How Does Morpheus Change Colour?In the photo below you can see that there is actually four Morpheus heads that rotate on a shaft driven by a Geneva mechanism. It is timed to only rotate when the stable door is shut. The final piece has a shield in the back that serves to further hide the mechanism.
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Looking Surprised When you are Very Little.One of the challenges in making this piece was fitting all of the components into Hoss the cowhand's head when it is only about 1-1/4" tall when want him to look surprised. Raising his eyebrows was just to tiny to image. If you look in the Photo Gallery you can see some of the components that allow his head turn turn, his eyes to look left, and his jaw to drop open. Adding sound effects to the video accents what is less obvious watching the automata itself.
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Automata Specifications:
Dimensions: 22-1/2" wide X 15-1/2" tall X 11" deep. (57.1 X 39.3 X 27.9 cm)
Weight: 14 lb. (x.x kg.)
Number of Pieces: 581
Materials of Construction: Poplar is used for many of the pedestal components and the outside frame. Birch plywood is used for the stable front, cams, some followers, and wheels because of its strength and warping resistance. Some cam followers are made from maple or poplar because of its strength. The shingles are cut from a sheet of 1/32" plywood. The horseshoe crank handle is made from poplar with a birch knob. Linkages between the moving mechanism and the characters are made of brass wire.
Weight: 14 lb. (x.x kg.)
Number of Pieces: 581
Materials of Construction: Poplar is used for many of the pedestal components and the outside frame. Birch plywood is used for the stable front, cams, some followers, and wheels because of its strength and warping resistance. Some cam followers are made from maple or poplar because of its strength. The shingles are cut from a sheet of 1/32" plywood. The horseshoe crank handle is made from poplar with a birch knob. Linkages between the moving mechanism and the characters are made of brass wire.