STOP MOTION ARMATURE (easy version)

OK, here's a couple drawings to help explain my unexplainable ranting.  

What you need:

• balsa OR bass wood

• armature wire OR grounding wire (available at radio shack, ugh!)

• Elmer's glue

• sheet foam

• a knife

• some paper of some kind

OK, lets start (why do I feel like a public television art teacher?)

• First it is a good idea to make a drawing of your figure, a detailed drawing.  

• After that's done, get some tracing paper, and trace the outline.  From here, plan where you want and/or need it to bend, put a circle there.

•  Now take a look below

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The GREEN areas are balsa or bass wood, "shape holders" they give the armature some form.

The RED circles are where you want your figure to be bendable...you decide where they go, this is a (very)rough setup.

The BLUE line is the arm wire.  Note the bend inside the balsa, this is to prevent it from shifting, it locks it in place.

The GOLD line is the figures central "spine" it connects the separate parts together.  Note the bends in it as well.

The PINK wire is the leg wire.  Note bends.

The AQUA square is a strip of paper that has been dipped in a mixture of Elmer's glue and water (roughly 50/50) and wrapped around the wire.  It ensures that the wire only bends at the designated spot.  You are encouraged to use them between every joint or where possible.

 

<---This picture is a detail of the balsa wood which shows (poorly) how to carve grooves in it to allow the wire to pass through.  Once the wire is bent to shape, draw a line (or trace) on the balsa then carefully carve away where the wire will pass through. (Make sure they match up, this drawing is crappy) if wires overlap carve one wire's groove deeper then the other.  

• Figure out how flexible you want it to be yet?  OK now plan on taking up some space with balsa wood, see the big pic above if you need a refresher.  Adjust any angles for your figure  cut 2 of each shape.    

• Cut your wire to length, allowing for the bends.  It helps if your draw a rough estimation of the wire on your tracing.  

• Bend the wires, use something to bend around if you need to, it helps.  

• Now place the wires in the groove and glue the two halves together with a strong glue, and clamp until dry, follow your glue's instructions.  

• Wrap the paper/glue strips around the wire allowing at least 1/4 inch or 1/2 inch between these wrapping for the wire to bend.  

OK, after the whole thing is assembled and dry, you can begin applying the carpet foam to the armature, place with different methods (strips, cross sections, etc...) to see what works best for you. Rubber cement works well to glue it together, but test first to make sure that it doesn't eat the foam.  Trim the foam to shape with a pair of small scissors .   Practice on scraps to work out a good technique, a side and front drawing will help out in this phase of construction.  To further refine the surface, some light sanding can work, but test test test!

If you need to skin your figure, a light coat of latex can be painted on, but isn't necessary if your scissors/sanding work is good

You can paint the foam with acrylics, airbrushing seems to work rather well, but MAY crack and flake off over time, if you have a latex skin on your figure, some acrylic paint mixed with latex works well.   Test everything first, especially if you are using latex/acrylic, since it dries slightly different from what you'd think.

Anyway, as always feel free to get in touch if you need anymore info/advice or whatever

GOOD LUCK!