Hello All,

Glad to have found this site. I'm looking forward to the wonderful world of puppets and marionettes and conversing with folks who know the ropes [so to speak].

I've been working on a Pinocchio marionette model using CAD modeling tools and have just finished the first rendition. It occurred to me that such things as weight distribution, joints etc. would more than likely be important to the way in which the figure reacts to manipulation..., Time for "Puppets and Stuff.com"..., Besides the only thing I was able to do with a marionette when I was a kid was to get the strings into "tangles and snags". So I still have a long way to go...,

So here I am unable to upload a picture due to new member site limitations or more likely I'm missing some sort of an internet knack for it...,

Best All, Growlzler

Welcome to Puppets and Stuff!  Know that you have made your first post you should be able to upload and Image.  Yes there is a restriction to keep folks from uploading till they post.  Helps keeps spammers out.

Yep marionettes are all about balance both in puppet itself and in the stringing. I don't know a lot about CAD modeling but will try and give you any pointers when it comes to the real thing. Your welcome to ask your questions here if you like but you could also start a new thread.  It might keep the "welcomes" sorted out form the project you are working on. No guarantee on that because we tend to wander in our discussions.

P.S. You should be able to get to your Gallery Album now just by clicking on the photo icon under your avatar, next to each post.  There is also a link in your profile or if you click on Gallery at the top there is a link to your album.  Gee sooooo many ways to get to the same place!

Thanks for the welcome Shawn. Here's the Pinocchio render:


Best regards, Growlzler

Nice render. Looks like you have the joints right. The joint at the wrist looks to be on a single plane and I normally make that joint a universal joint. May not matter for the render though. Strings can come from both the top and palm of the hand or simply from one point on either side depending on the movement you want. With the two point stringing you can actually make the hand turn over which is sometimes nice as an added subtle gesture but not always needed. You then normally have a strings connected to the elbows going back that would pull the elbows up and back like you have them in the render but if released would drop the arms down to the sides. Two strings from the head of course and then I also like to have two strings off the shoulders that supports the weight of the puppet. Strings from just above the joint on the knees pulls the leg up to walk. There is also a back or butt string coming from just above the butt that helps to balance out things when walking and also allows the puppet to bend over or bow.  I often place a string on the nose so that the puppet can look up.

It try to ground and center my puppet with extra weight in the pelvis. I also often weight the back of the heal so that when the leg lifts the toe pull the foot straight down the idea is that you want the foot to stay fairly level when it lifts. Weighted right you get just a bit of a dip down of the toe the back up to level which is a natural movement.

Those are just some basics that I can think about on a "real" marionette. Not sure if that helps or not.

I actually don't build in wood when I create my marionettes which is what you are going for.  We do have several puppet builders that do or at least replicate the look. Zoooom is one of them and you might want to check out his Gallery Album. http://puppetsandstuff.com/community/index.php?action=gallery&g2_itemId=8709 In fact he actually did a Pinocchio and has shots of him undressed. He also has some shots of him in movement and you'll see an example of how the foot stays level when the leg is lifted. He is on about page 10.

Johian is another builder you might want to check out. http://puppetsandstuff.com/community/index.php?action=gallery&g2_itemId=4632 Again he has a version of Pinocchio.  

We have others but those where the first two I came across. I am sure others will be along to introduce themselves and give you some feedback.

I know nothing about marionettes, but I want to welcome you. Have fun!

Welcome to Puppets and Stuff

Thanks all for the welcome!...,

Shawn, Thanks for the information. David Currell's book arrived yesterday - great source book. I am thinking about designing Pinocchio as a card model. Use of modeling paste and CA is assumed. Beginning to look like making it out of wood might not be an unwise decision.  I'll save that for later after I've read Currell's book and have a better idea of what's involved.

Again thanks all for the arrival fanfare...,

Growlzler

Welcome, I am new here as well.  This is a great friendly place.  I have learned a lot already.  Good luck with the Pinocchio I am not very versed in Marionettes.

Cody

Welcome to Puppets and Stuff! Love the render! Looking forward to your further adventures!