Pee-Wee's Big Adventure Clown
- Thread starter Duckbutt
- Start date
I like the over-hang look better, it looks more old fashioned to me, plus that's what's in the movie, and I had one already to copy.
I lay the whole thing down on it's back on a thick quilt, then unscrew it to open it, I think it's a neat feature to add a little ballast or store spare parts or whatever.
- - - Updated - - -
Last edited:
I saw a video of that new gorilla, if they aren't connected some way, they sure "borrowed" a lot from it, only the left forearm waives and it looks like the whole body sways back and forth.
Yes, I am building two clowns.
It may be over redundant, but, I stripped the second clown all the way down to the skeleton, and here are some better shots of the plastic torso:,
left
front 
back 
right 
these are just as flimsy and brittle as the heads, so I think I'm gonna put one layer of fiberglass cloth over the whole thing to strenghthen it, I'm afraid if someone bumps into it, it will crack like an egg shell.
I also found an old Kansas City Times news paper flier from sept. 8th. 1977 wrapped around the left arm under all the cotton wadding, cray paper, masking tape and twine:,
P.S., don't forget to stock up on misses' hiphugger panties, two for a dollar!, pretty groovy!, Ha, Ha
left
front back right these are just as flimsy and brittle as the heads, so I think I'm gonna put one layer of fiberglass cloth over the whole thing to strenghthen it, I'm afraid if someone bumps into it, it will crack like an egg shell.
I also found an old Kansas City Times news paper flier from sept. 8th. 1977 wrapped around the left arm under all the cotton wadding, cray paper, masking tape and twine:,
P.S., don't forget to stock up on misses' hiphugger panties, two for a dollar!, pretty groovy!, Ha, Ha
Last edited:
PeeWeeFan
Well-Known Member
What's the plastic black half-disks on the sides of the torso for? I found one in the stuffing in the legs of my clown. I thought maybe it was just junk that someone threw in there!
The 1977 flier surprises me since they began production around 1981. Someone was hoarding newspaper.
The 1977 flier surprises me since they began production around 1981. Someone was hoarding newspaper.
The half discs is where they had five staples clustered together to fasten it to the side of the frame.
Duckbutt
Well-Known Member
Yep, mine had the same discs on each side. I guess the torsos must have ripped apart enough.
billy - I notice you said the white torso is from a second clown. Did you find a second original clown to modify? Maybe I'm brain farting (long day), I thought you just had the one clown with the black torso, and were scratch building a second one. Did you find a clown stash somewhere?
Not many updates here, my welding buddy had to take a few days off. Should be starting back at it probably Wednesday night. Got most of the bars drilled and connected to the motor shaft, and the connecting rods cut and bent. Next is milling the sliding piece, making the vertical linkages, and then welding it all together. I'll post measurements when it's done - so far still using 1/4" for most of the rods, motor shaft is 5/16" (with 1/8" roll pin hole).
PeeWeeFan - What program do you make those drawings in? Those are cool looking .. I'll probably just scan my graph paper template in for posterity - old fashioned
billy - I notice you said the white torso is from a second clown. Did you find a second original clown to modify? Maybe I'm brain farting (long day), I thought you just had the one clown with the black torso, and were scratch building a second one. Did you find a clown stash somewhere?
Not many updates here, my welding buddy had to take a few days off. Should be starting back at it probably Wednesday night. Got most of the bars drilled and connected to the motor shaft, and the connecting rods cut and bent. Next is milling the sliding piece, making the vertical linkages, and then welding it all together. I'll post measurements when it's done - so far still using 1/4" for most of the rods, motor shaft is 5/16" (with 1/8" roll pin hole).
PeeWeeFan - What program do you make those drawings in? Those are cool looking .. I'll probably just scan my graph paper template in for posterity - old fashioned
PeeWeeFan
Well-Known Member
I made the drawings in ProE Wildfire. It's a version that I used back in college. It's probably considered obsolete now!
