Joe Blow (Part 2 – Maquette for Stop Motion Puppet)

Continues from Joe Blow (Part 1 – Maquette for Stop Motion Puppet)

Hair.

This is a pack of remnants that we sell. It contains about 4-5 smaller pieces left out after we cut out larger pieces , each about 4″ square area (2″ x 2″).

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One of those pieces is more than plenty to wig a head.
The color is Ash Brown – our new color and it is a type of ashy mousy cool-shade brown.
People send me photos of movie characters, with sweaty heads of indistinct brown-something hair color and ask: “Excuse me, would you have that color, please?”. Now I can proudly say: “Yes, we do. Ash Brown. Perfect for that three and a half locks of unknown color hair plastered to the head of your favorite character.”

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First I was going to make Joe’s eyebrows and facial hear with Tibetan Lamb. Tibetan lamb is finer than human hair, and although Tibetan works well on 1/6″ scale, because Joe’s head is slightly bigger, Tibetan lamb looks like some vague downy fuzz. So I cut a strand of my own hair and it is just the right size for the manly stubble. I will use Tibetan lamb for Joe’s hairstyle though.

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Paint the areas with Translucent Liquid Sculpey (slightly dilluted with Polymer smoothing oil, to make it a bit more runny) and put the stubble on. Simple enough.
Now, simple does not mean easy.
Don’t think you can just sprinkle it on and get away with it – see the photo below.
Each hair needs to be applied individually, but it does not take that long.
Wet toothpick works better than tweezers.
Bake after you are done with styling. It will bake matte and will lock the hair in place so that it cannot be rubbed off.
You can add more Translucent Liquid Sculpey and more hair and rebake.
You can wash off some unneeded hair with acetone – carefully, or it will eat through polymer clay, a gentle wipe with acetone q-tip will do.

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Here is the mugshot lineup. Looks pretty good, I think.

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Tibetan Lamb Ash Brown
sharp mini scissors
Fabritac glue
toothpicks
Matte clear spray finish (I am using Mr Super Clear Matte).

cut off the skin

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take a small lock of hair and snip off the end

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put fabritac glue on the ends and spread it out.

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with a clean wet toothpick press to the head for a few seconds.

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There is a cut in the head where the parting should be – forgot to take the photo.

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a bit more glue at hairline and press the hair into the hairline
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Looking fabulous.

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I guess we go with a haircut.

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Because it is a stop motion puppet (although still a maquette for a puppet), the hair needs to be not-movable. So I pretty much cemented it in place with matte clear spray. Sort like hair spray helmet hair.

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The maquette is done.
I would have to admit, it turned out to be a rather useful exercise to make a maquette before making the actual puppet.
Now I have a good idea what to do, what to keep and what to change.
Here you go – meet Joe.