Kermit Replica Assistance Needed!

Melonpool

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Try using plastic lids from Ice Cream or Margerine tubs. In a oinch, you can also use cardboard, but it won't last for very long.

You might also check local hardware store for something called "Gasket Rubber." Most places have 6 x 6 inch squares of rubber that is enough for a puppet mouth. This is what I used to covert an Eden puppet into something a little more usable:

http://www.cryptozooey.com/?p=23
 

Melonpool

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You know what? I just figured out how you could make your Kermit look more "on model." Move his eyes back on his head so they sit closer to the top of his head. As they sit now, they look like they hit your hand at about the first joint of your hand. I think on the real Kermit, they hit closer to the knuckle.

Hope this helps -- and I do like your version a lot!
 

SesameStMuppets

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Thanks everyone! Sorry I've been away for a while - tying up some loose ends with summer classes.

Anyhoo... The new Kermit is coming along. I just bought gasket rubber today and can't believe the results! Thanks so much, melonpool! I'm hoping to finish him sometime tomorrow.

Any tips for pupils? I figured I should just make a stencil with plastic to use black paint? I'm not using ping-pong balls anymore - I bought the domed eyes from PuppetMart so I don't think Sharpies would work for the kind of quality I'm aiming for.
 

practicecactus

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Black adhessive felt dots are the thing to use but if you're feeling crafty you can just cut out pupils out of black tape or anything similar. I've noticed on a photo of Oscar the grouch, being large puplis, they don't stick the way they should on the curve of the eye, so they've made a slit from the center-out, a sorta radius cut, so it can overlap itself slightly ..if that makes sense.
I wouldn't recomend making them permanant by painting them on because the focal point, slightly cross-eyed look, is tricky to get right, the first attempt.
Hope that helps, and look forward to seeing your end result.
 

SesameStMuppets

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Wouldn't the felt dots be an issue for Kermit's pupils? It seems like I would have to do it in three pieces?

Here's a head I built - Gasket Rubber is PERFECT! But I need some help with the eye placement:

I know this isn't symmetrical:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/52568285@N07/4911301043/

But I don't know if it should look like this:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/52568285@N07/4911905248/in/photostream/
With a medium mouth crease and low eyes?

Or should it look like this:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/52568285@N07/4911905442/in/photostream/
With a larger mouth crease and higher eyes?

Thanks EVERYONE!
 

pingpongeyeguy

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hey,I been working on a kermit replica and the head came out great....but im having alot of trouble with the body...can some one please help me out...thanks
 

Animal31

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Wouldn't the felt dots be an issue for Kermit's pupils? It seems like I would have to do it in three pieces?

Here's a head I built - Gasket Rubber is PERFECT! But I need some help with the eye placement:

I know this isn't symmetrical:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/52568285@N07/4911301043/

But I don't know if it should look like this:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/52568285@N07/4911905248/in/photostream/
With a medium mouth crease and low eyes?

Or should it look like this:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/52568285@N07/4911905442/in/photostream/
With a larger mouth crease and higher eyes?

Thanks EVERYONE!
I personally like the third one with the higher eyes. Are those 35mm?
 

SesameStMuppets

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Yes, they are 35mm - I think they look about the right size.

I agree with you about the eye height. Do you feel like the crease on either side of his mouth is too big? Should it be more like option #2?
 

SesameStMuppets

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For the body, I just use the alternate body pattern for the Simple Series over at ProjectPuppet. It might be a little big, depending on the size of your head/hand - but it's pretty easy to scale down.

If you want to see how it looks just check out my flickr page earlier in this thread - that's the alternate pattern without any modifications.

Hope this helps :smile:
 

practicecactus

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Wouldn't the felt dots be an issue for Kermit's pupils? It seems like I would have to do it in three pieces?
Oh, right. I forgot Kermit's pupils have that odd shape to them.
I'd just cut them out of black electircal tape myself.

Lookin great there. Nice work.
 
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