Chest/Torso
* I always start with the chest/torso area, determine how big you want it, this usually determines the size of the body/dummy you are building.
* After rolling out the amount of chicken wire, cut between the holes in the center (note, if you don’t cut in the center there will not be enough wire to attached your next piece)
* Next step start twisting the ends around the wire attaching the two pieces together to form a tunnel.
* Make sure you don’t leave any of the end sticking up, because later when you cloth your dummy this will get caught on the clothing and makes it very hard to put the cloths on.
If you will be making a stand for the dummy, this is when you would make that by: Attaching to pieces of lumbar to make a cross. And drill the cross to a flat bottom piece of wood for the bottom. Place the chest/torso over top of the crossboard, stapling about 1/3 above the crossboard for the shoulders and neck.
Arms
* Cut two pieces the same size from the roll of chicken wire, usually I attach the 1st piece in the middle so that it holds and gives me a guideline when to start making the arm smaller at that point, for the wrist.
* Start attaching by twisting the chicken wire together to create an arm, working yourself up towards the shoulder.
* Stop about half way up to the shoulder from the center, this will allow you to attach to the shoulder areas.
* Now go back to the center and twist the chicken wire together working your self down to the wrist.
* Repeat these steps for the second arm.
IF YOU WILL BE MAKING A PROP THAT WILL BE WEARING A CLOAK/DRESS, I USUALLY DON’T MAKE ANY LEGS.
Legs
* Cut two pieces of equal size, these piece will have to be rolled against the grain so that the will be long, NOT LIKE THE ARMS.
* Start in the middle again attaching your first piece then work your self up towards the thigh area. Again about half way up to the thigh leave this portion un-attached so that you can attach to the chest/torso later.
* Now god back to the center and start working your way to the ankles.
* Repeat these steps for the second leg.
Attaching Arms to Chest/Torso
* Start by taking the top of the arms (where we left un-attached), take this portion over top of the chest/torso and start attaching by twisting the chicken wire to the chest/torso.
* Should your prop wont to be holding something, attached another piece of lumbar to the already exciting stand through the arm.
HERE IS WHEN YOU SHOULD DECIDE IF THIS WILL BE A STANDING PROP OR IF YOU WOULD LIKE IT TO SIT. THERE ARE TWO DIFFERENT WAYS OF ATTACHING THE LEGS
Attaching Legs for sitting Prop
* You would attach the legs on the inside of the chest/torso, this would allow full range of motion for the legs.
Attaching Legs for standing Prop * You would attach the legs on the outside of the chest/torso, this would make them more sturdy and then shoes could just be drilled into the stand below.
