Making “A friendly gesture” gallery

Cams and gears cut from beech and also birch ply

Blanks for arms prior to carving

Heads and bodies from lime wood. Legs from beech for strength.

Hips have brass rods running horizontally to add strength

Jackets are carved with scallops to add texture.

Dogs being assembled

Heads with chins fitted

Painted with artist gesso in preparation for painting.

Gear box cut from birch ply and varnished with waxed acrylic grey varnish by Polyvine. This gives a silky finish.

Cams in position along axles. Prototype in the background.

cams and gears all painted with 2 coats of wax acrylic varnish

Sherline lathe used to cut the brass parts.

Parts of figures painted with 2 coats of artists acrylic paint. Ready to be varnished

Beginning to populate the mechanism. Top is the concept piece and below the new piece being trial assembled.

Wooden eye painted with acrylic and finished with clear resin. Pupil is a drilled hole filled with resin. More . . .

Eyes mounted in gimbals

Head and eye mechanism assembled. Showing 2 positions.

Showing mechanism that rotates head and crosses eyes.

Dogs awaiting fitting of internal mechanism.

Mechanism for lifting dog to standing position. Made up of 10 pieces of beech.

Dog with lift mechanism fitted on test frame

Dog looking where the man is going to be placed. Small piece of paper holds the module in place for a test fit.

Shoes which act as the pivots for the man’s ankles. Awaiting painting.

Roller cams make a much smoother mechanism.

Reinforcing critical joints with brass pins

Wrist joint enables accurate posing of the hands b before fixing.

Actuators for head and arm

Waxed rosewood crank handle with brass axle and PTFE washers for smooth running.

On the last lap.