April Model of the Month (Hippo)

Started by Graham Lee, April 01, 2020, 01:05:37 PM

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Graham Lee

This is the model of the month for April. Not sure we will be getting many orders
to post the complimentary packets of balloons out for people to make.

Perhaps people will have a little time to make one or two
designs from the model of the month thread?
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Graham Lee

Here we go then with the instructions for the Hippo.
I also pre stretched the balloon before inflating as you do
need a lot of balloon to make the one balloon Hippo.

Inflate the grey 260 leaving approx 7 fingers un-inflated.

Make a 2 finger bubble, a 1.5 finger bubble that will be first ear and pinch twist this bubble.
A 3 finger bubble for top of head and another 1.5 finger bubble for the other ear and pinch twist.

Then make a 2 finger bubble for other side of face and tie the knot securely around here.
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Graham Lee

You then need a 2 finger bubble for the top of inside of the mouth and a 1 finger pinch twist.

Then make a 3 finger bubble for the underside of inner mouth
and twist this back into lower section of head.

The wrap around for the Hippo's mouth is approx. an 8 finger bubble but
I usually just pull this tight around the front pinch twist while pushing
a little air along the balloon so it fits very snugly.
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Graham Lee

You need two 3 finger bubbles for the front legs, followed by a 4 finger
bubble for the body and a 1 finger bubble that is pinch twisted.

Then make two more 3 finger bubbles for the back legs.
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Graham Lee

If you run out of balloon then please just add an extra one but once you
make a few times you can get this all from the one 260 balloon.

OR, you could only have one 4 finger bubble for the body but I like
the chunkier look for the Hippo with three body bubbles.

You now need another 4 finger bubble to the head mouth section.
A good tip here is to twist the 260 over the front of the head section and not just
around the front legs as this pulls the body and head section tightly together.

I then deflate the balloon till I have a 4 finger bubble left, then make a 1 finger bubble
in the end of the balloon and this gets wrapped around the back pinch twist.
The deflated balloon looks a little like the Hippo's tail? Well possibly.

The 3 finger bubble before the end 1 finger bubble is positioned to sit underneath
the two 4 finger bubbles. This makes the legs and body sit more compact.

Sometimes the 260 balloon finishes perfectly and I just have a 1 finger
end of balloon bubble twisted around the rear pinch twist.

Inflate a White 160 to a 3 finger bubble for the teeth.
Note there is some slack balloon at one end.
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Graham Lee

Twist two 1.5 finger bubbles and have some slack in the centre for
when this sits around the front pinch twist.

This way you can position the teeth a little for the look that you like.

Lift the wrap around mouth section up to slip the teeth over the pinch twist.
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Graham Lee

Pull the wrap around mouth section back into place and over the pinch twist.

Make two 1 finger bubbles in the White 160 for the eyes, tie together and then pinch twist.
Leave two long un-inflated sections on the eyes so its easier to tie these into place.

Push the un-inflated balloons through the centre of the head and tie either one around the
ear pinch twists from behind. Not too tightly as the eyes will pull up to the top of the head.

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Graham Lee

To make the pupils you need two 0.5 finger bubbles from the Black 160 balloon.
This is a little tricky to do, perhaps tie a knot at either end of the
1 finger bubble before you try to pinch twist.

Make the 1 finger Black 160 bubble into two 0.5 finger pinch twists.

Wrap the un-inflated black around the two white eye bubbles and then tie the
pupils around the head/mouth joint as this then makes the eyes/pupils all
sit securely as they are tied into three sections of the head.

Then add artwork  ;D..................well two dots for the nose.
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Graham Lee

I was not going to put details about the base, but then thought why not..........
It's not like I'm rushed off my feet.

P.S.
If you are reading this in months or years to come we are all stuck indoors due to the coronavirus.

So pre stretch and inflate the Blue 260, I used Periwinkle, leave 3/4 fingers un-inflated.
Make two 1 finger pinch twists and then two 4 finger bubbles.
Wrap the balloon snugly around the two 4 finger bubbles
and twist into the two pinch twists.

You could have the two 4 finger bubbles vertically but then the shape is more oval than round.
Also the underside 4 finger bubble would make the base wobble.
You could also only have one 4 finger bubble in the centre if this is easier for you.
The choice is yours.
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Graham Lee

Then make a 0.5 finger spacer bubble followed by a 1 finger pinch twist.

You then need to wrap the rest of the balloon around the outside of the base again.
If the balloon is not long enough then just pull the balloon through your hand to make slightly longer.
Make a 1 finger bubble at the end of the balloon and tie this into the single pinch twist.

The knot on the Periwinkle balloon you can take through the Hippo's
rear legs and tie back into the pinch twists on the base.

Then take a scrap of balloon and tie between the front of hippo's legs and the two 4 finger base bubbles.
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Graham Lee

And there is your finished Hippo. Hope its of some use to a few.
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Graham Lee

When I first made the Hippo a few months back I did try some variations on
the art work for the mouth. I was not sure if some are better than others?

I also just drew the pupils on if you wanted to be a little quicker when working the real world.
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Graham Lee

I made the Hippo from 350's as well.
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