Old and young

I just started my first 3T (full-size 40"-42") Uncle Earl.  The casting came out very well.  At the same time, I'm beginning work on another Jackie figure.  I may try some fun stuff with him this time... perhaps with goofy buck teeth and thick glasses. 

I've also begun work on a jaw for a new 2T character.  I'm referring to Mike Brose's tutorial where you put two plastic sides on each end of a wood block.  Seems like a good way to start.

I'm going!

I just registered for the Venthaven Convention in July. I arrive on Wednesday late afternoon and I leave Sunday morning, so I'll be there for most of the activities and workshops.  It will be my first time attending.  I won't have a Dealers Table.  I really just want to meet other ventriloquists, see their figures, learn as much as I can, and watch the performances.  I'm especially looking forward to the VentHaven Museum tour on Sunday. 

I probably won't bring a figure.  (Hope that's allowed).  I need to travel light.  But I will enjoy meeting everyone there.  If you see me, please say hello.

Smile says it all

The young man with my Jackie character is Jonathan Wilson from the U.K.  His father, Patrick Wilson purchased the figure for him.  Patrick accompanied the photo with this note, "I actually purchased [Jackie] on behalf of my son Jonathan, and even though you had previously sent photos of Jackie, he has exceeded Jonathan's expectations."

It's wonderful when a parent supports and encourages his offspring's interests.  I hope Jackie and Jonathan enjoy entertaining family, friends, audiences and each other for years to come.

Watch what happens

Here's an award-winning video you might enjoy.  It features ventriloquist Nina Conti.

On the road

Don't worry. I have a designated driver.

Browse the brows

Now my Winkle and Moonshiner figures will be able to register surprise with their nifty new eyebrows.

Stick to it

Well, my fellow figure makers were right.  My experiment failed.  But I decided I'd better come up with a more reliable rod bending technique.  And here it is. 

I make sure the rod turns freely in the tube.  I make sure the rod is pulled forward to its maximum on the inside (I have bends on the interior sides of the rods where the spring will attach to the rods).   I hold a popsicle stick next to the rod and bend it over the stick.  The stick ensures there's enough distance between the bend and the tube to keep the rod turning freely. 

Only took 80 dummies to come up with this approach.  See how wonderful trial and error works.

Cartoon

I've been warned

A few of my fellow vent figure builders have bet against my experiment turning out well.  I'm sure they speak from experience.  But as the song goes, "I'm a rebel and I'll never, never, never be any good."  

The nubs seemed to hold pretty well on the brass rod extensions.  I pulled and twisted, but they stayed firm.  So my next step was to cut some eyebrow frames from brass rod stock, bend them to the appropriate shape, and Magic-Sculpt them onto the nubs.   

If this step works, I'll form the rest of the eyebrows from Magic-Sculpt over the brass frames.

Even if this process works, I already don't like it because it's too labor-intensive.  I think I need to go back to my rod bending, but figure out a method that's more fool-proof (that is... me-proof).

I have another idea that involves drilling.  (Why can't I leave well enough alone?)

Nubs

It's another experiment.  I usually make eyebrows by inserting a brass rod through the forehead tube, then bend the rod to form an eyebrow frame.  The downside is that if I don't bend it correctly, the eyebrow rod gets too tight in the tube and won't move fluidly. 

So this time I inserted the rod through the tube, then marked the spot where the rod protruded about 1/8".  I pulled the rod back out, cut it at the marker, then re-inserted it.  

Now, I know some folks solder their eyebrows onto the rod.  But since I don't trust myself with soldering guns or solder (bad enough I'm allowed a hot glue gun), I decided to rough up the protrusion, then put a Magic-Sculpt nub at the end of the brass rod.  After it dries, I'll attached a pre-formed eyebrow (made of Magic-Sculpt) onto the nub.  

My main concern is that the eyebrow won't stay put.  Anyone who is relatively sure that my experiment won't work, please let me know.    

Cartoon

10

I was about 10 years old when this photo was taken. We lived in Fresno, California that year. I recall that my Jerry Mahoney dummy (named Jackie) was stolen from my Mom's car. He went missing for several weeks. Then a friend of my Mom's, who knew that Jackie had been stolen, saw the dummy in a bar. Some drunk had pilfered him and brought him in to his favorite watering hole. They displayed Jackie behind the bar with a cigarette in his mouth. Of course, my Mom retrieved him for me. I was so thrilled to have him back. However, he had a new vocabulary of four-letter words. I guess the constant nightlife was a bad influence on him.

In between

I always have something going. Once I've finished a couple of figures, a couple more are in process. Here are the two I'm working on now... an Elmore head that will become a moonshiner, and a Mr. Winkle.

Oh... and that's me in between.

ZOOMO

I've had some fun with this one.  I call him "ZOOMO the Space Cadet". He's a little green man from outer space that's hoping to be taken to our leader. Or at least taken on Ebay soon.