Mr Sin model

[russellsuthern]

Hi all.

So, for my first "Talons" project, I'm going to make a Mr Sin.

Mr. Sin is such an underrated prop/model. He is an iconic, enduring image from classic Dr Who.
Scared the life out of me, anyway!

I have experience of making figures from cardboard, as I made a life sized archery target we nicknamed "Gripper."



We had great fun shooting him!



The actor Deep Roy is 4 ft 4 inches tall, according to wiki.
That seems a bit tall to me, so I'm making my model 3 ft tall, which still looks pretty big! Should look impressive when done.

The good thing about Mr Sin is that he doesn't need to look too naturalistic, he should look a bit stiff & angular, like a doll come to life!

I have started to create the body using cardboard held together with lots of gaffer tape.

I have given him big feet so he can stand on his own with no other visible means of support, as this looks better...



I think I'm really going to enjoy this one!

Cheers,
Thanks for looking in.

Russell

[Cardinal Hordriss]

This may be the creepiest build on the forum to date...

[karsthotep]

I have to admit Russ, I am slightly disappointed in this, i was hoping you would be dressing up as Mr. Sin not doing a model of him.  You could kneel down, do that whole bit

I hope you see the error of your ways and repent on this project!!!

at least do a side by side wearable version too.  I mean you dressed as leela for cryin out loud!!!!

[ciderman]

'He has been smoking pipe of poppy!'

[russellsuthern]

Cardinal:  That's the idea....Bwah ha ha ha......


Karst:

Holy cow- you want the moon on a stick, you do!!

If I dress up as Sin, then I can't dress up as Tom, put Sin on my shoulders & spin around like a whirling Dervish!

I can't be in two places at once!!

Don't worry, I have a few tricks up my sleeve to keep you all hopefully amused!

( Cripes- It's like performing for the Gods of Ragnarok!!)

Ciderman:  Ssshhh! Don't tell everybody!!

See ya!

Russ

[Cardinal Hordriss]

Cardinal:  That's the idea....Bwah ha ha ha......

I can only think of one possible build that would e more creepy but if that's how you roll I'll keep it to myself lol.

[galacticprobe]

My first project is going to be to make a Mr Sin model.

The prop itself is really a costume & a prop, because designer, Jim Acheson made two Mr Sins. One was the costume that actor Deep Roy wore & the other was a model that Greel & Chang could carry around, presumably because it was lighter & easier than carrying the actor around. The prop was definitely a bit smaller than Roy's costume as you can see when the two are pictured together:

The Doctor: "Your pig-faced, pig-brained Peking Homunculus."
No doubt carrying the dummy was easier for long-distance carrying than carrying actor Deep Roy. They probably only carried actor Deep Roy when they needed to set the "dummy" in a chair and have it move on its own, showing it was alive. (And yeah; it was definitely creepy!)

From what I can gather, Deep Roy's costume is now missing.

The way actors as well as production staff back in those days would keep things as souvenirs, I wouldn't be surprised if Deep Roy kept it once recording was completed, and now that costume is sitting in his closet. (And to bring out the trivia again, Deep Roy has been playing Scotty's pint-sized assistant, Keenser, in the new JJ Adams' 'Star Trek' films.)

The "dummy" prop was displayed at Longleat & the Blackpool Dr Who Exhibition, then was purchased by a private collector sometime in the 80's.

I hope he is enjoying it, as that is a great piece to own!

It makes me wonder what circles we need to travel in that allows us to purchase things like this. There seems to be a lot of it going on, but I'm never invited to any of those "grab-and-go" parties!

Anyway, can't wait to get stuck into this iconic prop!

Neither can we, Russell! You've done magnificently with everything so far. I can only imagine this one will also be a hit!

Dino.

[russellsuthern]

Cardinal... I am intrigued...

Anyway, update time.

I have finished the general construction of the main body.
The tape I used is very strong, but a bit flexible, too, so I can bend his limbs a little to readjust his pose if I want to a bit later on.



At the moment he looks like the "mini- me" of one of the mummies from "Pyramids of Mars."

More to come soon...

Thanks for reading!

Regards,

Russell

[The14thDr]

Genius! I love the idea of using cardboard to build the mannequin, very clever (and cost-saving!)

[galacticprobe]

The actor Deep Roy is 4 ft 4 inches tall, according to wiki.
That seems a bit tall to me, so I'm making my model 3 ft tall, which still looks pretty big! Should look impressive when done.

I think it all depends on your height, Russell. Deep Roy is also listed as 4' 4" tall on the IMDB. I just watched "Star Trek Beyond" yesterday, and with the cowl Deep Roy wears as Keenser, if you look where that cowl curves to show the top of his head, that curve comes up to roughly Scotty's shoulder, and to about mid-upper-arm on Kirk.

