Bob, Steve , Phillip and Dan,
After pondering your comments I have decided to make them self centering and have done so. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and experences as I find it very helpfull.

Dan,
The blog post you mention is very informative and I had originaly intended to install similair mechanics. I hope to do so on a future figure.

I have also made adjustments so the figure now is able to look further to both left and right.

Phillip, That was funny about your first figure. Did you repaint the eyes or did you find another way to deal with it?
Jim

Jim,
I tried to work with the eyes looking away, but finally repainted them at center. While I was at it, I completely reworked his face and added a wig!

-Philip

Here's the latest from Jim.

What a creative guy!!

He's coming along nicely. I see he'll have wooden feet instead of fabric ones?

Thank you Donald!

Thank you Aussie.
He has wooden feet and hands, self-centering wooden eyes with inset glass irises/pupils. The eye control is on the back of the Oak headstick and is operated by the thumb side to side. The handcarved Maple mouth lever is on the front and is operated by the finger of choice.

Next , paint, wig and body.

Jim

Looking forward to seeing that

Aside from the controls, everything else basswood?

The head, hands and feet are all basswood.
The eyes with inset glass irises are of a much harder wood.

Jim

What a beauty!! Great job. Keep us posted.

Once again, Jim...what a beautiful job! You are on your way to being one of our new shining stars in figure making!!

Mark
markwade@kidshowvent.com

Jim,
what do you use to cut the mouth and eyes?

Thank you Jorge and Mark!

Donald ,

I cut the mouth out on the bandsaw pictured in the background of the photos above. Conrad Hartz generously shared during his interview on Ventriloquist Central that he does it this way and it was how Frank Marshall did it. I hope to someday own a Hartz figure!
I actually lived in S.C. years ago when I was in the Navy and my father lives there now. It would have been great if I had known then what I know now and had been able to learn from Mr. Hartz!

I carve out the eye openings with carving gouges and knives. The eyes themselves are hardwood balls with glass inset irises.
Hope to have it painted in the next few days.

Hopefully more pics soon.



Jim

When it comes to adding hair remember this little ditty my Mum use to say...

"Blondes are faithful, brunettes are true, but never trust a redhead whatever you do"

(of course she was saying this to my father as he was heading out the door to meet up with his redheaded girlfriend )

It's either Clark Kent looking for a phone book, or Jim's figure in the making.

You got me, it's Jim's figure.

Just wanted to see how well the ears held glasses

He's really looking great Jim! (but I'm not at all surprised)

Dave!
Where ya been buddy!
Thanks and glad to hear from you!
Jim

Here's another peek at Jim's masterpiece in the making.

Painting is still in progress.

Thanks for posting the pics Donald!

Jim

Here you can see them all at once.