Talky Tina finished 5/1 New pics/video added to first post

[Bizarro Lois]

Re: Talky Tina - Lots of progress pics!

Hi,

I'm curious if you've made any progress on your Talkie Tina build?

Um, not much lately. But I've started working on attaching the limbs again. I have a request from anyone who can take good screen shots. In the episode, there are times that Tina falls and you can see her legs, shoes etc. I know that she wears socks and I think they have lace trim. Could someone tell me if it looks like she's also wearing tights? It looks like it to me in the pictures below, but it's not as clear as I'd like it to be.
Edited to add: I've kept the episode on the DVR and watched it again today. I've decided that Tina doesn't need the tights after all. Her legs look to be the same shade of grey as her arms. Plus, there are times you can see the lace of panties, so they wouldn't be under tights as I first thought.

 

[Bizarro Lois]

Re: Talky Tina - Still going

In case anyone else is working on their own, this is the site where I got the wig, panties, and socks that I'm using. http://www.dollspart.com/
The wig is the "Katie" style in the Auburn color, size 12. I'll be curling and styling it myself. http://www.dollspart.com/lpgm.cfm?dpt=H&srch=D4&item=1085

 

[Bizarro Lois]

Re: Talky Tina - Still going

pic moved

 

[Firespray]

Re: Talky Tina - Lots of progress pics!

I've decided that Tina doesn't need the tights after all. Her legs look to be the same shade of grey as her arms.

I was thinking the same thing. Keep up the good work.

 

[rollerboi]

Re: Talky Tina - Still going

Lois, is it possible that the doll was wound up and then something was inserted into the gears to "freeze" them, attached to the piece of string you mention in your first post? This could potentially allow them to pull it out and set the gears in motion without having to touch it/do a camera edit.

 

[Bizarro Lois]

Re: Talky Tina - Still going

Lois, is it possible that the doll was wound up and then something was inserted into the gears to "freeze" them, attached to the piece of string you mention in your first post? This could potentially allow them to pull it out and set the gears in motion without having to touch it/do a camera edit.

I suppose there could have been something done to freeze the gears, but the first post (I'm assuming you mean the one where I thought there was a string in TT's back) was made without having watched the episode for a while. You can see the actors winding the doll onscreen. I'm going to continue working on mine that will actually have a winding key and release on the sides, and a non-functioning key in the back.
I've talked to a lot of doll collectors and haven't found any dolls that would be the right size, move the same way, and have a windup key in the back. A lot of websites say that her mechanical parts were taken from another doll, but that doesn't make it a reliable fact Even if that's the case, I don't want to stop working on this to find something that hasn't been readily available as yet. It's entirely possible that the show had someone make mechanical parts just for this doll. That's something I don't know how to do, but would still be interested in learning how or buying them from someone at a reasonable price. I would still like one that really winds in the back, but that will be an upgrade for another day.

Also, check out page 2 of this thread, as I've updated the photos. There had been a change in the way I attached the legs and the pics now reflect the dismantling of the moving parts accurately.

 

[Shylaah]

Re: Talky Tina - Still going

This brings back some ---uh---memories.......
My aunt had an old Chatty Cathy doll from her childhood and also a BIG walking doll that I don't remember her name, but she was at least 2 ft tall. Together they would have made up a Talky Tina I guess. I was always frightened of both of them and I had never even seen the Twilight Zone episode!!
Maybe it's Chucky's fault??
Great work you're doing on what has to be a monumental task figuring out how to put all that together!

Shylaah

 

[trekpropguy]

Re: Talky Tina - Still going

If I remember correctly, she didnt have a string to pull, she was clockwork and wound up at the back.

 

[Bizarro Lois]

Re: Talky Tina - Still going

If I remember correctly, she didnt have a string to pull, she was clockwork and wound up at the back.

Yeah, when I first started this thread several pages ago, I was just going on foggy memory. Between helpful people posting great screen shots and clips, plus my own repeated viewings, it was evident that the pull-string was just my imagination. The doll I am putting together does wind up. Check out my previous posts for a look at the mechanism that I got from another doll.

 

[trekpropguy]

Re: Talky Tina - Still going

Looks good, I'm really impressed.

 

[Bizarro Lois]

Re: Talky Tina - Still going

The wig and some other supplies came in the mail. The wig isn't as perfect as it looked in the pictures, but I might be able to work on it a little.

