Here is video on BlogTV of the movement of the finished heads. http://www.blogtv.com/Shows/737575/buZwbeRvaeNGZu_xY_

I thought of some more things. First to make a hole up through the head like you need to run the tie line through, you can use an ice pick or long awl.

Second with Magda, her head was actually hollow because that was when I still molded out of plasticine clay and covered in paper mache' then dug out the clay. So the tie line inside was free and could twist inside the head. When you make your channel up through the head make sure that it is wide enough so you have some wiggle room for the tie line.

Last when you get to the point where you need to tie off the tie line on the top of the head, in order to get a knot that lies where you need it take a straight pin and push it through the tie line where you want the knot. This is also a good way to test that you have the line snug enough to allow enough movement but not too loose. Then tie the knot snugging it down to the pin and glue it off. I have even left the pin in or bent it over like you would do with a cotter pin to add extra holding power. You can get knots pretty flat by cutting the end close to the knot the fraying the ends out over the knot and gluing.

Wow, Shawn!  I didn't realize you recorded a video and posted it just for me.  Thanks so much for taking the time to do that.  It helped A LOT!

Shawn, this is awesome. I really like the expressions of their faces, too.
Since I'm experimenting with cable control from below I will have to have a different joint for the neck, though- working from below makes the gravitation work against you, not with you. (I'm planing on using a modified balljoint for hips and shoulders, though). I'm just trying a kind of double joint that seperats nod and headturning movement- model is just drying, I'll see tomorrow if it works out like I planed. But thanks very much, you have been a heck of a help!

I might be a little late but welcome Kyle to Puppets and Stuff....Great work on the sets thanks for sharing your work.

Daryl

Rikka,
Sounds like you are doing a rod puppet am I correct? With a rod puppet the ball joint can be pretty much the same but what you do to control it is a thin flat rod that runs up through the body then on the front outside of the "neck". At the head right in front of where the ball joint is you attach this rod with a hinge. Much like a door hinge. Pushing up on the rod moves the head up and down in a nod. Rotating the rod from side to side moves the head in a side to side motion. It is hard for me to explain in words but perhaps you'll get the idea. I've made this mechanism before but don't have any images or examples... sorry.

Not to worry, Shawn, this is pretty much what I tried out, just not with the balljoint. But what I try now is a cable control, all with pulled strings, just from below, not above. I fear manipulating a marionette is a bit out of my league... I'm still in the experimental phase and lots of stuff just doesn't work out the way I'd like it to. As soon as I get a complete puppet working, I'll throw in some pics. (No sense giving pics on stuff that doesn't work. And I don't have my camera yet.)
Sorry Kyle for taking up all this space in your welcome- tread.