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Post by quickleaf on Feb 10, 2019 6:27:30 GMT
Hello crafters! I'm new to the forum, just started crafting, and could use some help with a current project... How would you create a dinosaur howdah? Here's a mockup I created. Yes, the toy dinosaur is too small for the lizardfolk miniature. And yes, that's foamcore – probably not the material of choice. I'm just not sure what materials would work best... The goal is craft several howdahs that fit a variety of toy dinosaurs. These howdahs will be designed for 1-miniature, 4-miniatures, or perhaps more, depending on the size of the dinosaur figure. The howdahs need to stick to the toy dinosaurs & secure the miniature(s), so that when the dinosaur is moved, the howdah doesn't slip off and the minis don't fall out. Ideally, I'd like to be able to remove the howdahs entirely and allow the dinosaurs to be used as "wild" versions. Rugged materials are a plus, as I'm a traveling DM, but I'll make do with what I have tools to work with.
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Post by margaret on Feb 10, 2019 18:56:57 GMT
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Post by sgtslag on Feb 11, 2019 14:13:40 GMT
margaret , that is a superb idea! Thank you! The paper cups could be used to cover up an elastic strap, or rubber binder/band (see below). As to how to secure it in place, I would suggest either a rubber binder/band, or elastic tape from the sewing notions aisle -- the type of elastic sewn into sweat pants waist bands. The foamcore is not a terrible idea, but it will be destroyed before very long. I would suggest either 1/8"-thick MDF, or tongue depressor/crafting sticks, cut into pieces, Wood Glue'd into the proper shape (Wood Glue, the yellow type of PVA Glue, will form a bond stronger than the wood/MDF itself); make sure to create a spot for a hook to latch onto. Then put a hook into the end of the elastic strap. Check the sewing notions aisle for hooks, as well. Check Michael's, if you have one nearby, for decent dinosaurs (Papo, Schleich, etc.), in larger sizes. If you use their weekly, 50% off, coupons, you can get some superb, table-ready toys (no painting required!), for little cash. Cheers!
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Post by quickleaf on Feb 20, 2019 9:11:10 GMT
margaret Interesting idea to place magnets in the dinosaurs and in the howdahs! I'd actually been thinking of using 1/2" velcro rolls cut in half (down to 1/4"), and adhering that somehow to the howdah...that way the howdahs could be velcroed and un-velcroed as needed. Theoretically. sgtslag Elastic tape...do you mean the kind used by athletes to tape up joints? I think wood or MDF may be the best way to go, in lieu of actually 3d printing something. I did manage to fine some nicely sized and painted dinosaur toys!
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Post by sgtslag on Feb 20, 2019 14:00:04 GMT
quickleaf , the elastic tape I was referring to is what you find in the waste band of gym shorts. Visit your local sewing/fabric store, and they can show it to you. It comes in various widths. It typically comes in white, or black. You can easily dye it using tea, or coffee, which will stretch with the fabric, without flaking off. It will eventually stretch out, and need to be replaced, but if you remove the howdahs, for storage, it will last much longer. It contains rubber, so avoid ozone sources (some air purifiers emit ozone), or it will harden and crumble. Hope this helps. Please keep us updated as your project progresses. Cheers!
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Post by quickleaf on Feb 20, 2019 21:00:24 GMT
sgtslag Thanks! I definitely will! I'm going to experiment with a couple fasteners this weekend. By the way, I have a related question about good places to find masks for some miniatures? I'm crafting these dinosaur howdahs for both lizardfolk and goblins... these particular goblins are the Batiri of Chult and they wear totemic masks to appear more fearsome. I need a large number of these goblins and wanted to adapt my Reaper goblins (on the left half of picture) to feel more "Chult-ish." So I'm thinking of giving them masks. In the palette you can see one black-primed "mask" that I harvested from the shield of another Reaper mini. And the official Batiri goblin minis to the far right have white bone-looking masks. Is there a good source for tribal masks out there? Or is this a job for green stuff sculpting?
