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Sunnybrook1 — Realistic Wing Tutorial - P.4
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Published: 2010-10-01 07:53:50 +0000 UTC; Views: 82861; Favourites: 684; Downloads: 1157
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Description
Picture of the secondaries attached to elastic, post-threading~ 11/12/13: FINALLY updated recommended stringing-material, braided cord bunches up in tight spaces, 3/4-inch Ribbon is MUCH better and still strong~
5/10/11: Forgot to say where the D-ring went, finally went in & fixed it!
3/20/10: My first video showing wing-movement ~
10/19/13: My second video showing two wing's movement~
8/5/17: Disney animator describes the Mechanics of Bird Flight - watch for the useful description of how wings are built from 8:40 - 11:31.
Part 0 - MATERIALS
Part 0.5 - TOOLS
Part 1 - CONCEPT
Part 2 - FEATHERS
Part 3 - HARNESS
Part 4 - ASSEMBLY
YOU ARE HERE Part 5 - COVERTS
Part 6 - ARM-COVER WIP
EXTRA - RESULTS : See what OTHER people have made following this tutorial~
Already finished your wings? Please fill out this questionnaire , I'd love to hear about it!
Wing Design/Tutorial © Sunnybrook1
Related content
Comments: 73
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Thank you!! I ended up using staples just below each feather shaft - tried it as a temporary thing, and just left them in because it worked surprisingly well!
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My sincere apology if you have this listed somewhere and I somehow overlooked it, but is the 100ft of 12gauge wire for only one wing or both wings?
Thank you so much in advance!
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Both wings, and then some~
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When stacking all Primary Feathers in the bolt, is the Number #1 Primary Feather situated closest to the body of wearer or does it sit farthest away? It seems easier to grab the first primary feather when it sits further.
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That is correct, it sits farthest away so is easier to grab with your thumb & forefinger. And since the #1 feathers are always much thicker than the others, it means you need to be careful when wrapping the wires, so that it doesn't create a huge gap between #1 and #2, like so:
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I managed to insert 3 hangers inside an aluminum hollow arrow. Thanks!
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Oh hey, that sounds like it'd work, thanks for sharing your solution!
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No thank you for your Super Awesome tutorial.
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How does the elastic with the secondary feathers AC'd to it attach to the pivot point/glove? I have been obsessing over this entire tutorial, and I cant figure that out... is it with the D-ring? Where does it go, and what is the use of the wrapped copper wire around it? Thank you!!
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Yes! 
Because once all the primary feathers are inside the pivot point on the screw, a bit of the screw should be left over that sticks out & that's where the D-ring goes (with the elastic attached & secondary feathers strung on it). I usually put a few washers between the pivot point, D-ring, and final bolt on the screw.
Does that help?
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Hey sweetie! So I messaged you yesterday about some doopy feathers but I managed to fix it kind of by sweing on some wooden dowels to the thing so I have something better to hold on to too when I spread the wings. But yes! Just commenting to tell you I just finished the technical part of the wings today! (YAY but I'm severely late tho since my con is in two days) theyre super heavy tho and theres this weird thing when I lift them, the feathers kind of fall horizontal (?) because of the weight I assume so it looks like the feathers are super thin from the front/back. Any thoughts on fixing that tho?
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Hm, they usually only fall flat if they're too loose on the pivot point bolt, but it could be something else.
Are you able to video call with skype? I can make a better assessment if I can see them. If so, send me a PM.
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omg hi, sorry I actually messaged you a little late like day-before-my-convention late so I had to go to the con with them like that but I think it turned out really well still! It kind of added to the steampunk look and idk I think ppl liked it (i did haha). But yes if youre still up for it, Id love to have a skype call or smth so you can check them out although warning they are really shabby (I'm not too great at the wire bending and feather flattening).
Also, one last thing, I posted two photos of the wings I made using ur tutorial on tumblr but I added a link to the description leading to the first post of yout tutorial. I hope thats okay, if not just tell me what youd rather I do n I'll do it 
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That's fine, mind sharing the link to your Tumblr post?
And yeah, private msg me your skype username & we can get together a bit.
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hey there! my skype username is aileentan9. Just a note tho, I live in Malaysia and I think thats like +7 GST? So itd be good if we could just discuss when to come on cuz Im not sure if we live in the same time zone n all that.
And yay! haha the post is flowersbytheroad.tumblr.com/po… Thanks!
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hey omg I just got to this part today with my gold steampunk style wings and I think I might have made a slight mistake somewhere because it is SO super heavy (and these are just the primaries!) and so the first feather isnt quite strong enough to hold them all up (so theres a wee bit of droop to the wings 
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I have a question, sorry if this has already been asked. If I was to do a realistic barn owl wings, would I still put in the three other primiarys secondarys that are on top of the larger ones?
{Heres what Im trying to talk about fc09.deviantart.net/fs70/i/201… }
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Ah, you mean the Alula's/Alular ones?
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No problem and thanks for answering my question
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Ok 1 question. Do you have to manually hold the ends of the wings or what? and also would it be possible to just wrap some wire (around the thing that all the feathers are attached to) and wrap it around your arm so its earlier to hold?
Thanks, this tutorial is gunna help me allot!
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Glad you like it! 
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Ok. Thanks so much! for all your help!
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I hate to bother you, but I have a few questions
1. What fabric did you use? My lighter-weight fabric didn't work to well
2. Could you please help me to understand the information in the box labeled 'SKIP THIS AREA IF YOU CHOOSE TO IGNORE THE LAST OPTION.' It was a bit confusing...
