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swandog β Pivoting Pinions V.1
Published: 2007-11-08 15:40:17 +0000 UTC; Views: 30892; Favourites: 394; Downloads: 945
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Description
(Sorry to keep spamming y'all with my wing WIPs, but just in case my ideas might help someone else, I'm posting them here.)I think I got this figured out now...I'm trying, at least!
This diagram shows the internal armature of the fursuit wings (in this case, the undersides of the wings), which operate via a string-pulley mechanism (the string being elastic, in this case), something along the lines of these wings: [link]
[link]
[link]
[link]
Am aiming for a look like this , but without using real feathers...Instead, the feathers will be made of either fake fur or "fun foam" covered in thin velvet or fuzzy "flocking" , with lightweight, flexible kite rods as barbs, and the primaries will pivot on the ends of these barbs as they fan out, similar to this simplified diagram and little demo prop , as well as this collage .
Other similar designs:
[link]
[link]
[link]
[link]
[link]
And here's how I'm hoping the "arm" of the wing will look, only much bigger, of course (and only the wrist joint will move):
[link]
[link]
More technical info on the anatomy of wing movement (both real and mechanical):
[link]
[link]
[link]
[link]
[link]
Anyways, I will probably have to tweak the design further as I actually start making these, and will continue to give updates here, so stay tuned if you're interested!
EDIT: ~lotusii was interested in making these for me, so I color-coded everything in the image to make it a little more understandable:
Yellow = Fake fur "feathers", stretch fabric and foam padding
Green = Plastic or wooden armature and wing base
Light blue = Wing bolts/screws, wire rods, tubing, pull-tab and hook for string, and other bits of hardware used on the armature
Orange-red = Non-pivoting barbs (aka feather shafts)
Blue-violet = Pivoting barbs (aka feather shafts)
Lavender-pink = String pulley for armature and knotted fishing line for feathers
(Here is a video of the mock-up she made, based on my design: [link] )
Related content
Comments: 63
Do you think I could use white poster paper? I would make a static wing mounted to my dress first. I'm going to be an angel type character, so I want nice wings, but at a low price. I've also heard I could use felt, but it would be hard to make feathers big enough with the sheets they sell at Walmart. What do you think?
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I guess you could, but they would need something as backing to make them stiffer, since poster paper is still a bit too flimsy, and also, once it gets creased, bent, or damp, it will have to be replaced. Your best bet, if you can find it, is thin sheets of craft foam, or styrene:
windofthestars.com/blog/tutoriβ¦
entropyhouse.com/penwiper/costβ¦
www.amethyst-angel.com/armortuβ¦
And use something stiff for the feather barbs, like long plastic straws or those bamboo skewers used for grilling meat (you can just paint them white). Anyway, be sure to look at all the links I've posted in the image desc and also in my replies to others here, as they will help you!
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Thank you so, SO much for posting this--I've been looking for a feasible way to go about articulated wings for months. x_x I'll have to make a separate post to gush about your incredible gallery, but for now, I just wanted to thank you.
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You're welcome! 
www.youtube.com/watch?v=-S2A7iβ¦
www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Ae296β¦
www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Yw9KSβ¦
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Sweet, thank you so much!! I'll look into all of them. ^.^
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Also, check out the wings in this one!
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HOSNAP, those are crazy (from the BMW commercial, right?).
One of the other dA people you linked me to actually reminded me a lot of that commercial, but he might actually have done a better job. XD Those things are insane.
You should know, though, that I am no engineer and I ended up mostly using your Pivoting Pinions and your mockup-thing for the shapes in my wings. Not that I didn't take all your suggestions into consideration (I'm incorporating little details from several of them), I've just sort of fallen in love with your work, and it ended up being my favorite overall 'look.'
I'm nowhere near done, but I'll be posting if they work out.
Thank you for everything!!
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Aww, so very glad to help! <3 That's what I posted them and all the info in the desc for (and also why my friends Bushitaka and Sunnybrook1 post all their how-to stuff)...we all just really want to see people make their own articulated wings, no matter which design (or mix of designs) they use!
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With these wings, would it be possible to mount them on your back, and run the cord down to in the hand paws, by any chance?
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You could, but I think having the cords running straight down your sides (under clothing/fur) would be best, because that offers the least friction and resistance for the cords (less chance of them snagging on anything or abrading your arms).
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This is great! thanks for putting this up
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Yarn would fray and break, I'm afraid. The best thing to use would be those cords that pull up window blinds/shades, if you can just get the cord itself. That stuff is thin and lightweight, but virtually unfray/unbreakable. And if you want wings that just attach to your arms, look at =Sunnybrook1 's gallery; otherwise, check out ~Bushitaka .
