Shiny

Every now and then I discover a little something that improves the look of my little fellas. This time, I painted two coats of glossy varnish on the tongue, teeth and lips of my jaws. Makes a big difference. It gives the jaw and lips a lifelike wet look.

Double treat

Of course, the reason Jeff Dunham posed here is because young Kevin Barnett is a talented ventriloquist who performed at the VentHaven Convention last week. Brave, too. It must have been daunting performing before such an esteemed group of peers. I'm anxious to hear Kevin's stories about his experience. And, hey... I can't help but be a little proud that Kevin is holding Kyle in the picture. I built Kyle for Kevin awhile back.

It must have been a treat getting a picture taken with Jeff Dunham. Well... it's a treat for me, too. Thanks, Kevin for sharing the photo.

UnconVENTion-al for now

I've never been to a VentHaven convention. I was unaware of it until I re-entered the ventriloquism world after a short 45-year break. But after several years of convention photos and videos posted on various websites, I get excited about the convention even though I haven't made it to Kentucky yet. I'm hatching a secret plot (secret from my wife) to make a cross-country drive to Fort Mitchell two years from now... (sshhh.... more about that later). Meanwhile I look forward to seeing the images from this year's convention.

Hello to all the fine folks that made it there this year.

A good fit

After following my own advice (see below), I have successfully accomplished a free-swinging jaw. I installed a brass tube in the jaw. I cut the 3-1/8" brass rod and inserted it into the jaw's brass tube. Then I placed the jaw in the head opening and slid it into place. I used chunks of Klean Klay to temporarily secure the jaw and check things out. Then I replaced the Klean Klay with Magic-Sculpt leaving the slots open. After that I used the chunks of Klean Clay to temporally close the open slots. With the jaw secure, I did my filling, filing and sanding of the jaw and the opening (pulling the jaw in and out of the head as needed) to make a nice fit.

Next I'll pull the jaw out and paint it.

Partner wanted.

Uncle Earl is officially seeking a comedy partner for fun and/or profit. He's placed his "Situations Wanted" sign on Ebay. Looking for a sidekick?

The jaw bone's connected to the... brass tube

Here's a tip for folks who've bought or are considering buying a Kenny Croes Collection head from Braylu Creations:

After sawing off the back of the head, cutting the mouth opening and eye sockets, typically the next thing I do is install a 1/8" brass tube into the jaw. Then I cut a 3/32" brass rod 3-1/8" long. I insert the brass rod into the brass tube on the jaw. I place the jaw in the head. I want the jaw to fit in the opening of the head. I want it to swing freely, opening and closing. But it 's highly unlikely it will swing freely the first time.

You may have to shorten the brass rod to get the jaw all the way forward in the opening. You may have to file down the sides of the opening in the head or the sides of the jaw if the fit is too tight. You may have to do a combination of all of the above.

After you accomplish the free swinging of the jaw, use Magic-Sculpt to make slots in the head where the brass rod touches either side. Leave your slots open so the rod can slip in and out. Later down the line, you can place the jaw in the head and apply Magic-Sculpt over the open slots to close them permanently. But while they are still open, you can make adjustments, fill, sand, paint etc.

Pictured here is a "Cheeky Boy" jaw. Hint: I may use Magic-Sculpt to make the tongue a little larger and more rounded.

If I only had a tooth...

Uncle Earl is one of my favorite characters. The toothless old goat has a confused look most of the time. Which is why a ventriloquist will get some laughs when Uncle Earl says something surprisingly clever and funny. He'll be looking for a chaperon soon, particularly because he's been known to flirt unabashedly with younger women.

Count 'em...1-2-3 triggers

I've done away with my chrome-ring-on-the-end-of-a-cord (catchy, huh?) as the crossed eye control (see photo on the far right). I've switched to a third trigger strategically placed above the jaw trigger on the right side of the photo. All three function without interfering with or moving the others. Much nicer without the free-swinging ring.

And as you can see on my Uncle Earl figure (soon to be looking for a home... hint, hint), his eyes cross beautifully with my new trigger.

I've slowed down on my dummy-makin' recently due to a distraction with guitar playin', singin', and recordin' a new tune. Doesn't pay a dime, so hopefully I will lose interest and get back to work.

Thanks for checking up on me.

The A-List

I've listed my newest little fella on the Marketplace page on Ventriloquist Central. When you get a chance, take a peek. Steve Hurst and Dan Willinger have a lot of great looking figures listed there all looking for homes. And of course, my pint-sized pal is for sale, too.

I just completed another friend of the family. He's an Elmore Dufner character and he's anxious to find a home. He's for sale!

The butler did it

My friend MontanaDan has sculpted a unique and comical figure. Braylu Creations is now selling casts of Dan's head (the figure's head, that is... not Dan's) so folks like you can build your own dummy. The completed figure is dressed in a tux and he makes a wonderful "Butler" character. But he would also make a number of other kinds of characters come to life. The jaw is a separate piece, so it makes it much easier than cutting out and building a jaw from the casting.

The head castings are being sold on Ebay and on the Braylu Creations website.

I came, I saw, I... OUCH!

I made my first attempt at making brackets to mount the blinkers, and all I have to show is a Band-Aid on my thumb. I was sawing the flat brass with a jig saw when the saw suddenly made it all the way through, which thrust my thumb forward onto the jagged edge of the brass in my vise.

(Kids, cover your ears). F&%K!

Once again I've shed blood for the cause.

My first mistake? Using flat brass that's too thick. So I went to the hardware store today and purchased some very thin flat brass. Thick enough to make a good bracket, thin enough to bend and saw more easily (and precisely, I hope). Notice I said my first mistake. I anticipate a few more if this is any indication.

Made me blink

So far, I've managed to avoid making blinkers and/or winkers. But a client has made a request, I've agreed to make them, and he's paid his money. Now I'm committed (or should be committed).

I've studied the Fred Project, Mike Brose's chapter on blinkers, and studied the instructions that came with the styrene eyelids Buzz James sent me a year or so ago. I'm experimenting with materials, spring location possibilities, and ways to make blinkers without sacrificing the crossed eyes animation (now, that's a real conundrum).

As I have done in the past, I will likely share photos and explanations and probably whine a lot as I progress (or don't). Please bear with me.

Initial reaction

Buzz James of Braylu Creations and I commiserate on custom items from time to time. He is always keen to design and build custom components for vent figures. In the photo, notice the plastic eye synchronizer.

Buzz and I were discussing parts ideas when I showed him the balsa wood eye synchronizer I was using. (We communicate visually via Skype so we can show each other stuff). He asked for the measurements which I gladly shared. A few days later, he sent me a prototype of the synchronizer you now see. Now when I place an order for parts, I buy the synchronizers, too. If you look closely, you can see that Buzz even stamps them with my initials "KC".

Wow. That was nice of him.