advanced eye mechanisms

[mupcollector1]

I would like to learn more about how to make an advanced eye mechanism. What I want is eyelids that blink and eyes that move horizontally. Something that can be built mechanically and not electronically, kind of like something connected to the eye mechanism to either a leaver attached to a rod or some sort of bulb attached to some sort of air pump and ring or something like that, kind of like how Spitting Image and Les Guignols De'Linfo do it. I want to build a lifesize foam puppet head to test it on while I'm making it. Any advice? I've tried something where eyes blink from a leaver inside the head but I find it quite frustrating because it's hard to do that while the hand is on the mouth plate. If someone knows a way to make an advanced eye mechanism, please send me a link to visual instructions.

 

[Buck-Beaver]

There is a good DVD on this subject, Sketch To Show Vol. 3: Building Mechanisms.

Here's a preview:

Another good resource is the book Figure Making Can Be Fun?!? which is written with Vent Figure construction, but most of its instructions and information about puppet mechanisms can be adapted to soft foam puppets.

I also post and share a lot of puppet building diagrams and other resources on Pinterest.

 

[mupcollector1]

Thank You for the information.