Ventriloquist dummies

[Yahnke]

I know that we all love "muppet" style puppets. Marionettes kinda rock too.
As a puppet builder, even if I am just doing it for fun, I want my finished product to look as "professional" as possible. I can not find a lot of good help on how to construct a ventriloquist dummy that will last.

From what i've seen, many puppet makers start with either a wood carving or clay sculpture. From there they make a fiberglass mold. That is the step i am missing.

Fiberglass seems like some nasty stuff to work with. It makes contact cement look like Elmer's glue. Is there an easier way to get a solid head or a better substance? Do vent dummy makers do this fiberglass step themselves or do they send them to a shop to be done?

any insight would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Buck-Beaver]

There are other options. At the shop I work in we use silicone molds and latex is also common. Plaster will often work too, although it's not an ideal medium imho and some people are allergic to the dust.

A very good book on the subject of mold making and casting is "The Prop Builder's Molding & Casting Handbook". You should be able to order it through Amazon.

Another really good book that you should read is "Figure Making Can Be Fun" by Michael Brose. He sells it through his website at http://www.puppetsandprops.com and he offers some free information on his site as well. It's by far the best resource I've ever seen for building vent dummies.