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Post by SylvreKat on May 5, 2016 8:38:18 GMT -5
All right, you very mechie guys. It just occurred to me how really creative and very very capable you are sometimes with making solutions to engine problems. So I've a problem that maybe hopefully one (or more) of you can figure out a solution.
I am making a white German Shepherd costume. Doing pretty good with adding foam so my human legs more resemble a dog's hind legs. A friend turned the paws on a scarf into totally fabulous feet. I've already got a old fox fur coat disassembled for the back and arms, and am about to start making a rabbit coat into the legs. I got a Necomimi ears thing so the ears will randomly move, and snap to attention when I really focus.
What I can't figure out is an elegant, non-crude, not too complicated, relatively inexpensive way to make the tail wag.
I had thought to just have a motorized pulley, where I push the button and it rotates one way, pauses, then reverses a few revolutions, pauses, reverses again, and repeats as long as I hold down the button. But my best friend who is a machinist said that's a very crude way to accomplish this. Heck, I was thrilled I came up with that much of a mechanical idea. Sadly, everything he's thought of is too complicated for something like this--he hasn't figured out anything fairly simple yet not crude.
So, can any of you think of a better (yet still cheapish) way to make a costume's tail wag at will?
>'Kat
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Post by SylvreKat on May 7, 2016 9:32:15 GMT -5
Hey, thanks for the idea, 2stroked! I never thought to Google wagging costume tail. Found a prototype by the same folks who made the neuro-ears I've got. It uses a seesawing motor that doesn't involve anything else except a very flexible tail. Sent the link to my friend to see what he thinks. But it sure looks way better than the pulley motor idea!
>'Kat
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Post by kevinharrell on May 9, 2016 19:26:23 GMT -5
Or, you could just attach the tail to a spring and shake your rear.
(I do mean that in a nice way.)
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Post by SylvreKat on May 9, 2016 22:06:09 GMT -5
That's what I'm trying to avoid, kev'. I mean, a real dog doesn't wag by shaking its rear. Although some dogs do end up shaking their entire rear ends when they wag.
I want the impressiveness of standing still yet having my costume's tail wag.
>'Kat
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Post by phssthpok on May 10, 2016 20:09:39 GMT -5
 This is just a 'first thought' concept, but.. Using one of these wooden snake toys as a foundation, attach several screw-eyes down the length on opposite sides. Attach two lines of some sort (Fishing line? Kite string?) to the tip (pointy tail end of the snake) and thread them down the length of the snake through the screw eyes. Source a small electric motor with two output shafts upon which you can establish opposing eccentrics (think: crank shaft) to attach the strings to. Cover your snake in fur and figure out some way to attach said tail while hiding the motor. The string will act like a tendon in your finger causing the tail to 'curl' on each change of 'wag' direction. (On further reflection it occurs to me that attaching the strings only half way up the length would effect a slight 'whipping' action on the outer lengths of the tail...might appear more natural...  ) Alternatively I suppose you could just run a single shaft motor with a string down one side and a length of rubber-band down the other acting as a 'return spring'. Just a thought..
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Post by oldchopperguy on May 10, 2016 22:48:17 GMT -5
Kat,
We made some truly ridiculous costumes back in my advertising days... For a wagging tail, we usually just made a semi-stiff tail using a piece of car radiator hose for a core, and ran a string from the end, through the costume up to the head, or shoulders, arm, etc. and slight movement of the body part would produce a credible wagging of the tail.
The COOLEST costume tail-action HAS to be the "Cowardly Lion" in "The Wizard of OZ". That was SO long ago that the technology was most likely very simple. Maybe you could research it. The costume recently sold for over a million bucks at auction!
Good luck!
Leo in Texas
PS: Wish I could find some PR pix of me in a giant Easter Bunny costume on my old Harley bagger giving rides to kiddies at a Fred Harvey restaurant grand opening, around 1971... No liability insurance, and I could barely SEE out of that miserable rabbit head! I'd put several little nippers on the seat, tank, handlebars, front fender, etc. and race around the parking lot and out into the grass and woods behind the eatery.
UN-FREAKIN'-THINKABLE in today's litigation-crazy world... My vision was so limited that I gave the kids a wildly wobbly ride... bounced off a few curbs and cars... LOL! and they LOVED it! Great old memories!
