Robotic Ostrich Build

[Barking Mat]

Upside down ostrich.

Last can of polystyrene.

Plaster this afternoon, then paint tommorow.

 

[Barking Mat]

The Ostrich duly got plastered.

Painting will have to wait till Thursday, I work again tomorrow.

Unless during my tea breaks I can drink tea and paint?

Son did this at school today. He does love osterichs.

 

[Climber]

He's gonna be well chuffed with that. I wish i could see his face when you give it to him. How tall is it?

 

[Barking Mat]

Five to six foot tall?

I'm not wrapping it, might get a sheet thrown over it.

 

[Barking Mat]

I think I'll have to video him 'opening it'. Or get it to drop its head through the curtains in front of the door....

Getting somewhere with the paint, first effort was 'kids paint', but it went grey, took minutes.

Then my colleague found a used can of black spray paint, I over lunch was instructed the beak needed to be orange...

Neck needs attention, and might look over the head again... Not quite happy with it. Nearly there.

 

[Bullet2012]

Love it.
How about a section of flexible vent pipe at the neck hinge, like extractor or tumble dryer stuff ?

 

[Barking Mat]

Just been discussing with wifie, think we've got some grey fleece, as it's already a flexible hoover hose, nearly looked for a rubber gator.

The masking tape isn't having it, it wants to part company.

So I'll try fleece tommorow, should cover the pivot point nicely.

 

[eSCHEn]

How about a thick black sock with the toes cut off? All the pictures I see of black ostriches have the body black going up the neck a bit. Would save any sewing...

 

[Barking Mat]

@eSCHEn , I like your thinking.....

 

[Barking Mat]

But that would involve removing the head, or sewing.

I dont really do sewing, we have three sewing machines in the house.

I prefer the spray glue technique.

 

[outofthefire]

I wasn't impressed with your first attempts, but i'm amazed at what you've ended up with. The spray foam is genius, grey fleece should be perfect to cover the neck. I bet your sons going to be gobsmacked, great job.

 

[Seadog]

Looking forward to seeing this next week in the flesh, so to speak

 

[Barking Mat]

@outofthefire , thank you

 

[Barking Mat]

1m 80 odd tall, 140ish with neck down. Hopefully it'll fit in my mates van.

We'll see how much abuse it takes in the next week Graham.

It's pretty well balanced. Got to do it's claws as well.

 

[decca]

Love it. Made a garage for my son when he was a kid. He still has it. Makes fantastic memories. Well done.

 

[selectedgrub]

Great stuff,
Thanks for sharing.

 

[Barking Mat]

So today's the day.

I've got to start off by pointing out that since thursday, wife and I are loving, severe sinusitis, bronchitis and raging throats, on my day off I got up emptied out the trailer, gave up and went to bed, felt that rough. So...

Last night after he was tucked up in bed, we manhandled the Ostrich out of the car, into the future kitchen, and set it up. I'd disconnected the Morse cable unit, to make it easier to transport. I reattached the cable with my daughter holding its head up. Wired it up, and when the power is cut and restablished, it returns to neutral (neck) position, and promptly pecked my daughter, at which simultaneous point the dogs and cat fled.

Son woke up at 8ish, between us.

You could see his thought process..

I'm awake, it's my birthday, pressies!

Runs downstairs followed by us, straight to the table with the big boxes (2), doesn't even notice 6ft ostrich other end of room in the corner. When it does and it moves, initially I think people (my family) don't expect it to move, and initially it's a bit surprising verging on frightening if you're not expecting it.

Anyway super over excited boy gave it a load of abuse this evening and it's still going strong.

No, I still haven't sorted out the neck, with fleece.

 

[Parm]

Matt that a sterling job you’ve done there, the young lad will be well impressed

 

[Barking Mat]

Thanks @Parm, you know how when you say: yeah, I'll make you a robot ostrich..... And then.........

The ostrich was a diversion from the playmobil arc and zoo. He'd been waiting for months for them.
I
It's nearly 1 o'clock in the morning and he's just gone to sleep.

Good birthday.

 

[Seadog]

Fantastic Matt. I'm glad it went so well