I made a Baby Yoda!

11/27/2020

DIY Baby Yoda

A few months ago my subscribers challenged me made the Child from Mandalorian - AKA Baby Yoda.

Designing the Mechanisms

When making mechanisms, it’s best to start out with a sketch. Especially when you have multiple mechs that have to work together. Having a plan can save you a lot of headaches even if you have to make changes later as you are building.

The Eyes

For the eyes I used wooden spheres that were 2 inches in diameter. I pained them black and coated them with ColorShift spray paint. This makes the color change at different angles.

The Skull

When making mechanisms it’s important to have a sold framework for a foundation instead of just the foam head. I used this 4 inch diameter schedule 20 PVC pipe. It worked great!!!

Ear Mechanisms

For the ear mech I used spiral boning. It’s a material used in dress and corset making. It’s nice since it won’t get outstretched like a spring and won’t fatigue like wire.

Eye Blinks

To make these eyelids, I vacuum formed plastic over the wood eyes. Then I welded posts on the back to they could be controlled by the trigger.

Covering the Lids

I stretched fleece over the eyelids and secured it down with contact cement.

Movement Test

Everything is working together nicely!

Adding Foam

Next I covered the skull with foam. I added more than I needed to I could sculpt into it to get the shapes I wanted.

No Jams!

When adding foam sometimes the mechs can get jammed in ways you didn’t expect. Before moving on it important to constantly check that the mechanisms are working smoothly.

The Controls

This is the headstick I made. I cut it from a block of Delrin. It’s very strong.

Foam Details

I added some foam shapes to get even more detail before adding the fabric.

Fleece Covering

I get my fleece at Puppet Pelts!

Wardrobe

A quick robe! This was the closest fabric I had on hand.

Baby Yoda Time-Lapse Build

See more of my puppet builds on YouTube. Search “Adam Kreutinger”. #puppetbuilding #puppeteer

Instagram @TheWholeKreu @AdamKreutinger
YouTube @TheWholeKreu @AdamKreutinger
Twitter @TheWholeKreu @AdamKreutinger

Yours truly,
Adam

2 Comments

Emily Ellingson

12/21/2020 10:18:05 am

Hey Adam,
This Baby Yoda is incredible! Not sure what your email is, so this is the only way I can see to leave you a message. My kids decided this year for Christmas we wanted to go Christmas caroling, but since COVID-19 makes that unsafe, we decided to use pre-recorded music and puppets. They each drew out the design of their puppet, then I came across your YouTube videos and website. We had so much fun making puppets! We even made a little video for our long distance family and friends. I'll share the link here. We've brought a lot of Christmas cheer to so many this Holiday Season. Thank you! (ps: my 10-yr old really wanted a Yoda!) https://youtu.be/8grgG6wzMLo

Pat Gray

1/28/2021 06:42:13 pm

Hi Adam,

I too made puppets for Christmas. I made your Snoof puppets with fur and little armrods for 4 of my grandchildren. The 5-year-old was TERRIFIED of puppets before I made him is own! It took him 10 minutes of seeing the others having fun with theirs, and his terror disappeared.

Thank you so much for the free puppet patterns and your excellent videos for learning how to make puppets.

Now, my 27-year-old son wants a dragon puppet, so I'm carefully watching your streamed tutorial on making a muzzle. It remains to be seen whether I can sculpt foam as well as sew!

Your 70-year-old fan,
Pat