 

[Bizarro Lois]

Re: Talky Tina - Still going

I took some pictures of the wig on the doll head. The wig does not look quite as good as it did in the catalog photo, but I've been working on it this afternoon. I had to do a lot of brushing to get the hair to lay the way I want it to. I still have to get the pigtails just a little curlier - probably set it with a piece of dowling instead of the actual curlers I tried. The bangs need a little work in some spots too.
I noticed something else today. Early in this project, we had been debating whether the original Talky Tina had synthetic or human hair, due to the flyaways in the photos. After messing with the wig I bought, there are plenty of little stray hairs, so regardless of what kind was originally used, mine will have them too:lol

 

[CB2001]

Re: Starting to work on Talky Tina - help wanted

Guys, what makes us so sure that this is suppose to represent Talkie Tina? I mean, I'm sure there have been other episodes where a little girl has been carrying around a doll. It could very well be in another episode.

BTW, Bizarro Lois- Great job.

 

[Bizarro Lois]

Re: Starting to work on Talky Tina - help wanted

Guys, what makes us so sure that this is suppose to represent Talkie Tina? I mean, I'm sure there have been other episodes where a little girl has been carrying around a doll. It could very well be in another episode.

BTW, Bizarro Lois- Great job.

Thanks!

I see your point, but in every description I see of the attraction, the text refers to the doll on the couch as Talky Tina. I think the idea was "It's a doll. Talky Tina was a doll. They'll get the reference." Whoever designed it was not counting on people like us to care. I know that there are several other prop references in the ride, but I doubt they are accurate either. Still, I hope to check it out someday and see for myself. Even a company who was working on a licensed TZ product mentioned using it as reference. I quickly referred him to this thread, and other online mentions of Brikette as Talky Tina. I hope they paid attention.
The Twilight Zone Museum site lists Brikette as the doll used, but the photo is of a different-sized doll that is from the same time. The guy there didn't seem concerned either.

 

[Bizarro Lois]

Re: Talky Tina - Still going

pics moved

 

[Bizarro Lois]

Re: Talky Tina - Still going

pics moved
Well, at least I can pretty much guarentee the LACK of screen accuracy on this project. I mean, yes I'm using the correct doll, and getting a good match for the hair and clothes. She'll move pretty much like the original one, but that's pretty much where the similarity ends. The prop team must have either made their own mechanism or gotten one from something other than a doll. I'm going to finish this one, just because I've put so much time into it, but it hopefully will the first step in finding out how to make a more correct one. Keep your eyes out for moving parts that might work!

 

[Mystiana]

Re: Talky Tina - Still going

[dup msg]

 

[Mystiana]

Re: Talky Tina - Still going

a few years ago there was a seller on ebay named haunt-master who would occasionally make Talky Tina dolls, tho unfortunately they didn't move or speak...they even had someone custom-make the dresses for them

great thing about the bobble-head is you can remove the "voice-box" and implement it into your doll

edit: oh! also the couch doll looks to be a 1930s Shirley Temple doll...dunno how they could try passing -that- off as TT :unsure

 

[CB2001]

Re: Talky Tina - Still going

edit: oh! also the couch doll looks to be a 1930s Shirley Temple doll...dunno how they could try passing -that- off as TT :unsure

I actually, after doing some research, I think the doll on the couch is meant to reflect one of the characters of the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror attraction. I found this, which would make sense.

 

[Bizarro Lois]

Re: Talky Tina - Still going

CB2001 - Thanks for digging for that. I didn't even know they made a movie based on the ride. I think your guess is right, since that Sally Shine character seems to be based on Shirley Temple. It makes much more sense than using Shirley Temple as Talky Tina. The last time I heard, someone here posted that the doll was gone. Maybe that's why - few people got the reference.
Mystiana - I know of a few other people who have made their own Talky Tina, but I have yet to see one that has all the details I want. Someone joined the Brikette forums shortly after I did and was working on one too. He had someone else make a dress for him. That one is supposedly nearly complete, but I have yet to see any photos or video, but I hope I hear from him again soon.
These photos are not of my Talky Tina, but another member of the Brikette forum who made one. I think she might have used a knockoff doll. The face shape is similar to my doll, but something is different - I just can't put my finger on what. I like the dress pattern she used, although the fabric isn't the right design. She also used a wig with no bangs, but I think it's still pretty recognizable. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/BRIKE...ic/list?mode=tn&order=ordinal&start=1&dir=asc

Edited to add: I used Gorilla Glue to attach the legs to that rod in the bottom of the torso, and the one just fell off. I'm thinking about repairing it with JB Weld. Anything else I should try instead?
Also, is anyone else thinking of making their own Tina? I have to pick up some chickenhead knobs. The store near me usually sells them in bags, but I'm not sure how many. I'll definitely keep a few in case I redo the project another time, but keep in mind that I'll probably have extras if you need them.