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Post by margaret on Feb 20, 2019 22:10:17 GMT
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Post by Sam on Mar 1, 2019 22:21:14 GMT
Hi. I was thinking about the howdah idea, and have a suggestion. Make it into two parts, a saddle and a basket. The blue square is the saddle and the brown tub is the basket. The saddle is a piece of painter's tape (I was thinking flexible vinyl) with 3 pieces of craft stick glued on to it, and two pieces of toothpick. The center piece of craft stick has a piece of Velcro (hoop & hook) fastener glued on. The basket is a cut off single serving ice cream tub (about 2 1/4 in. dia.), it has a corresponding piece of Velcro on the bottom. The Velcro hold the basket on the saddle. My idea was to use 2 hair ties to hold the saddle to the dinosaur, but they are too big. I do not have a dinosaur, so I mounted it on a small razor to illustrate.
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Post by margaret on Mar 2, 2019 3:40:23 GMT
Thanks for sharing your prototype, Sam!. Just placing the elastic bands over the base rather than trying to attach them to the base is a great idea. There are smaller elastic bands made for little girls' braids / pony tails that might be small enough to work well - if they aren't TOO small.
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Post by deafnala on Mar 3, 2019 14:55:22 GMT
I have played around with some Mega Critters myself. This is my Lulu the Land Waster mini from way back when to give you some ideas: The details are where the fun begins: I hope that may be of some use to you.
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Post by margaret on Mar 3, 2019 18:07:00 GMT
Wow!
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Post by quickleaf on Mar 17, 2019 9:12:09 GMT
Hi. I was thinking about the howdah idea, and have a suggestion. Make it into two parts, a saddle and a basket. The blue square is the saddle and the brown tub is the basket. The saddle is a piece of painter's tape (I was thinking flexible vinyl) with 3 pieces of craft stick glued on to it, and two pieces of toothpick. The center piece of craft stick has a piece of Velcro (hoop & hook) fastener glued on. The basket is a cut off single serving ice cream tub (about 2 1/4 in. dia.), it has a corresponding piece of Velcro on the bottom. The Velcro hold the basket on the saddle. My idea was to use 2 hair ties to hold the saddle to the dinosaur, but they are too big. I do not have a dinosaur, so I mounted it on a small razor to illustrate. Very cool ideas! Thank you! I took an earlier suggestion about using velcro tape. Finally had time to walk through the local arts & crafts store and found these little party gift boxes that seemed the right size. Here's the mockup to test the concept... Process was simply: (1) Cut velcro roll in half length-wise, so that it's narrower (otherwise too thick). (2) Cut gift boxes in half, then cut to match contour of individual dinosaur mini, then cut a slit for velcro. (3) Slide velcro through both and secure around dino.
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Post by quickleaf on Mar 17, 2019 9:16:20 GMT
I have played around with some Mega Critters myself. This is my Lulu the Land Waster mini from way back when to give you some ideas: The details are where the fun begins: I hope that may be of some use to you. Brilliant work! Lulu the Land Waster is something to behold. That looks like a fixed howdah that's structurally built into the model. Amazing. However, I am trying to create removable howdahs because I want to be able to use the same dinosaur "minis" (they're toys that are the right scale) as either wild or trained by lizardfolk/goblins. Indeed, I'm trying to puzzle out how to do the details I'm imagining. The wood and chains turned out great in yours. Since I don't have the right bits and pieces, I'm guessing green stuff may be my only option.
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Post by quickleaf on Mar 17, 2019 9:21:25 GMT
Great suggestion, thank you! One trouble I'm noticing with the velcro (and I imagine elastic cord would be the same) is that I'm securing the howdah through tension, but there's nothing supporting/bracing it from underneath. After removing and resecuring the howdah a couple times, I noticed the cardboard was wearing and one of the sides would get a little cocked at an angle. Some kind of a small diagonal support between howdah and dinosaur's flank might work... I might try another configuration too. While my current approach is effective at getting minis "riding" on the dinosaur, I'm wondering how I might change the configuration to feel more howdah-like...and perhaps also find a way to mitigate abrasion/wearing of cardboard...
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