Author Topic: Wanting the impossible (Read 1948 times)

Felix · « **on:** July 13, 2004, 02:37:11 am »

Hi

To perhaps explain a bit before I begin: I like realistic looking fur's and i'm a bit picky. ':blush:'

My questions are: Do anyone either know of someone who makes (and sells), or know of plans for making, the following.

Tail (animatroinc. I love the ones at wolftronix.com, but he doesn't do commisions anymore, and the tiger tail were a bit bulky <-- thats my picky side talking)

Paws, rear (digitigrade. Something like what the werewolf actors in Underwold used. Something you strap on to the foot/calf extending the "foot")

Paws, front (claws. as a feline I would love retractable claws, but something like that in "nothing bigger than normal gloves" would be impossible (or?). Would settle for a "easy to put on/take of" sort of thing if they look good.

And last
Ears (animatronic. I'm not going to priorotize that, and I know there was a thread on this, but I didn't find much useful information there..)

I know that all of these things (perhaps with the exception of the retractable claws) can be made, and I probably could come up with something useable by looking at the net, learning from others experience. But since I lack experience, tools and time it would take a very long time to create something useable. ':cry:'

Does anyone know anyone who sells/commisions something like this?? Please!

P_Z · « **Reply #1 on:** July 13, 2004, 03:48:58 am »

...and that's why i don't even think about making a fursuit... The only good way to do it is owning jim henson's creature shop...

Agent_Blayze · « **Reply #2 on:** July 15, 2004, 08:58:05 pm »

I have absoloutly no experience in fursuit making or animatronics. But, being interested and intrigued with fursuiting for maybe a year now, I know of some good sources.

The first place to look is www.fursuit.org. Head into the "FAQ on Fursuiting and Contruction" and take a good look at the index. Read and view anything that is even slightly what you're looking for; you never know what you can find.

Another thing to try is a search on Yahoo. You can search specific phrases by putting quotations around it. So in the search box you might put exactly as follows: "animatronic tail" or simply "animatronics" or whatever the plural might be. Google is another good search engine, and try the image search as well.

WillowFox, who just so happens to be a member of Furtopia, has a tutoiral on his website to make an animatronic tail. I'm sure if you talked to him you could figure out a way to do animatronic ears. His website is at www.willowfox.furtopia.org (click on Artwork to get to his animatronics).

You might also try talking to ScribbleFox from www.onefurall.com about any particular piece, especially the claws. He's the best realistic suit maker that I have seen so far in my research.

Matrices at www.matrices.net has a cute fursuit head that has ears that move by way of string, but you should check it out anyway.

Also, talk to Legend the Gryphon. He makes animatronic wings and I believe is working on an animatronic tail. Check out his site at http://www.avians.net/legend/wingquest.html

As for the digitrade from the werewolves of Underworld, if you don't have it then rent the special addition of it. In the making of featurette, they have guys running around in the skeletons of those legs. As far as I understand they're stilts. I'm sure you could find loads of information about stilts and stilt mechanics.

There was an old business located in California, i believe, called Mythical Footwear. Their website hasn't been up for ages, but if you keep checking every now and again they could be up again. Anyway, they made realistic digitrade boots. You could try searching for them or like products.

You could try researching how a cats claws work; how they retract and whatnot, then try to make or design a like contraption as well. Rubberbands or small, metal springs could be considered.

Well, I hope that I have helped. Good luck on this project!

Felix · « **Reply #3 on:** July 16, 2004, 03:38:34 am »

Thanks for the tips!

I have already been to many of the sites you mentioned, and there is a lot of cool things to see there.

I'll try to search on yahoo.. Not tried that. Have used Google a lot, but haven't found very much...

Chaz_wolf · « **Reply #4 on:** July 16, 2004, 12:46:10 pm »

I might be able to help you out.

I make fursuits myself.. and can make what you are looking for, although the amount of work you are talking about makes it a very high priced job.

If you would like to know more.. email me - chaz@thefurrystore.com

I would direct you to my site, but I am currently haveing the fursuit section recoded.

thanks
Chaz

grumble · « **Reply #5 on:** July 16, 2004, 04:30:15 pm »

I'm working on an rugged anmitronic tail design that once done I hope to sell a kit for ~$40US The kit would contain the parts for the core, the cabling and the laser cut foam pieces and laser cut servo mounts.
.
It's based on a piece of steel braided hose.
The servos are mounted seperatly and conected with cables.

I will put up a web page soon.

Felix · « **Reply #6 on:** July 16, 2004, 06:34:31 pm »

Chaz_wolf: I'll send some questions your way.

'>

Grumble: Keep me informed on the webpage

'>

And both, and others, if you got any pics or videos of the tails in action it would be great

'>

Chaz_wolf · « **Reply #7 on:** July 17, 2004, 12:32:58 am »

I will be posting some picture asap..
Work is alittle hectic right now.

Chaz