a small neck section with some material with a lot of give, then the head. I could add horns or something to the head to help hide the mobile part of the neck. I could do that with fabric, but it would still be bunched up. I'm wondering if there's some kind of super-flexible material I could use that would look smooth but be able to move easily. Maybe silicon or latex? Any brands y'all can recommend?

Although, cable puppets really have very little "strength" to their controls, so even floppy latex might be too much. So I'd like to hear any methods y'all use to make room for movement on your puppets.

You most likely would need a thin 4 way stretch fabric like Lycra or spandex.......................... I found this company that tells the differences in some stretch fabrics. They even have a stretch vinyl
http://www.seattlefabrics.com/stretch.html

Here is another popular site for stretch fabrics
http://www.theatrehouse.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=THH&Category_Code=FabStretch

Billy D.

I know this thread is ancient, but figure what the hey!

In the new How to Train Your Dragon live show the puppets were incredible. Their skin was really lifelike and stretchy in person. When I was watching a special on how they made the puppets they said the skin was quilted spandex with latex painted on top.

Here's a link to one of their previews. Around 1:14 there are some good closeups of the skin. It had some nice, realistic jiggle to it as they moved. Especially the gronkle's huge jowls. Those were especially convincing.



That would still require some sewing, but maybe it gives you (or whoever is still reading this thread) some ideas for going in a different direction with it.

My cable operated dragons have a different neck setup, but still need some stretchiness. I used an old sock for the prototype, and used a mattress stitch to snug it up. It's form fitted but still stretches to allow for a full range of movement.

Found a good one of the gronkle I was talking about, that shows the woobly jowls. This was seriously my favorite puppet in the entire show. It also farts confetti and blows giant smoke rings.

OH MY!!!!! I just sat there and wept at how beautiful those are and what such talent the creators have.  I've never seen the movie and didn't know a stage play exsisted.  I have such a soft spot for anything dinosaur.  Man, how I would LOVE to study under those guys.

Thanks for sharing.

Julie

My they are impressive!  It amazes me how smooth and fluid the movements are. Remember when anything animatronic was jerky and slow?  

I like spandex or lycra as a covering for puppets. You don't have to use it everywhere if you don't want to.  I've used it in joint areas to give more movement.  Granted the seams can be difficult to hide but you can cover with latex to give texture like they have here.