Print PDF
Favorite
Email
Step 4Arms and Upper Legs
The forearms and several ancillary parts were made from vertical blinds. These were also found on a trip to Goodwill. They are about 4 inches wide by 8 feet long.
I cut a length that would wrap around my son's forearm with about an inch or two extra. I overlapped them and allowed a little extra overlap at the wrist end. This created a slight taper to the piece. I trimmed the extra from the elbow end and hot-glued the end over one another.
I learned by experience here that my hot melt glue temperature was quite high. The initial gluing nearly melted through the vertical blind plastic. A little trial and error found that holding the glue gun off the work surface several inches allowed the glue to hit the plastic at a slightly lower temperature (or so I believe).
The upper arms and the lower legs were constructed in the same manner as each other.
I purchased a closed cell foam under-pad for sleeping bags. I cut this to form tubes around my son's thighs and upper arms. I butted them then hot glued and duct taped them closed. I cut out the tops and bottoms to allow for free movement of his legs and arms at the shoulder, elbow, hip, buttock, groin and knee.
Once shaping was done I covered them all in duct tape. On the arm pieces (both upper and lower) I added tabs of the vertical blind material to create a hinged joint. These were punched through and connected using chicago screws.
Wooden wheels from the craft store were used for the hinge joint appearance at the elbow and at the hip. These were simply hot glued in place.
Loops of an old boot lace were used at the top of the hip to help hold the thigh pieces in place by passing the chest closure belt through these loops.
The arms stayed on by virtue of the upper portion of the arm being snug fitting.
I cut a length that would wrap around my son's forearm with about an inch or two extra. I overlapped them and allowed a little extra overlap at the wrist end. This created a slight taper to the piece. I trimmed the extra from the elbow end and hot-glued the end over one another.
I learned by experience here that my hot melt glue temperature was quite high. The initial gluing nearly melted through the vertical blind plastic. A little trial and error found that holding the glue gun off the work surface several inches allowed the glue to hit the plastic at a slightly lower temperature (or so I believe).
The upper arms and the lower legs were constructed in the same manner as each other.
I purchased a closed cell foam under-pad for sleeping bags. I cut this to form tubes around my son's thighs and upper arms. I butted them then hot glued and duct taped them closed. I cut out the tops and bottoms to allow for free movement of his legs and arms at the shoulder, elbow, hip, buttock, groin and knee.
Once shaping was done I covered them all in duct tape. On the arm pieces (both upper and lower) I added tabs of the vertical blind material to create a hinged joint. These were punched through and connected using chicago screws.
Wooden wheels from the craft store were used for the hinge joint appearance at the elbow and at the hip. These were simply hot glued in place.
Loops of an old boot lace were used at the top of the hip to help hold the thigh pieces in place by passing the chest closure belt through these loops.
The arms stayed on by virtue of the upper portion of the arm being snug fitting.
| « Previous Step | Download PDFView All Steps | Next Step » |
 |
Add Comment
|
