Date: Mon, 18 Feb 2002 13:51:03 EST
Subject: Re: PUPT: Riding a pig body puppet


Suggestions from Jim Gamble:
    Use rods or wooden dowels or flat trim pieces (approx. 1/4" by 1") for 
reins.  Do not use flexible reins.  The reins that fit the harness on the 
pig's head should be placed on either side of the head and afford some 
flexibility.  The neck joint will be internal and covered with pigskin, foam 
rubber, etc. the reins will allow you to have more control over the head than 
by attempting to use gravity as with marionettes.  You can use model airplane 
cables found in hobby shops to attach to bell cranks, levers and directly to 
eyeballs inside the head for animation.  Run the cables along the reins into 
the head.  Two riders on the pig are fairly easily accomplished by designing 
around two human bodies.  Pigs feet (trotters) can be made by covering the 
feet with foam and coating with latex.  Elevated heels will give more of an 
illusion to pigs feet.  Your advantage is that pig skin is wrinkled and you 
can hide all sorts of deformities in the wrinkles.  Sounds like a fun 
project. Wish I could help with it.  Jim Gamble


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