Balloon Chat

Title: January, Model of the month (Saxophone)
Post by: Graham Lee on January 04, 2009, 05:19:47 PM

I always stuggle trying to come up with something that is pitched just about right for people to try, something that is enough of a challenge but not too demanding that no one will have a go and attempt to make it.

So this month's challenge is the Saxophone.

Title: Re: January, Model of the month
Post by: Professor T Wist on January 04, 2009, 06:50:31 PM

Not too demanding he says  :o

Title: Re: January, Model of the month
Post by: Daniel M on January 05, 2009, 01:29:03 AM

Have a go T,  I like this design :)[attachment=0:p86gdezs][/attachment]Saxaphone.jpg[/attachment:p86gdezs]

Title: Re: January, Model of the month
Post by: Martin on January 05, 2009, 11:40:54 PM

Here's my finished 1st attempt... Not too shabby but I had to cheat and use a 260 for the mouthpiece as the marriage into the 160 proved a little challenging.

Martin.

[attachment=0:3aq6t745][/attachment]Saxophone.JPG[/attachment:3aq6t745]

Title: Re: January, Model of the month
Post by: Dave on January 17, 2009, 08:27:12 AM

sorrry haven't been about much will have a go and post on Monday

Title: Re: January, Model of the month
Post by: Twysted Kreations on January 19, 2009, 12:14:40 AM

Here is my first ever attempt..  :)
then when I went to gemy camera, well... the photo says it all..   :lol:
(//http://img99.imageshack.us/img99/7514/19382809386276224dv4.jpg)

Title: Re: January, Model of the month
Post by: magicseb on January 20, 2009, 08:10:18 AM

Here is my attempt. I think it's not so bad  :D
What do you think about it?

(//http://storage.canalblog.com/29/29/164735/34916099.jpg) (//http://storage.canalblog.com/62/78/164735/34916166.jpg)

Title: Re: January, Model of the month
Post by: Waldorf on January 22, 2009, 07:17:18 PM

Is this cheating? I think they look very realistic.......
Sorry to butt in  - but I have done an intro in the 'welcome' section...

Title: Re: January, Model of the month
Post by: Graham Lee on January 23, 2009, 12:18:58 AM

Could you write up the instructions on how you made them so realistic looking :lol:
There really excellent ;)

Title: Re: January, Model of the month
Post by: Graham Lee on January 27, 2009, 12:36:05 PM

Here we go with this months instructions;

I have made the saxaphone from different colours to help with the instructions :) Hopefully ;)

Yellow Balloon
Inflate either a round 5 inch balloon or a 660 and tulip/apple twist the balloon.

Red Balloon
Inflate a 360 to approx 28 fingers long, approx half way. Twist a 14 finger bubble followed by two, 2 finger pinch twists then a four finger bubble, two more 2 finger pinch twists, another 4 finger bubble and the last two pinch twists and get rid of excess.

Title: Re: January, Model of the month
Post by: Graham Lee on January 27, 2009, 12:41:22 PM

Mocha colour
Inflate a 260 approx half way and attach to the last two pinch twists from the 360, twist a 3 finger bubble followed by two 2 finger pinch twists, another 3 finger bubble with two more 2 finger pinch twists and the last 3 finger bubble and two more 2 finger pinch twists. Twist a 6 finger bubble and get rid of excess balloon.

Violet colour
Using just the end of another 260 inflate to leave 3 fingers un-inflated at the end of the balloon and a 4 finger inflated bubble.
Twist two 1 finger pinch twists leaving a 2 finger bubble a 2 finger un-inflated portion of balloon that should only have air to shape the end of the balloon.

Attach the mouth piece & tulip/apple 660 to the 360

Title: Re: January, Model of the month
Post by: Graham Lee on January 27, 2009, 12:57:58 PM

Green Balloon
Inflate a 160 leaving 6 fingers un-inflated and attach this balloon to the first set of 360 pinch twists near to where the 660 apple twist will be connected. Wrap around the 360 with approx 12 finger bubble and wrap the balloon back into the same pinch twists. Twist a 3.5 finger bubble and attach into the next pinch twists followed by another 3.5 finger bubble into the last pinch twists that were made with the 360 balloon. Now make a 2.5 finger bubble into the next set of pinch twists and repeat until you get to the last set of pinch twists on the 260.

As the 160 bubbles at the back of the saxophone are slightly shorter that the 360 & 260 bubbles at the from this is how the shape is put into the balloons for the look of the saxophone.

Title: Re: January, Model of the month
Post by: Graham Lee on January 27, 2009, 01:08:22 PM

Black balloon
The black notes can be attached in two seperate ways. On the original red saxophone that I posted we did four small bubbles and attached them to the pinch twists and then just put a puff of air into a 260 and wrapped it between all the pinch twists or as with the explanation I inflated a 260 approx 6 fingers made a pinch twist and attached and then just pushed the air along the balloon to make a very soft and thin part of the balloon to attach to the front and between all the pinch twists.
I personally prefer the original way.

Again any problems with any of the instructions that are not too clear then please just ask

Title: Re: January, Model of the month
Post by: Professor T Wist on February 01, 2009, 03:04:05 PM

Well I had a go and here is my first attempt  :o

Title: Re: January, Model of the month
Post by: Dave on March 03, 2009, 06:24:22 PM

this is a wind instrument in every sense of the word

Title: Re: January, Model of the month
Post by: Bonnie on June 13, 2009, 12:43:26 PM

Thank you so much for this design Graham!  I used it as well as your violin this week when a customer ordered some "musical instruments" as decor.  

Happy twisting,
Bonnie, The Balloon Lady

Title: Re: January, Model of the month
Post by: Graham Lee on June 13, 2009, 07:57:14 PM

It pleased me that it was of some use to you :D
I'll put that on my CV, as used by Bonnie.

Title: Re: January, Model of the month (Saxophone)
Post by: magicadie on October 24, 2009, 01:45:24 AM

I've not tried any of these model of the months, so i thought i would!

Title: Re: January, Model of the month (Saxophone)
Post by: TwistTheBalloonguy on March 07, 2012, 05:43:08 PM

ive just randomly found this and will be having a go when i get home tonight, ive got a busker friend who plays sax so this will be a nice wee thing to put on his case while he's out and a bout

Title: Re: January, Model of the month (Saxophone)
Post by: Areyouhappydad on November 22, 2014, 08:27:21 PM

I had a request for a musical instrument today. Thanks Graham for this design. It is great. (I am going to work on the keys though cos my attempt is a little 'chubby'

Title: Re: January, Model of the month (Saxophone)
Post by: AirbenderMH on January 30, 2015, 02:25:46 AM

I haven't posted in a while..hope everyone is well.  I dropped this balloon saxophone off my local music shop today when I took my son for his drum lesson.  Thanks Graham for a great design.

Title: Re: January, Model of the month (Saxophone)
Post by: Graham Lee on January 30, 2015, 11:24:56 AM

Pleased it came in handy for you  :)

Title: Re: January, Model of the month (Saxophone)
Post by: alexireland on January 31, 2015, 09:37:14 PM

I also made the Sax

Thank you Graham, looking forward to seeing you again on Thursday in Helsby