cedd Posted August 18, 2015 Share Posted August 18, 2015 Yes folks, the inevitable has happened, I've been asked to build an animatronic pig for Betty Blue Eyes! I'm confident in my abilities in producing the animatronics to go inside of it, and have a few ideas on ways I'd like to improve on the original pig used in the West End. My problem is that most of my animatronics make use of an existing animal - normally a puppet (such as my Raven) or another fabric-based model (such as my Rat). In this case I can't find a realistic stuffed pig, and the only lifesize models I can find are fibreglass so are completely solid. It's looking like I'm going to have to have a go at silicone or latex moulding one. This is where life gets a little tricky, as it's something I've never done before. There are plenty of tutorials on YouTube, and I've got plenty of time to throw at this project (show's not till July) but I've still got a very steep learning curve! I've found a pig that could form the basis of my mould here; Pig One option with that pig would be to behead it and just silicone mould the head and kneck (which is where I need the movement). For those who know the show, the pig is always seen sat in something (like a bathtub, or the back of a cart) stood with its' front legs over the edge and the body vanishing in to the tub/cart/whatever. So, anybody got any tips or thoughts on the best way to go with this one? Silicone or latex? Just say no and walk away? Pay somebody to produce a body for me? If so then any suggestions? One up-side to moulding my own is that I'll for once be able to build the mould around the mechanism, rather than the other way around like I normally have to work. It'd be a fun project to do, and it'll certainly mean raising my game a little, which I'm always up for! Let me know your thoughts or suggestions! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hilary Watts Posted August 18, 2015 Share Posted August 18, 2015 A google search for 'rubber pig mask' produces a number of masks designed to be worn on the head - eg this one.. I'm not sure whether one of these would be suitable but they are quite cheap if you wanted to experiment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cedd Posted August 18, 2015 Author Share Posted August 18, 2015 I'm going to have some nightmares after seeing some of those masks, I can feel it! All jokes aside, that might be a good way of going Hilary, thanks! I've contacted a company in Australia who produced some really great animatronic pigs for a film (and the original Betty!) On the off-chance that they have a spare "skin" that they cast that I might be able to buy. I suspect it won't come to anything, but if you don't ask then you don't get! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave m Posted August 18, 2015 Share Posted August 18, 2015 £350 for a pig that you'd just use as a mold seems a bit of a waste Assuming that things don't go off too quickly, how mush would a pig's head and a pair of trotters from a butcher cost?I mean to use as a mold BTW! Not skin and stuff!Would covering a real head in dental alginate be practical to cast one? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jivemaster Posted August 18, 2015 Share Posted August 18, 2015 Have you a size of pig in mind? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dj Dunc Posted August 18, 2015 Share Posted August 18, 2015 If you contact the University of Cumbria, the old Caldewgate casting workshop had a latex mold of a full pig a couple of years back I seem to remember. May still be there? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J Pearce Posted August 19, 2015 Share Posted August 19, 2015 When we did it earlier this year we had the original pig. Not sure where it came from as I wasn't on the show, but it would seem it is available for hire. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jivemaster Posted August 19, 2015 Share Posted August 19, 2015 But that denies Cedd the production of a new pig to add to his animatronic farmyard. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cedd Posted August 19, 2015 Author Share Posted August 19, 2015 But that denies Cedd the production of a new pig to add to his animatronic farmyard. You're on to me! :) The pigeons, raven and rat are all very excited at the prospect of a new friend! As far as I've been told, the group weren't able to source a pig from anywhere (I assume this means the original pig as well). I saw it as a good opportunity to add a good hireable prop to my stock (herd? flock? pack?). I'll try the University of Cumbria! You never know! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the kid Posted August 19, 2015 Share Posted August 19, 2015 FWIW - with a real pig you MAY find one from an abattoir as a "2nd" I think a whole pig is pretty costly because component wise it makes up quite a bit, my rents used to get a half pig butchered for about £200 or so that would last a while in the freezer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jivemaster Posted August 19, 2015 Share Posted August 19, 2015 Modern abattoir practise usually requires pigs to be sold as sides so that the spinal cord can be removed. Id suggest a visit to a pig farm with a camera and accompanied by the farmer. Look for a pig the right size and shape and take some pics from which to make a mould or pattern. Using a (dead) pig breaks the hygiene trail so likely it couldn't be sold. PLUS a pig weighs from 100 to 200 kilos -it's heavy! PS what happened to the remote typewriter project? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boatman Posted August 19, 2015 Share Posted August 19, 2015 Sounds like a job for some CAD software and a 3D printer. ... or borrow one of these from your local friendly Garden Centre! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bruce Posted August 19, 2015 Share Posted August 19, 2015 This is quite disturbing. I just googled “latex pig mask”, and a couple of clicks later it took me to a whole world that I don’t want to go back to...... but there may be some products there that might form a starting point for an animatronic head.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the kid Posted August 19, 2015 Share Posted August 19, 2015 Sounds like a job for some CAD software and a 3D printer. ... or borrow one of these from your local friendly Garden Centre! I think even with large base printers its going to be lots of parts and a long time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave m Posted August 19, 2015 Share Posted August 19, 2015 That first links mask looks to be bloody good value. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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