Looking at the torso, I think the original form for it may have been made from a steel container drum. Ribbing, similar to that found on drums, is apparent on the back piece. On the front piece, it looks as if the upper rib was beaten out. The lower rib may have been cutout and rewelded to shape the belly. The neck was likely the bottom of the drum and beaten outward. They may have then formed a plastic sheet over the steel or sloshed some liquid plastic on it. What remains of my clown's torso does not appear to be entirely consistent in thickness.
Looking at the torso, I think the original form for it may have been made from a steel container drum. Ribbing, similar to that found on drums, is apparent on the back piece. On the front piece, it looks as if the upper rib was beaten out. The lower rib may have been cutout and rewelded to shape the belly. The neck was likely the bottom of the drum and beaten outward. They may have then formed a plastic sheet over the steel or sloshed some liquid plastic on it. What remains of my clown's torso does not appear to be entirely consistent in thickness.
billy - I notice you said the white torso is from a second clown. Did you find a second original clown to modify? Maybe I'm brain farting (long day), I thought you just had the one clown with the black torso, and were scratch building a second one. Did you find a clown stash somewhere?
You're not hallucinating DB,
I found the one original Santa locally,( could never score a clown, that's why I need shoes, the Santa's have home made vinyl boots), and was going to scratch build one, until I found another neglected Santa on Ebay that no one bid on, before we got a hold of him, the seller already sold the head to someone else that didn't want to pay shipping for the whole thing, ( I wonder who that was?), so, my brother got a deal on the rest of the carcass, I'm not lucky enough to find a stash!,
I'm just working on both of them during the down time on the saddlebags and consoles we're doing, those are my main focus right now, but just waiting on material, or my dad and brother have some other engagement, or one of us is under the weather, etc., and it's slowing things down,
Last edited:
PeeWeeFan
Well-Known Member
Sweet! I wondered when a santa would pop up. When I purchased the motor from Rex, they stated the motors were only still being made due to people wanting them for their santas. I am guessing there are many more santas out there than clowns. The santa heads are probably plagued with the same issues as the clown heads - just way too thin to last up over time.
On a separate but related topic, are you planning to offer saddlebags and consoles in the future?
Yes, the Santas and chefs, are exactly the same robot, heads and all, with a different costume and no clown paint,
We may offer a few sets of saddlebags later on down the road, my dad, brother and I are all building bikes now, and we built an "inspired" bike for my nephew a while back, so we have to make four " new and improved re-sculpted" sets for ourselves and then I have two guys chomping at the bit for some, if we ever get caught up to where we only have one set to do a a time that will be awesome.
We're all getting burned out, because, that's what we've spent all our free time on for the last several months, we started from scratch, making the plugs, making the molds, and the making the bags and consoles and it's super time consuming and labor intensive just getting them all to the primered stage, to say the least!, and I didn't want to get "saddled" under having to do a run.
did you ever hear the old adage that, " the local auto mechanic drives the crappiest car in town because he's too busy working on everybody elses' ,to fix his own".
well, it's the same with Pee-wee bikes!, Ha,Ha
We may offer a few sets of saddlebags later on down the road, my dad, brother and I are all building bikes now, and we built an "inspired" bike for my nephew a while back, so we have to make four " new and improved re-sculpted" sets for ourselves and then I have two guys chomping at the bit for some, if we ever get caught up to where we only have one set to do a a time that will be awesome.
We're all getting burned out, because, that's what we've spent all our free time on for the last several months, we started from scratch, making the plugs, making the molds, and the making the bags and consoles and it's super time consuming and labor intensive just getting them all to the primered stage, to say the least!, and I didn't want to get "saddled" under having to do a run.
did you ever hear the old adage that, " the local auto mechanic drives the crappiest car in town because he's too busy working on everybody elses' ,to fix his own".
well, it's the same with Pee-wee bikes!, Ha,Ha
Last edited:
PeeWeeFan
Well-Known Member
I didnt' realize the Santa head was the same as the clown head. It was hard to tell from the one pic a couple pages back. It makes sense though.
