Well, started on a new project. For a 10 minute musical show in april I came up with the idea of a singing trio. Allthough they're gonna look heavy, they have to be light, because i'll have to handle them all by myself. Yes, they are going to be out of plastic bottles and packing and other materials I can rescue from the bin..... I hope my "Ma Rainey" inspiration will work out.

Instead of, like I normaly do, just start and solve problems later, I now thought about it a bit and made some drawings....


I hope by this way of controls, I can make the 2 outside puppets turn around. I've tried it out in some cardboard pre-model and it seems to work.

 
Everything will be made out of plastic bottles because it has to be very light. The only thing I bought for this projects are 6 puppet eyes (18 cts a piece)the rest will be on a zero budget.


Cutting the bottles...using the round shape of the top...resulting in this..and connected into butt's and boobs.


Cutting of the screwtops...and the right shape is there. yes, using this to, cutting in the shape so... fits on the combined bottles.


Some hot glue does the job. Now, the little tube was just a ballpoint, given by some taxman (because mine was filled with red inc and he wanted my numbers to be black) and some tie wraps resulting in a connection between upper and lower body. Done for now...


I'll gues these puppets are gonna be three fat lady's!

Hoping you like to watch over my shoulders during this construction, tips are always welcome.
Working on the legs and feet now... update soon.

I really love watching your projects.  You know you would be a great candidate for a recycling commercial.  \

What is the grey piece on top of the control for? The only reason I ask is if it is a handle then you might want to rethink that. I feel it is best if a control rest in the palm of the hand. If this is the handle for holding the control it would be easy for the control to slip out of your hand. If the control is resting in the palm of your hand it makes it much harder to lose and drop.

I am not sure I understand the light grey barrel mech that is marked for feet hand etc.  Could you explain that a bit more?

Yes.... questions do come up I guess....

1) The handle on top will have an other "brace" so it will rest between my thumb and indexfinger so I don't have to hold it, it will just rest on my hand. That leaves my middlefinger to control the mouths.

2) The "grey barrel" is just a lightweight piece of plastic with some tubes thru it. Because I want the outside puppets to be able to turn their back (butt) to the public, The strings of their hands, head(ears) and knees need to turn to. The cilinder takes care of that. The middle puppet will be fully operational, while the outside puppets will have less controles. If they are all in the same direction, they can walk, talk and move their arms. It's hard to explain end draw everything, but the pictures during construction will tell (I hope)
 

Started making the heads.... This time out of plastic bottles to, so all of it will be as light as possible.


1/2 liter bottle, mouth opening cut out..and 2 holes drilled just a bit of center to the back...Round piece of plywood, same size as interior of bottle, tong made out of little piece of wood...


how simple can it be...mouth opens by weight..but should be closed..


so, just a little screw and...some elastic band..will shut their mouth.


cutting out the same piece as the mouth opening from another bottle, only a few millimeters closer to the lid. some doublesided adhesive tape and there's the underlip..open...


.....half open.....closed.


close-up elastic band..


some selfadhesive foam..make's the upper lip.



Well, that's it for now, working on legs and feet at the moment... the heads are getting their characters...

Amazing!

Pretty cool1

Yes, it's been a while, lot's to do, busy life...
But they are ready, the two soulsisters who became a duo.

It took a while to sort out the controls but it works now!


They are dressed up and ready to perform. Remember, this is all recycled material (even the fabrics and "bling bling")




They turned out to be very light, so it's easy to play for a long time.

Love it! they turned out great. Who doesn't love a puppet with attitude.

They look like they are ready to boogie! Gee does anyone even use that word any more.   Good job!