In this essential "animatronics how to" lesson, Stan Winston Studio "Lifer" & Legacy Effects animatronic special character effects designer Richard Landon (Aliens, The Terminator, Predator, Jurassic Park) reveals various approaches to creating highly versatile cable-controlled tentacle mechanisms for your character creation projects.

Intermediate Level

2h 34m of duration

English, Spanish (Latin America), Portuguese (Brazilian), Thai, Spanish (Castilian)

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Curriculum

1. Title & Introduction - 51s

2. Tools - 2min

3. Materials - 4min

4. Cable Sizing - 3min

5. Housing - 2min

6. Types of Tentacle Mechanisms - 2min

7. Two-Way Tentacle Mechanism - 49s

8. Four-Way Tentacle Mechanism - 3min

9. Hollow-Core Tentacle Mechanism - 2min

10. Mixing Tentacle Types Together - 3min

11. Tentacle Mechanisms in Action - 3min

12. The Simplest Tentacle Nylon Tubing - 5min

13. Expanding On The Simplest Tentacle The Simplest Hand - 3min

14. A Quick & Dirty Palm Plate - 1min

15. Assembling The "One-Axis" Tentacle Mechanism Hand - 1min

16. Attaching the Fingers - 3min

17. The Creature FX Mechanic's Work Table - 3min

18. Threading the Controllers - 1min

19. Assembling a "Two-Axis" Tentacle Mechanism Tail - 20min

20. A Tour of the Two-Way Tentacle - 4min

21. Two-Way Tentacle Controller: A Simple Alternative - 4min

22. Building a Four-Way Tentacle Mechanism - 3min

23. Slicing Aluminum Stock for the Vertebrae - 4min

24. Drilling & Prepping the "Vertebrae" - 5min

25. Drilling the "Vertebrae" with a Drill Press: Tips & Techniques - 4min

26. Drilling the Set Screw Holes in the Vertebrae - 3min

27. Drilling Set Screw Holes in the Vertebrae with a Drill Press - 2min

28. Tapping the Set Screw Side Holes - 56s

29. Threading the Vertebrae Onto the Speedometer Cable "Spine" - 4min

30. Prepping the Cable Housings - 3min

31. Fitting the Housing with Shaft Collars - 3min

32. Threading the Cable Through the Mechanism - 4min

33. Terminating the Cables - 2min

34. Connecting the Cables to the Controller - 5min

35. Tidiness & Application - 4min

36. Controller Options - 3min

37. Modifying a Store-Bought Pulley - 4min

38. Drilling the Holes for the Controller Assembly - 2min

39. Marking the Holes for the Supports - 1min

40. Drilling Holes for the Pulley Supports - 2min

41. Tapping Holes in the Pulley Supports - 4min

42. Assembling the Controller Base - 1min

43. Attaching the Pulley to the Controller Frame - 6min

44. Attaching Cable Housings to the Controller Frame - 2min

45. Connecting the Tentacle Mech to the Controller Assembly - 6min

46. A Simple Handle - 2min

47. A Tour of the Tentacle & Controller - 6min

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

FOR YOUR WORK STATION

Basic Single Pulley Controller

4 Cable Pulley Controller (self-made)

TOOLS

Bits & Indexes

3/16ths Inch Drill Bit

#36 Drill Bit

632 Tap

Taper Tap or Gun Tap

Crimping, Pliers & Gripping Tools

Cable Crimping Tool

Pliers

Vise

Cutting Tools

Band Saw

Chop Saw

Clippers

Felco Cable Cutter

FX Heavy Duty Cutters

X-acto Knife

Hammers

Heavy Hammer

Measuring Tools

Center-Finding Ruler

Digital Calipers

Measuring Tape

Power Tools

Cordless Drill

De-Burring Machine

Drill Press

Metal Sander

Scotch-Brite Wheel

Punch & Press Tools

Driving Punch

Screwdrivers

Socket Head Screwdriver

Torches, Solder & Accessories

Laser Microtorch or Crème Brule Torch

Other Tools

Heat Gun

SUPPLIES

2 Barrel Crimps

7/7 Cable (Wire Rope)

Aluminum Housing Stops (self-made)

Aluminum Scrap Metal

Bar of Aluminum

Cable Tensioning Ferrules (from Flanders Co.)

Clothesline Pulley

Compression Spring

Electrical Tape

Extension Spring

Ferrule Caps (from Flanders Co.)

Fire Line Braided Kevlar

K & S Aluminum Plate

Key Rings

Loop Crimps

Motorcycle Throttle Conduit Cable Housing from Flanders Co.

Music Wire

Nylon

Oval Sleeve Crimps

Power Pro Line

Set Screws

Shaft Collars

Sharpie Marker

Single Barrel Crimps

Small Metal Bar

Speedometer Cable

Spring Housing

Spring Steel

Stiff Nylon Tube

Tapping Fluid/Wax

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

REFERENCE MATERIALS

Pocket Ref

Relton Carbide-Tipped Hole Saw Speed Chart

Artist BiographyRichard Landon

Master Character Effects Mechanical Designer

See Full Bio

Additional Purchasing Options

Notice: DVDs do not include closed captions.

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