Now, I believe I talked about talking about the hip joint or the thigh? Or was it something pointless, that I was promising to discuss?

I dunno, we'll say it was the hip joint and thigh (it probably was, I don't reread my posts). I've decided to do a combined post on this because I forgot to take enough pictures.

Starting with the image of what we accomplished last time:

If you read the neck post, then you know what the toothpick is for. For anyone now joining us, the toothpick acts as a post for articulation. So, much like the neck, you have to create another paper "ball-bearing." Same process, and I'll add the images down here.

So as you can see, it's the same thing. Now, in this case, I still haven't glued down the ballies, or the toothpick. I haven't cut the toothpick to fit either. That comes after the thighs.

That being said, on to the thighs.

Now, I apologize, because my photos of these steps are... Incomplete and inconsistent. So, please, bear with me.

Now, we start with the base thigh, in this case it's a rather nice little cone-like shape. This is a good shape for a base, it gives a nice, natural look whether you sculpt onto it or not. For Dwyn, I didn't sculpt anything on to it.

For this, your gonna want to put the top part of the thigh up next to the toothpick and cut a tiny divet into it where you want it to connect. I've also taken to cutting a portion of the back of the knee out, at an upward angle to allow for slightly better articulation. Then, cut a little rectangle.

Then, roll it and make a little cylinder.

Then, make another one, one that's just a little smaller than the one before.

Next you smash the cylinder into the top part of the thigh.

Like so.

It should look something like this. I should also mention that I cut the same divet into the cylinder as I do the thigh. Glue the tube into place. 

That being said, I'm going to include these pictures of Marta, because I used a slightly different method for making her things.

Ball joints, cone shapes, and toothpick; all the same. Only difference here is I chose to leave on a little extra on the top of the cone, partially because I wanted her to be taller, and because I wanted a more seamless method of connection for the ballie.

As you can see the top shape is a bit different, it still needs the cylinder, just for added reinforcement. Now to explain the purpose of the extra paper, that acts as a casing for the ballie, the socket, if you will. I usually make it a simple rectangular strip of paper, and I cut a divet into it too, as well as I curve the edges of it once it's glued down. 

I apologize, because this is the part where I failed to take photos of the process.

This is the finished image of Dwyn's thigh, the one above sort of shows the socket set up.

Now, if you're following along at home, you may notice that the tube doesn't fit at the top. Simple solution, put some glue in the empty space and on the outer wall of the cylinder, stuff it. Stuff it with toilet paper, or napkins, or tissues. Take your pick.

As for the next post, I'm not sure. I have plenty of things I can still explain/expand on, but I'd like to know if you readers out there had any questions that could be covered in the next post. If not, I'll just continue on my merry way.

Tis time for yet another installment of me making paper stuff. As it's been a long time since the last post (oops), I'm going to stick with something sort of simple.

The Hips.

Here is a comparison of the original (albeit, enlarged) figure next to my Dwyn mod. So for this modification, I simply gave more space for the leg to swing up. This allows for a decent enough amount of posability.

How is this articulation acomplished? On the original base, with a pipe cleaner. On Dwyn, with more paper and yet another toothpick.

As you can see in the above image, to the left of the hips is an oddly shaped piece of paper, this is the piece that will act as the toothpick holder and an additional support for the hips. It's basically the pelvic bones just a lot simpler.

So once you cut out one, cut out maybe three or five more since it should be equal on both sides... At least I think it should be.

From there I like to stuff the piece into the hips, as a sort of brutal test fitting. If it fits, I decide where I want to toothpick to fit through, and I poke a hole into all of the pieces, once I fish them out of the hip.

From there, it's a bit hard to see, but fit the pieces together and glue them in place. 

Use your own metal toothpick tool to make sure that the holes are lined up properly. Or a regular toothpick, if thats all you have.

Next, stuff it carefully into the hips. Sometimes it may take some harsh pushing, poking, and prodding, but it'll get in there. One way, or another. Once it's in there, glue that thing down and leave it to dry.

Once it's secure jam a toothpick through the pre-poked holes. This may take some gentle persuasion as well, since the toothpick can break. Do not glue the toothpick yet, I'll explain later.

(I do apologize, this is Marta in the last pic here, not Dwyn. This was just a better picture and it's all the same process anyway)

So, by the end of this ever so long awaited post, we have made the base for the hip articulation. Next, we'll actually articulate the thing. Which demands that I actually finish making the thighs.... So the next post might be on the thighs and we'll leave hip articulation as a sort of cliff hanger. Or maybe it'll be a double feature. We'll see.