Duckbutt
Well-Known Member
Cool photo! I'm guessing the airbrushing mentioned in the article was for the Santas and chefs (rosy cheeks and all). I'm still wondering how they silk screened the clown faces (assuming the article writer was correct) - anyone know? Never really seen silk screening on a 3D object.
On a side note, I was browsing Live Auctioneers history and found a couple more items. The clown is the same one as the first page of this thread, sold in 2010 for $450. The gorilla has seen better days; sold in 2011 for $600. I guess it could be worse, there are some animatronics on there selling for $10K+ ..
On a side note, I was browsing Live Auctioneers history and found a couple more items. The clown is the same one as the first page of this thread, sold in 2010 for $450. The gorilla has seen better days; sold in 2011 for $600. I guess it could be worse, there are some animatronics on there selling for $10K+ ..
Neat, I wonder if there is a clown head under the gorilla mask?, I wish Mr. Malcolm would make contact with you so we could solve all the little mysteries, funny how something with so little screen time could generate this much interest!
By the way DB, where is your live auctions clown?, I'm beginning to think it really doesn't exist!
I got the hands and gloves installed today,
By the way DB, where is your live auctions clown?, I'm beginning to think it really doesn't exist!
I got the hands and gloves installed today,
PeeWeeFan
Well-Known Member
I have never heard of silk screening on a 3D object. The only thing that I could think of it was maybe the plastic was silk screened prior to vacuum forming. That could explain the lazy eyed clown.
The gorillas should have been the easiest to make. Looks like a classic gorilla costume in some cheezy Tarzan movie.
The gorillas should have been the easiest to make. Looks like a classic gorilla costume in some cheezy Tarzan movie.
Duckbutt
Well-Known Member
Not sure if that would work or not, with the heat and stretching. I'm gonna pick my art buddies' brains to see how it could have been done.
billy - My second clown should be here tomorrow or so. I see from the tracking that it's in town, just needs delivery. Fear not, shoes are coming in good time
billy - My second clown should be here tomorrow or so. I see from the tracking that it's in town, just needs delivery. Fear not, shoes are coming in good time
Duckbutt
Well-Known Member
Question if you guys can check your clown mechanicals - how is the main torso rod (screwed into the lower half) connected to the bar and upper part of the rod (that gets pushed/pulled by the sliding piece)?
From looking at photos and video I took, I think the bar and upper rod (with welded washer top) are all one piece that rotates together. Below the bar, a washer or nut is welded onto the torso rod for it to sit on.
Does the torso rod go through the bar and into the upper rod like a door hinge? Or what is actually allowing the upper half to pivot on that torso rod?
Any info would help. I'm planning the next machining/welding session, and I don't have my clown here to check.
From looking at photos and video I took, I think the bar and upper rod (with welded washer top) are all one piece that rotates together. Below the bar, a washer or nut is welded onto the torso rod for it to sit on.
Does the torso rod go through the bar and into the upper rod like a door hinge? Or what is actually allowing the upper half to pivot on that torso rod?
Any info would help. I'm planning the next machining/welding session, and I don't have my clown here to check.
PeeWeeFan
Well-Known Member
If not mistaken, the long torso rod is one continuous piece. The horizontal bar is simply slid onto the rod and welded into place. The upper part of the body actually rests upon that connection.
I see that you have a washer between the bar and the plate shaft support. Mine also has a washer, but it's made out of bronze - which means it's probably an actual thrust bearing. Likewise, the washers at the top of the rod are also bronze.
- - - Updated - - -
Duckbutt;3758290} On a side note said:
PeeWeeFan
Well-Known Member
Does Santa's costume look the same as the one pictured a couple pages back that DB posted? Since the clowns appear to have varied over the years, I was curious as to whether the Santas did as well.
Similar threads
