Flying ducks
May 1st, 2007 by Hil
I’m working on several projects at once at the moment. One is making a set of those flying ducks that people had as wall ornaments when I was growing up. I’ve been lent a couple to model from, and looking at them up close I can understand their attraction, despite their kitsch reputation. Since the ones I am making are theatre props they only have to look like the real thing. Inside, they have an mdf structure, and I have bulked them out with polystyrene. I like carving styrene, except for the mess.
The next part of the process is covering the shapes with a commercial paper mache pulp. It starts as a dry mix, and when you add it to water it turns into a thick paste, which can be smoothed on and sticks to most surfaces. Here I’m half way through adding the paper mache to the big duck:
The pulp takes a couple of days to dry, but I’m always impatient with things like this, and I have been hurrying it along by putting the ducks in the sun,
and the oven:
I’ll have to add more detail to the shapes, like the eyes, tails and feather patterns, and then its a matter of getting the surface smooth and painting it to look like china.
We have four beautiful white pet Indian Runner ducks, and it was funny to see them charging across the back garden in a line just as I was photograhing these in the kitchen.
coincidence that someone asked me just last night why I only had 2 ducks instead of 3 (one bit the dust) - maybe I should make another :)
could you tell me the name of the commercial paper mache mix, it is sparking ideas, I’ve tried a home made mix before but this looks interesting.(I’m in Sydney so assume what you are using would be local)
I’m enjoying your blog, while I’m not a puppeteer they fascinate me and I like following your links.
cheers
Hi Erica, nice to meet you :) Thanks for the kind comments - I’m glad you are enjoying my blog!
The paper mache is called Mix-It, and its made in Victoria. I have an address if you would like it, but since I got it at the Art Store here, you would most likely find it in their stores in Sydney too. I like the mix, but I wish it was completely smooth. It tends to dry slightly lumpy, so I have been having to sand it down.
thanks for that, I’ll make enquiries, we have a couple of good art suppliers nearby