Backyard Adventureland

2010-02-19T10:52:00.001-08:00

The Pirate, based on my dad, starts to take shape. I've painted the silicone skin and hand made a pair of eyes.

Out in the shop, the entire scene is coming together. The snakes have their skins and the fiberglass gold pile is getting it's treatment. We hand glued 3,600 plastic coins!

The Brass vase you see there was vital to the scene. Our air hoses ran up through it and into the Pirate's hip keep them hidden from the viewer. His rope was very thin and starting to fray. It was a nice effect.

The art of TIKI

2010-02-19T10:21:00.000-08:00

Of course I'm into tiki Culture. I decided I needed a couple of planters and some other items for my home. I designed, sculpted, molded, and produced these little guys in Fiberglass.

This one has a bowl shaped head for holding actual plants.

I also co-produced a cute kid in a joint project with my wife.

I also made a mask for the living room wall. It's fun to achieve a wood carved effect in clay.

Premature Baby

2010-02-10T15:05:00.000-08:00

This silicone premature baby was done for the Ripley's Museums. My good pal Bob sculpted the feet and I did the rest. He (the baby not Bob) had a motorized breathing mechanism and was placed in a vintage incubator. Bob has a full set of lungs and can breath on his own:)

Grab the Treasure!

2010-02-10T14:58:00.000-08:00

Those silly pirates. Always trying to get the treasure. Seems easy enough until two huge crocs surface!

Tiki Bird Tree

2010-02-10T14:54:00.000-08:00

I did this quick sketch while kicking around ideas for a restaurant in Isreal. Unfortunately they dropped the "tropical" theme. I guess I won't be eating there:(

Pirates Jail Scene Concept

2010-02-10T14:50:00.001-08:00

Two poor pirates stuck in prison with their portly shipmate! This scene was later modified and I built and animated it.

Dancing Native

2010-02-10T13:16:00.000-08:00

I repainted this handsome fellow for my all time favorite attraction, The Jungle Cruise. I also re-engineered his costume parts to be more weather resistant.

All he needs is his skirt and hat and he's ready to dance around in circles all day long!

Native Hats

2010-02-10T13:06:00.001-08:00

I remade all of the hats for the "Dancing Natives" in the WDW Jungle Cruise. Below is "before and after" on one of them. I dipped all of the feathers in epoxy to keep them weatherproof and I restored all of the mounting brackets to their original 1971 design.

Hector Barbossa

2010-02-10T08:27:00.000-08:00

A few years ago I sculpted Captain Barbossa for my personal collection. My pal Robert Bennett did the silicone skin and figure finishing. AVAST THERE!

Gus Gus

2010-02-10T07:48:00.000-08:00

I painted "Gus Gus" for Fantasyland. I also designed and built the metal mounting device to hold him in place.

Swinging Squirrel

2010-02-10T07:24:00.000-08:00

Here's a cute little squirrel I sculpted and figure finished for Bugaboo Creek Steak House. I also aged the lantern.

Splash Weasel

2010-02-10T06:22:00.000-08:00

I sculpted this "hard" version of the Splash Mountain Weasels as a test for Imagineering. I made the maquette as a study piece.

I did the fur and cloth in clay over a copy of the original sculpt by Adolpho Procopio.

'Lil Bird house

2010-02-10T06:13:00.001-08:00

This a bird house I made for Splash Mountain (Florida). Wood, epoxy, fiberglass, and paint. The challenge was in making it durable as the original was completely destroyed by hurricane Charlie. Yep, it blew right off the mountain and only fragments were found near Big Thunder:(

The Poor Pirate

2010-02-10T05:52:00.000-08:00

We needed a victim. I sculpted this worried fellow based on my Dad. I don't think Dad liked the idea. "What the hell'd ya do that for?!" hehe. Because you look like a pirate, Dad.

Giant snake in clay

2010-02-10T05:37:00.001-08:00

Here I am detailing our clay snake. This was one of the shots published in InterPark Magazine.

Pirate video

2010-02-10T05:23:00.000-08:00

Here's a fun pirate scene I designed and built a couple of years ago. The poor guy is coming down through a hole in the "Treasure Cave". He wasn't told about the hideous snakes who guard the gold!

What you see here is an "in shop" mock-up prior to installation.

This animatronic scene is my tribute to the men and women of WED Imagineering in the 1960's.

Ringling Bros Cockatoo Float

2010-01-04T16:16:00.000-08:00

I once worked, and trained, at one of the most amazing shops in the world. Hagenbeck Wallace. Never heard of it? Most people haven't but this one small shop was what I consider the most efficient production facility on the planet. HW's sole purpose was to construct floats and props for Ringling Brothers Barnum and Baily circus, Disney on Ice, and other Kenneth Feld Entertainment venues. This is where I took my first "lumps" and learned from some of the greatest men and women a young guy could hope for. HW was my school.

This Cockatoo float was the first project given to me as a whole. I helped weld the frame, install the motor and drive mechanism, and then I carved it. It was really a cool piece. The bird would rise up and spread it's wings as it drove around!

I found that large scale was my forte'. I fell in love with foam flying everywhere to achieve a larger than life figure. I still think that way.

In part two I'll post the finished piece.

Kennedy Space Center figures

2010-01-04T15:08:00.000-08:00

Back in '99 I had the pleasure of sculpting two life size Astronauts for the Kennedy Space Center.

That's my pal Batch on the left. He's getting figure one ready for paint while I ham it up. I carved these figures out of urethane foam, they were then molded and cast in FRP. I like to see how much detail I can get in foam.

Figure02 ready for paint.

I love wrinkles. It's fun to try to capture them in a natural way.

Just before this project started I was on vacation in Houston. I went to the Space Center there and got some great reference shots of actual astronaut gear. I'm a total dork over the American Space program. Total dork.

Part two coming soon!