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Ah okay. well the wings i want to make will be attached to my back, but i mean i was wondering where you were supposed to put the chords so they flap, do they hang forward until you pull them or do you put them on some sort or arm harnass. (sorry i just couldn't quite tell with the diagram just where the chords were supposed to go)
and do you have to use cardboard or can you use some sort of other type of lighter matarial, like i found a knitting pattern for wings i could possibly convert into flapping wings but i was wondering if that would work with your type of chord pully system. [link] <--that's the pattern for knitted wings.
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Ah, I forgot you'd already commented here (when I was replying to you just now), lol...The cords can be something like fishing wire, which is virtually invisible, but your wings must be very light-weight for that. The "angel wings" here were done in such a way: [link] and [link] (she pulls the cords, but they are hard to see).
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yea that's what i was going to do for the blue sections of the wings, that way i can talk with my hands and now worry about accadently clotheslining someone with a wing lol ^^ ah i see
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WHOA, thatΒ΄s very impressive! iΒ΄m getting so much ideas now!
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You're welcome! Just keep in mind that this is a "beta" design, and still needs to be tweaked a lot before these wings will be fully functional. If you make them, make a "mock-up" pair first, to iron out any flaws in the design before making the final pair, as =benzene66 has.
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Feel free; that's what I posted them for!
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Wow, these are ingenius! I was wondering if I could use this as a model for my gryphon costume's wings? You'd get full credits for the design, of course. <3
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Of course! That's what I posted them for!
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Awesomeness! ^^
How are yours coming along, by the way? Are we going to see the complete Swandog costume soon? ^^ Yours is one of the ones I've been dying to see!
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I haven't actually gotten to start on the Swandog wings yet, because I'm still saving up for the materials, and the rest of the suit isn't finished, aside from the head. *Beetlecat is making my Lunacorn suit first, and I'm currently working on the articulated moth wings for that.
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Oh my god, she's making THAT? Oh sweet jesus, be still my heart! <3 Now that's two I can't wait to see!
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XD With her skills, it should come out awesome!
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hmm, very cool. along the same lines that i've been mentally playing with.
I just made a pair on non-articulated wings for a show and for the feathers we used lining material cut on the bias and frayed the edges. very lightweight, and looked pretty good.
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Have you finished it? Would love to see pics of it (even in-progress ones)!
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not yet, haven't had time, but I will shortly. I'll definitely be posting pics though
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Please poke me with a link when you do, because I'm bound to forget to check for them! *scatterbrained*
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Oh WOW! Thank you for posting this!!!
I've been working out a wing contraption similar to this for a few months now, and figured I'd look around to see if anyone else has come up with anything... This is close to what I came up with... it's good to know that I'm not completely crazy! HAHA!
Did you ever manage to make the wings? If yes, let me know! It'll be good to know that something close to what I'm thinking works!
Nice job on the design drawing by the way. It's very clear and easy to read
The colors help a lot ^-^
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Your idea is perfect for my Shiron costume. I was looking at ideas on how to make wings and your idea is perfect for it. I was thinking of using ball joints and tubing. Then, I saw a link that you have on here that points on how to make your own feathers and that is perfect. I got everything needed to make wings for my Shiron costume. Now, I'm going to work on the wings.
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Good luck with this!
I've tried articulated wings a few times, and generally I end up fighting with the projects (I have trouble groking the mechanics of it, and understanding it is a big part of being sucessful).
Do you think the velvet covering will work out okay with the motion of the wings?
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P.S. I came across another neat method for making "feathers": [link]
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Wow, sweet!
That is very helpful, I'll have to give it a try. Thanks!
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Wow, I love your wing designs! 
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Holy cow. I've been working for years on the design of a sculptural pair of wings and I have to say I'm really upset with myself for not thinking of this. XD THANK YOU SO MUCH! I am going to edit my designs right now. Speaking of which. I can't find black pheasant (sp?) feathers. Do you have any idea where to find some?
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Ooh, can't wait to see what you make!
[link]
[link]
[link]
[link] (not sure if these are body or tailfeathers)
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Strike that, I just found a great source. I know how to share XD This is with my thanks for sharing your structure ideas. [link]
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Just be sure to practice a LOT with them on! You'll be walking through crowds, and it's hard to get used to wings sticking out of your back... I have taken so many people OUT with mine (and they are much smaller than this). XD
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Hehe! "Wing to the head!" *bonk* XD Yeah, I know whatcha mean, tho, sis; will definitely be careful, especially when opening them and going through doorways, but Sayh will be with me the whole time I'm in suit, to help me watch for those things...BTW, gonna respond to your e-mail asap; just been swamped all week getting ready for our trip, and my e-mail got really backlogged. 
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It's good to have someone watching your back when you have wings on it. ;D
No problem! <333
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