Balloon Chat

Uncategorized Boards => Model Of The Month => Topic started by: Graham Lee on March 28, 2017, 07:53:39 PM

Title: April Competition (Rabbit)
Post by: Graham Lee on March 28, 2017, 07:53:39 PM
This months competition design is the Easter Rabbit.

The original design was shown at the Manchester Care & Share day by Daniel McCullough.
This is my version of Daniel's design, thanks to Daniel for letting me use the design for this months competition.

Daniel made the design with a 12" quick link and added the tail onto the design.
I have used a 6" quick link and used the link part of the balloon as the tail.
There is also a slight variation on the head construction.

BUT the design inspiration is all from Daniel, this is Daniels original picture for the design.
Title: Re: April Competition (Rabbit)
Post by: Graham Lee on March 29, 2017, 07:23:55 PM
A few variations on the rabbit I made yesterday.
Title: Re: April Competition (Rabbit)
Post by: Graham Lee on March 29, 2017, 07:25:29 PM
And then a few more today, still deciding what one to make into the model of the month.
Title: Re: April Competition (Rabbit)
Post by: Graham Lee on March 30, 2017, 01:59:00 PM
I have decided to go with the rabbit in a basket as it's Easter time.
It was decisions, decisions and I'm sure you can add a carrot or two if needed.

There is a spare black in the complimentary pack so will be enough for a black nose
or you can add rose or pink if you prefer, that is what is good about this balloon
modelling malarkey, there is no right way or wrong way to get to the design.

The packs will be sent out with all orders for April and if you post your rabbit then you
will go into the draw to win a balloon modelling DVD.

If you do not purchase from us then no problem, please still have a go at making the
rabbit and posting your entry for other to see...................Thanks.

Especially if it's a variation on a theme, I will post the step by step instructions up shortly.
Title: Re: April Competition (Rabbit)
Post by: Graham Lee on March 30, 2017, 04:21:38 PM
Inflate the link of the quick link, just put a small amount of air in the 6" quick link,
then push the air into the link section, you need approx. 3 finger length with a half of a finger tip.

Put a knot between the link and the balloon.

Before inflating the quick link you need to make a raisin,
this is a scrap of balloon with one or two knots tied into the scrap.
There is a thread here with it explained, raisin-twist-t1096.html (http://balloonchat.co.uk/raisin-twist-t1096.html)

Inflate the 6" quick link with four strokes of the pump, I used the old Qualatex purple pump.
If you use the new green pump you will need to let a little air out.

The raisin is on the left, this goes inside the balloon,
the scrap to tie the raisin to the outside of the balloon is on the right.

The raisin inside the balloon needs to be approx. 4 fingers away from the knot.
You do have to feel for the raisin inside the balloon and sometimes holding this up to the light helps.
Once you have hold of the raisin through the balloon you use the 160 scrap to tie the quick link around the raisin.
For the first few goes it might help to have someone else help you tie
the raisin in but you will get the hang of this after a few goes.
Please do not give up, if it's a new technique for you.
Title: Re: April Competition (Rabbit)
Post by: Graham Lee on March 30, 2017, 04:24:38 PM
Inflate the white 160 leaving approx. 6/7 fingers un-inflated.

Make two 1.5 finger pinch twist bubbles, then make a 2 finger bubble.
Title: Re: April Competition (Rabbit)
Post by: Graham Lee on March 30, 2017, 04:26:19 PM
Make the 2 finger bubble into a pinch twist for the lower section of the mouth.

Make a 5 finger bubble followed by a 2 finger pinch twist.

Then another 5 finger bubble back to the mouth section.
Title: Re: April Competition (Rabbit)
Post by: Graham Lee on March 30, 2017, 04:28:11 PM
The bubble for the top of the head needs to be slightly longer than a 5 finger bubble
to give you the arch look so the eyes fit in easier later.

Then make an 8 finger bubble for the first ear and then another 8 finger bubble for the other ear.

Discard the rest of the balloon.
Title: Re: April Competition (Rabbit)
Post by: Graham Lee on March 30, 2017, 04:31:10 PM
The raisin twist is wrapped into the back of the 2 finger pinch twist at the back of the head.

Then the know of the quick link is wrapped around the mouth section tightly.
I then like to take the knot and stretch it really tight around the 2 finger pinch
twist at the back of the head to make the head section more rounded looking.

You then need a 3 finger bubble for the eyes and a 1 finger bubble for the nose of the rabbit.
Title: Re: April Competition (Rabbit)
Post by: Graham Lee on March 30, 2017, 04:33:46 PM
Twist the 3 finger bubble in half and tie loosely, insert this into the head section.
You can make the eyes into two soft pinch twists if you prefer that look.

Tie the 1 finger bubble loosely as well for the nose and attach.
If you tie too tightly it will look more like a pinch twist and the wrong shape for the nose.

