Project Log update 2

Project: Animatronic

Created by: WilletFX
Country: USA
Worklog

As a creature designer for WilletFX, Gary Willet is an accomplished modder when it comes to materials like latex and foam. Last year, Gary turned his hand to case modding and produced one of the stand-out cases of the year, which was featured on websites and in magazines worldwide.

The look is distinctive, and having a creature 'break out' of a case in this way was something we hadn't seen before in a case mod - although something we're well used from movies and games! Well, this year Gary is back with an even more impressive project which takes this idea a step further.

The aim is to create not only a creature breaking out of a case but, as Gary puts it, "When done, this mod will talk back!" Gary is actually filming the whole process for an instructional DVD, and his worklog contains links to videos of the creation process - taking worklogs to the next step, too!

Gary's craftmanship and amazing command of special-effects-like materials is plain to see. The teeth look particularly menacing, and are painted and finished spectacularly. The eyes are crucial to get right, since they're an immediate focal point for the head.

The head contains circuitry to command the numerous servos and motors that he has integrated into the skull that's been created. The eyes, mouth and head will all move to give a truly unique mod that will stun all on-lookers - and won't be the sort of thing you'll want to spend much time alone with in a darkened room!

So far, Gary has completed a successful movement test and the next stage would seem to be finishing up the design and paintwork on the head - although it doesn't appear that our intrepid modder has even started on the case that will act as the cage for this beast!

There are more pics, and some cool videos, over in Gary's worklog, which you should be sure to check out.