Simon Pegg (Scotty) is listed at 5' 10" tall, and Chris Pine (Kirk) is listed at 6' 0" tall, so the 4' 4" height for Deep Roy would seem about right. That said, Tom Baker is listed at 6' 3" tall, which makes Mr. Sin look even shorter (going on the fact that Deep Roy hasn't shrunk since his "Talons Of Weng Chiang" days).

So depending on how tall you (personally) are, if you want your Mr. Sin to look proportionately right next to your 4th Doctor, shortening your mannequin to 3 feet should work rather well. (The actors' heights above are for proportion reference. If someone wants to make a Mr. Sin, I think the best thing would be to get the nicest image of Tom Baker facing down Mr. Sin and seeing where Mr. Sin's head comes up to on Tom Baker, and then adjust your Mr. Sin mannequin's height to match proportions to your height. Someone lucky enough to be 6' 3" could easily get away with a 4' 4" Mr. Sin, but someone who's, say, 5' 9" like me, would definitely need to shorten a Mr. Sin mannequin so it looks right.)

I hope some of this babbling helps.

Dino.

[russellsuthern]

Hi all,

14th:  Thanks for your kind comments.
As well you know, cardboard is a fantastic & much underrated construction material.
It is fast becoming my "go to" material of choice, especially for my "cheap & cheerful messy little builds" as I like to call them!

Dino:  You have given this a lot more thought than I did!

I simply got a tape measure, stretched it up to 4 ft & thought, "That looks a little too big...." Took it down to 3 ft & thought, "That'll do!"


Anyhoo....

Update time....

I have given Mr Sin some socks & Kung Fu slippers.
His plates are so big, I had to use a pair of my own shoes & they were still a squeeze to get on!!



With those socks & shoes on, he looks more like a "Subbuteo" or a table football player than a Dr Who monster!

Still, early days...

Thanks for looking,

Russell

[russellsuthern]

Well,
First of all, I'm well chuffed that Roy is still getting work


Secondly, I think you have to move in certain rarefied circles to be "in the know" to get the tip offs that these things are up for grabs.

Dr Who original props often come up for auction, but my pockets ain't that deep!!
Which is why I content myself with making my own reproductions!

Finally, I hope this build lives up to expectations!

The body is coming along okay, but, let's face it, the head's the thing.

If the head doesn't come off good, the whole thing won't work, so I am a bit nervous about that bit...

We shall see what we shall see.....


Regards,


Russell

[galacticprobe]

Russell, for a working face template, why not try starting with one of these:



Blank-eye Baby Mask - Amazon

I'm sure they're also available on Amazon UK. You can also find them on eBay.

With features (or lack there of) like this mask has, you should be able to build up Mr. Sin's face easily enough. If done right, you can even separate the mask from the Mr. Sin build-up so you'll have the mask to use again if needed.

Of course, there is also a head-start for Mr. Sin on eBay - Smeary-Doll-Face-Costume-Mask, but this one is a tad more expensive, and downright creepy in its own right!

(I wouldn't want to be in the same house as this thing!)

I hope some of this is helpful.

Dino.

[russellsuthern]

Dino,

You read my mind!
Our local pound shop stocks those plastic mask "blanks" & they are really useful for my builds.

I used one for my Master, & I have already got one for this build.

I should really buy a few in case they run out of stock, as I have many ideas for future builds that will require them.


Best regards,


Russell

[russellsuthern]

Hi all.

I added some hands, using my usual marigolds stuffed with paper.
As this is the 4th build to incorporate these gloves, (Hand of Fear, Master, Neevas hat, Robot arms) I am considering buying shares in the company .



They do look a bit over sized, but this is because:

1)  They are bright yellow making them stand out.

2) The arms are a bit thin & spindly, making the hands look bigger.

3) The hands are over sized....

However, once the loose robes go on it should look fine, at least within my own (admittedly very loose) accuracy parameters.

Now he looks less like a football player & more like brother Lee Love from the Kenny Everett Video show...



For those who don't know, Kenny Everett was a radio DJ who got a telly show, which was extremely risque, considering it was on UK primetime TV.

He created a host of crazy characters for the show, including Sid Snot, Gizzard Puke, Captain Kremmen (a sci fi spoof) & rudest of all, a porn star called "Cupid Stunt"  (think about it... )

How he got THAT past the censors I'll never know- But: "It was all done in the best POSSIBLE taste!"

Anyway, that's all for now, folks, thanks for looking in!

Cheers,

Russell