In PART ONE of this animatronics odyssey, master Creature FX mechanic Rick Lazzarini (ALIENS, SNAKES ON A PLANE, DR. DOLITTLE 2) gets you started on your journey of creating an organic animatronic creature puppet. From lifeless vacuform shell to moving, expressive character puppet, Lazzarini shares tons of budget-friendly tips and techniques that will help you animate your mechanical characters.

Advanced Level

3h 38m of duration

English (auto), Spanish (auto)

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Curriculum

1. Title & Introduction - 2min

2. An Animatronic Puma: Demonstrating Movement - 3min

3. The Mechanics Of Organic Expression - 4min

4. The Complexity of Many Moving Parts - 3min

5. Push-Pull Cable Articulation - 6min

6. A Rundown Of The Construction Process - 6min

7. Creating The Vacuform Underskull - 3min

8. Attachment Tabs For The Underskull - 3min

9. Tapping The Vacuform For Button Screws - 2min

10. Test Fitting The Skin & Drawing The Cut Line For The Mouth & Eyes - 4min

11. Constructing A Mount For The Head - 9min

12. Affixing The Mount With Screws - 2min

13. Holes For Eyes & Cutting Out The Jaw - 9min

14. The Jaw Mechanism - 2min

15. The Trunnion - 46s

16. Aligning The Axle - 1min

17. Reinforcing The Jaw - 5min

18. The Eyes - 6min

19. Prepping The Trunnion For The Jaw - 17min

20. Assembling the Jaw - 3min

21. Mounting the Trunnion - 10min

22. Quad Movement Eyebrow Assembly - 3min

23. Cable Prep - 12min

24. Cutting Out the Eyebrows and Attaching Cables - 9min

25. Access Holes and Cleanup - 9min

26. Push-Pull Mechanism - 15min

27. Temp Fitting the Cable Housing - 6min

28. Adjusting Clearance for the Eyebrow Mechanism - 2min

29. Overview--Day 2 - 4min

30. A Brief Discussion on Servos - 6min

31. Connecting the Servo - 7min

32. Connecting a Transmitter to the Servo - 12min

33. Transmitter Settings to Control Servo Range of Motion - 3min

34. Finishing the Servo Assembly - 2min

35. Tinning - 3min

36. Attaching the Block - 8min

37. Securing Cable Housing to the Underskull - 7min

38. Prepping for Skin Application - 2min

39. Applying the Skin - 8min

40. Recap - 52s

Materials

CLICK on the links below to find the materials you need for this lesson.

Some items might be harder to find, but a little internet scouring usually finds you everything you'll need.

McMaster Carr

Reynolds Advanced Materials

Smooth-On Inc.

FOR YOUR WORK STATION

CC Cup Holder

C-Stand

Latex Gloves

Protective Visor

Puma Head Life Form

Puma Head Silicone Skin

Puma Skull

Puma Teeth & Jaws

Vacuform Machine

EPOXYS/GLUES

Super Thin Glue

Telesis 5 Adhesive

PAINT/BRISTLE BRUSHES

Small Paintbrush

RELEASES

Vaseline

RESINS/ACRYLICS

Rigid Dental Acrylic – Ortho Jet Liquid & Powder

THINNERS/SOLVENTS

Isopropyl Alcohol

Telesis 5 Thinner

TOOLS

Bits & Indexes

4/40 Tap

Composite Wheel Dremel Bit

Double Cut Carbide Dremel Bit with 1/8” Shank

Step Drill Bit

Stone Sanding Dremel Bit

Crimping, Pliers & Gripping Tools

Bench Vise

Curved Needle Nosed Pliers

Grobet Wood Handled Hand Vice

Nicopress Crimpers

Z-Bend Crimper Tool

Cutting Tools

Band Saw

Scissors

Felco Cutters

X-Acto Knife

Drawing Tools

Sharpie Marker

Electronic Tools

94358 Airtronics Servo & Block

Futaba 9 Zap PCM Radio Control Transmitter

Futaba PCM Receiver

Measuring Tools

Digital Calipers

Power Tools

Cordless Drill

Dremel

Heatguns

Punch & Press Tools

Chisel

Torches, Solder & Accessories

50% Lead and 50% Tin Solder Bar from McMaster Carr

Soldering Station

Tracing Tools

Scribe

Wrenches

Allen Wrenches

Other Tools

Hot Glue Gun

SUPPLIES

1/16” Brass Tabs

½” Delrin Plate

½” Metal Rod

4-40 Screws

6-32 Set Screws

8-32 Screws

Batteries

Bicycle Brake Cable

Buttonhead Screws

Cable Eye Terminals

Cable Housing

Compressed Air Can

CC Cups

Clear Butyrate Plastic Sheet

DuBros E-Z Connectors

Dykem Steel Blue Layout Fluid

Eye Forms

Fiberglass Cloth – open weave

Great Planes Pushrod Connectors

Gold-N-Cable

Hosmer Dorrance Swaged Cable

K&S Brass Tubing and Brass Ball

Masking Tape

Model Airplane Landing Gear Wheel Clamps from Hobby Store

Nylock Nut

Pulley

Pulley Block (trunnion) w/axle

Servo Arm

Stay-Brite Flux

Teflon Liner for Cable

Turned Brass Hub

HEALTH/SAFETY PRECAUTIONS

When working with toxic and/or dangerous materials or tools:

ALWAYS read labels for appropriate use guidelines

ALWAYS wear a high-grade respirator

ALWAYS work in a well-ventilated area

ALWAYS protect your skin

ALWAYS wear eye protection

Artist BiographyRick Lazzarini

Creature Effects veteran, Animatronics Designer and head of The Character Shop, Rick Lazzarini has just about seen (and done) it all.

See Full Bio

Additional Purchasing Options

Notice: DVDs do not include closed captions.

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