The tail section you need two 1 finger bubbles.
Title: Re: April Competition (Rabbit)
Post by: Graham Lee on March 30, 2017, 04:34:37 PM
Twist these into two pinch twists so the tail sits upwards.
Title: Re: April Competition (Rabbit)
Post by: Graham Lee on March 31, 2017, 03:28:32 PM
The basket is two 160 balloons, inflate the first one leaving a 3 finger un-inflated section.

Twist two 1 finger bubbles and twist these into pinch twists.

The second 160 inflate fully and let some air out to make it softer.
(I actually leave a 2 finger un-inflated section and then squeeze the air along the 160 balloon)
It's one of my pet hates burping a balloon.

Split the second 160 in half and twist around the two pinch twists on the first balloon.
Title: Re: April Competition (Rabbit)
Post by: Graham Lee on March 31, 2017, 03:32:27 PM
You then have to plait the balloon.
I like to use the longer balloon as the centre starting point.

Plait all the way to the end and twist all three balloon together.
Leave approx. a 1 finger bubble in the balloon with no knot.
The knotted balloon I deflate this and tie back up.
Title: Re: April Competition (Rabbit)
Post by: Graham Lee on March 31, 2017, 03:34:58 PM
Twist both the ends of the 160's together securely.

The handle section of the 160
you need a 1 finger pinch twist made a 1 finger length back from the end of the balloon.

Twist the pinch twist into the opposite side of the basket to a top loop of the basket.
Title: Re: April Competition (Rabbit)
Post by: Graham Lee on March 31, 2017, 03:36:49 PM
I have tied the top section of the basket just for taking the picture.

You twist the pinch twists for the tail of the rabbit into this section.

With a slight adjustment it should look a little like the last picture.
Title: Re: April Competition (Rabbit)
Post by: Graham Lee on March 31, 2017, 03:39:02 PM
If you wanted to add some whiskers put a puff of air into a 160 black.
The ones I used are a 5 finger bubble in length, you can make larger or smaller.
Go for the look that you prefer.

I bring the whiskers up underneath the mouth and into the top section with the two pinch twists.
Title: Re: April Competition (Rabbit)
Post by: Graham Lee on March 31, 2017, 03:41:26 PM
You can if you like add some carrots to the basket.

And possibly a rose coloured nose might look nice for the rabbit as in one of the first pictures I posted.,
It may make for a softer looking rabbit.

The black nose makes him look a little more butch?
Title: Re: April Competition (Rabbit)
Post by: Tonya on April 01, 2017, 02:09:20 AM
what a fun design :-)
Title: Re: April Competition (Rabbit)
Post by: Balloon-Man on April 30, 2017, 04:28:36 PM
[attachment=0:3gikuppn][/attachment]WP_20170430_17_20_27_Pro.jpg[/attachment:3gikuppn]
[attachment=1:3gikuppn][/attachment]WP_20170430_17_20_22_Pro.jpg[/attachment:3gikuppn]
Quotejust thought i would have a go
Title: Re: April Competition (Rabbit)
Post by: magirob on May 03, 2017, 11:33:20 AM
Here is my effort
Title: Re: April Competition (Rabbit)
Post by: Susie on May 03, 2017, 05:39:59 PM
Hello Graham finally a picture of the rabbit 🙂
Title: Re: April Competition (Rabbit)
Post by: Jana on May 04, 2017, 12:24:03 PM
just in time
gold-dust
well, a 9 carrot design anyway
Title: Re: April Competition (Rabbit)
Post by: Tonya on May 04, 2017, 11:12:33 PM
okay, I finally got around to giving this a try.  Here was my first try. [attachment=1:1oc7qgaz][/attachment]0504171529a_HDR-1.jpg[/attachment:1oc7qgaz][attachment=0:1oc7qgaz][/attachment]0504171529_HDR-1.jpg[/attachment:1oc7qgaz]
Title: Re: April Competition (Rabbit)
Post by: Tonya on May 04, 2017, 11:17:33 PM
Then I changed it a little bit.  Made smaller ears and put a small loop behind it's eyes. [attachment=2:ol8up6nc][/attachment]0504171537b_HDR-1.jpg[/attachment:ol8up6nc][attachment=1:ol8up6nc][/attachment]0504171538_HDR-1.jpg[/attachment:ol8up6nc]

Then I changed the eyes from black to white.[attachment=0:ol8up6nc][/attachment]0504171640b_HDR-1.jpg[/attachment:ol8up6nc]

I love this body design, I will give it a try again soon and try to get the head attached correctly so it sits closer to the body.
Title: Re: April Competition (Rabbit)
Post by: Jana on May 08, 2017, 10:05:53 AM
Good with the loop behind the eyes to raise and shape the face.
I made my black eyes a bit to long really so my rabbit looks a bit evil but I think my carrots were very realistic.
Title: Re: April Competition (Rabbit)
Post by: Graham Lee on May 09, 2017, 10:13:11 AM
Thanks to all who entered,
this months winner chosen by the random name selector is.................

Susie, congrats and thanks to everyone else for joining in.

This is the random name selector that I use, https://www.classtools.net/random-name-picker/ (https://www.classtools.net/random-name-picker/)