I have been making puppets for a while. I was looking into making some smaller ones and Rizzo the Rat caught my eye off of the Muppets Take Manhattan . So how do you make those guys and what do they use to operate mouth? Ok drop me a line if you have any pointers or links. I would really like to get started on one of those things. Thanks alot fellas and gals.

Check the recent video Dr.puppet released on how to make a rat puppet. I have all his tutorials and this yet another great tutorial. i suggest you check it out!


http://www.drpuppet.com/video_tutorial_page_1.html

Billy d.

thanks I will check into it.

Are there pictures of the rat and caveman?

I am looking to build on like Rizzo by using bottles. i have found a few things put nothing really detailed. I figured out how to do the head movement and some of the arm movement put I am still trying to figure out the mouth movement. It looks like it might be like a Vent doll type mouth control. hmm...

Hey there, i really love the rizzo puppet too, at one point i was literally making tons of puppets like him (not rats, they where bugs, strange alien creatures, etc...) and they where selling like hotcakes!! he is in essence a vent type puppet/rod puppet, just very small and the rod with the controls extends out of the bottom of the puppet, the arms are controlled in the same rod arm way other puppets are, but can also be controlled from the handle too. the mouth isnt at all hard to build, infact im sure a few people have done the same thing and posted thier progress up on here, ill have a look and see if i can find it, and also ill have a rummage thru my stuff and see if i still have one of my old puppets and maybe i can pull him apart to show the workings, but in basic it is a small jaw with a hinge and spring to pull it back up, with some fishing line or cable extending down the rod from the bottom of the mouth to a trigger. ill see what i can do to draw a diagram to show what i mean, but its really not difficult!!
hope this helps a little, good luck.
Ben.

I am curious as well. That would be great to see jeezbo!

jeezbo, do you have a website? I would love to see what you have for sale?

that is awesome I can't wait to see. The Rizzo type puppets are awesome and look like it would be alot of fun to work with. I can see a lot of possibilities with making all sorts of creatures. He has always fascinated me. Thanks you so much jeezbo!