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No problem~
1. Broadcloth usually, or any type of similar thickness.
2. The basic idea is this - if you want to make your primary fan & secondary feathers be able to separate from each other the stringing can't go all the way through to connect them. SO you tie off the stringing to the last fan feather, create a detachable connection between the fan & secondary feathers, then continue stringing the secondary feathers as normal.
Most of the description is how I create the "detachable connection", similar to a necklace or bracelet you can use jewelers wire to create a loop on one feather & attach the lobster clip to the other, OR if the distance is small enough (or your pin BIG enough) you can just attach a safety pin to one of the feathers to connect to a loop on the other.
Did that help?
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Thank you very much! This really helped ^^
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Wow, the articulation in these is so sophisticated.
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I am curious on how you keep the feathers from spinning when the wing is open. I have referenced your tutorial several times and have now built my feathers onto my armature. I have wired all the feathers as they should be when the wing is fully opened. But as the wing is closed, the feathers dangle and sometimes are prone to spin.
If you have had this issue before, I'd love to know how yu were able to counteract it.
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When I'm painting the features & sandwiching the them over the wire I make sure to try & paint each side of the wire as well & when smoothing the bubbles out while still wet I push the wire & the surrounding fabric as close & tight as possible. If my feather spins its because either (a) I didn't paint the wire well enough, so the fabric didn't dry/stick to it & it slides around freely, or (b) the fabric is thinner & didn't hold the paint very well, so there's not enough paint there to keep it in place.
Other reasons for unwanted rotation around the wire could be flexible fabric, which is why I try to choose medium density (in between broadcloth & muslin?) which don't give when poked or stressed.
A recommended solution to your problem: if possible, free the fabric from the wire (if it's loose enough to spin, you may be able to slide it off the wire with a little wiggling), coat your wire in glue (I've used hot glue for this) & slide the feather carefully back on, pinching & smoothing it with your fingers (or gloves) and letting it dry/harden at the angle you want. Can't get it off the wire? Lay it flat on a table at the desired angle & put enough paint over the fabric surround the wire that its soaked to the core & let it dry, that may do the trick.
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First: WAO! This is really awesome!! I love it!!!
Second: I'm trying to do it, but I cannot understand some things... Could you help me, please?
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Sure, what are your questions? Not online as often as I'd like, but will answer when I am.
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Thank you!
Well, the part I don't understand is the second step, here in the P.4. Maybe it's a silly thing but I cannot get how to tie and hide the cord to each feather in the fan...
Please, save me T^T
P.d. Did I said yet that this is an awesome work?
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This part is supposed to be like how a folding-fan is strung (the kind that's made from separate pieces, like this 
Let me know if this still doesn't make sense, I will try something else...
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Aaaaaah! Alright, I think I get it now. I didn't thought about slice the fabric, I were trying to imagine how to tie the cord inside the feather... I cannot help myself xDDDD
Thank you very much, it was really clear. In a week, more less, I will be able to show you how it will look, if you want to, of course ^0^)/
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Ok, it is a little bit late, but here there are
a wip [link]
and The entire costume [link]
Hope you like it ^//^
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question: I have seen a bunch of eye hole gromet straps, so people use them as belts like for the military, would it be possible to use those and then just have a single pole you hold out with the primary feathers attached to that and the secondary feathers free hanging from the gromits? It seems like it would be less hardware. BTW, how much do these wings weigh in total do you think?
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Hmmm, you mean eye-hole grommets replacing the alligator clips & having them hang on the pole like a shower hanger, sliding back & forth? That may work, though like sliding a shower curtain back & forth you may get feathers bunching up in weird places.
And total weight? Been a while since I measured them, but 4-5 lbs sounds about right, nothing too bad (though I certainly FELT it after only a few hours wear) I'll make sure to include a weighing-in on my next set.
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Do you think you could put up a better picture of how the elastic connects to the bolt?
Also, how far along are you with the arm covers? Enough to post any pictures?
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Wow, I can't believe I forgot to put a picture of that in! Thanks for the heads up~
Here is what the final setup looks like:
[|=X=f=f=f=|=X=|= ()=|= |}VV
KEY
[|=================VVVV
|
f
()
|}
X
Make sense?
And no, my wing-work has been put on hold until I have a job & monies to buy materials with. Luckily, I may have one by next week!
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...okay. Whew. I think I can do this. Maybe. Hope. Aaaaah. I suck at following written directions like that, I have to see pictures...I'm spatially retarded...thanks for all your help though. I'll put up pictures once they're done. :3
Lol that makes sense. I was going to try & hide the mechanics with the little covert feathers & long sleeves, since the wings are for a character who...kind of has arms. The muscles & nerves are mostly connected but he has obvious hands. I'm wondering how I'm going to get away with wearing my bird-hand gloves, with claws & scales, WITH the pivot point glove. Brainstorm with me, o intellectual one. TwT
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Got a picture of this character/costume of yours? Send me a note & we'll talk more. And sorry for the wait on the picture, I'll get that to you tonight for sure!
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Not yet, sorry. XD; I'll be working on the wings this weekend though. I have pictures but only drawn ones.
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Works for me~ Scan'em if you have the time.
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It's...well, the costume will end up looking a bit different. his wings aren't attached to his arms but the nerves & muscles are for the most part. So if his wing moves, his arm moves, which is why your wingies will work. I was planning on hiding the mechanical-looking part of the wings with long & floppy sleeves but I dunno. So I WOULD link you to a picture but none of the ones in my gallery really show what I'm planning to do...?
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*________*
i want to make my own ones .__.
this is a very helpful tutorial. thanks
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