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Post by SylvreKat on May 11, 2016 22:07:04 GMT -5
... The COOLEST costume tail-action HAS to be the "Cowardly Lion" in "The Wizard of OZ". That was SO long ago that the technology was most likely very simple. Maybe you could research it. The costume recently sold for over a million bucks at auction! Good luck! Leo in Texas PS: Wish I could find some PR pix of me in a giant Easter Bunny costume on my old Harley bagger giving rides to kiddies at a Fred Harvey restaurant grand opening, around 1971... No liability insurance, and I could barely SEE out of that miserable rabbit head! I'd put several little nippers on the seat, tank, handlebars, front fender, etc. and race around the parking lot and out into the grass and woods behind the eatery. UN-FREAKIN'-THINKABLE in today's litigation-crazy world... My vision was so limited that I gave the kids a wildly wobbly ride... bounced off a few curbs and cars... LOL! and they LOVED it! Great old memories! I SAW YOU!! It was a few years ago! You were waiting for a break in traffic, coming out of a housing division. You were in full Easter Bunny regalia on your big ol' cruiser-bike!  As for the Cowardly Lion, seems I read somewhere that his tail was rather like a marionette. Someone off-camera controlled it. That's why sometimes it would whack him. I agree, coolest costume tail action indeed! At least, 'til I get mine figured out.... >'Kat |
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Post by SylvreKat on May 11, 2016 22:09:48 GMT -5
This is just a 'first thought' concept, but.. Using one of these wooden snake toys as a foundation, attach several screw-eyes down the length on opposite sides. Attach two lines of some sort (Fishing line? Kite string?) to the tip (pointy tail end of the snake) and thread them down the length of the snake through the screw eyes. Source a small electric motor with two output shafts upon which you can establish opposing eccentrics (think: crank shaft) to attach the strings to. Cover your snake in fur and figure out some way to attach said tail while hiding the motor. The string will act like a tendon in your finger causing the tail to 'curl' on each change of 'wag' direction. (On further reflection it occurs to me that attaching the strings only half way up the length would effect a slight 'whipping' action on the outer lengths of the tail...might appear more natural... ) Alternatively I suppose you could just run a single shaft motor with a string down one side and a length of rubber-band down the other acting as a 'return spring'. Just a thought.. And I forwarded your thought to my machinist/best friend. He was busy today in his shop making parts, and at his former boss' plastics shop. I def' like the idea of only going halfway with the mechanism, and letting the rest of the tail whip. I agree, sounds like that would look more natural. Thanks for your idea! >'Kat |
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Post by oldchopperguy on May 11, 2016 23:48:59 GMT -5
Kat,
That was more than a few years ago... Hope you did see me though! It was around 1974, in Oak Brook, Illinois at Fred Harvey's "Shipwreck Kelly's" restaurant and bar. My Harley was black, with red/yellow flames all over including the saddlebags.
I still remember that AWFUL bunny-head... Two beady eyes about a foot apart. I had to look through one, or the other and it totally destroyed my sense of balance. Then stick four or five little nippers on the tank, seat, fender and on my back (all wiggling around) yelling faster! FASTER!
I was in my twenties, and would not even THINK of doing THAT nowadays... But it WAS fun. Somewhere, I must have some PR pix of that event. If I ever find them, I'll do a post.
Ride safe, and watch your tail!
Leo
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Post by SylvreKat on May 12, 2016 6:48:06 GMT -5
I was joshing, it wasn't you Leo. But I really did pass someone wearing an Easter Bunny costume on his big cruiser. Sort of a "squint your eyes going HUHHHHH? ?? trying to figure out what the heck IS that" moment. Then got close enough to see it's a bunny costume. HUHIHH?!!?!??!?!?!??!?!??!?!!!!!! If I hadn't been going to work I would've stopped or turned around to watch him actually drive. I did get a wave from him. Yes, I waved back. At least you weren't driving in traffic like this guy. Although he didn't have any nippers with him. And I REALLY want to see any pics! >'Kat, wanting to watch my tail! |
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Post by JR on May 18, 2016 6:43:50 GMT -5
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Post by SylvreKat on May 18, 2016 7:19:26 GMT -5
Hm. Were the musicians the real members of the Sunshine Band, or were they extras stuck in outfits and handed instruments? Among the worse fake-playing I've seen.
Another thing--why was there such an absence of booty-shaking from the dancers? Should've been playing "Turn Turn Turn" based on the one couple's dancing (although I'll say they were good)
>'Kat, still hoping to wag my tail without shaking my booty
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Post by JR on May 19, 2016 21:34:57 GMT -5
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Post by SylvreKat on May 19, 2016 22:12:01 GMT -5
Hey JR, thanks! I had found that vid from a diff site, and another youtube vid showing that tail at some trade show. A couple shots, you could see the mechanism is some sort of rocker.
I mentioned it to my friend again tonight. Trying not to nag him as he is busy (self-employed is a wild ride, as he said). But time is also starting to get close. I said I thought the rocker idea seemed pretty good, fairly simple with only the rocker moving rather than cords and pulleys. He wrote back that maybe a model rc servo would work 'cause they're strong motors.
Gotta' agree with the commenters on the story you found, JR. As presented, that tail IS creepy-weird! I mean, having a wagging tail as part of a dog costume is one thing. Having a wagging tail all the time in regular clothes going around in the regular world is just weird weird weird!
>'Kat
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Post by JR on May 20, 2016 13:26:16 GMT -5
Dang it SylvreKat now ya done ruined my idea with calling me weird!  JR |
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