StickyBones Tips and Tricks. Handcrafting a Connector for Puppet Attachment
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Hi friends. I've recently encountered significant discomfort while animating Stickybones, prompting me to revisit YouTube for solutions and classic techniques from the pros. In almost every video, I noticed a tool called the Winder being used with the puppet. However, this brought to light the long-neglected problem of creating an adapter connector from the Winder armatures to the Stickybones puppet.
I had to handcraft the connector for Stickybones. Initially, I planned to create a 3D model in Fusion 360 and print it on my 3D printer, but to save time, I opted for the quicker route of using thermoplastic polymer pellets. It turned out better than expected and much faster. The fastening was quite tight and, most importantly, without any backlash.
Creating a Connector for Stickybones: A Step-by-Step Guide
To begin creating a connector for Stickybones, remove the pelvis from the figure, as the legs and torso may obstruct the process. Then, gather thermoplastic polymer pellets and place them into boiling water. The quantity of plastic used is flexible; it's better to err on caution, as excess plastic can be reused later.
Allow the pellets to heat in the water until they become transparent, indicating that they have undergone a thermal reaction. Once this occurs, drain the water and carefully remove the softened plastic from the pot. Without separating it from the bulk of the plastic mass, use the armature tip to pack it into the connector's mounting cavity, ensuring it envelops the armature. Insert the armature a few millimeters into the connector mount to firmly shape the body of the connector.
Once you feel satisfied with the molding, submerge the plastic in cold water to help cool it down. Only after the plastic has wholly cooled should you remove the connector from the basin and assess its quality. This process ensures the connector is formed correctly and ready to assemble Stickybones figures.
Testing has shown that attaching the pelvis of the Stickybones puppet with a winder makes the animation process more accurate. However, it does create extra post-production work by necessitating the removal of the rigging system.
After some testing, it turns out that using the Winder for animation promises to be very satisfying as micro-shifts become available.
A little later, when I have more time, I'll do a video tutorial.
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