October Model of the Month (Digger)

Started by Graham Lee, September 28, 2020, 04:19:08 PM

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Graham Lee

I'm going with the Digger for the model of the month for October.
I was challenged about 10 days back to make a Digger from 4 balloons and thought I would
not be able to do it as I do like to add an extra balloon here and there in my designs.
But a 4 balloon Digger for line work I was able to make.
I'm rather pleased about that, and yes I then went on and made a more elaborate Digger
from 6 balloons but we are keeping with the 4 balloon version for this tutorial.

I have filmed the 6 balloon Digger and I'm thinking about making it a paid tutorial,
just thinking about it at the moment but you never know.

This is the little complimentary pack of balloons people will receive with their balloon orders this month.
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Graham Lee

Here we go with the instructions for the Digger.

Pre-stretch the Yellow 260 as you will need to use a lot of this balloon.
Inflate the balloon leaving 5 fingers un-inflated.

Make a 6 finger bubble followed by a 2 finger pinch twist.

You then need a 4 finger bubble followed by a 2 finger pinch twist
and then another 6 finger bubble and a 2 finger pinch twist.
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Graham Lee

You then need another 4 finger bubble and the last 2 finger pinch twist.

Attach the nozzle end of the balloon tightly around the last pinch twist.

You then need two 4 finger bubbles, this attaches diagonally across to the other pinch twist.

Then make a 4 finger bubble and attach to the other rear pinch twist.
This is the back of the Digger where the two 4 finger bubbles are.
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Graham Lee

Make a 4 finger bubble and twist this into the centre of the other two 4 finger bubbles.

Then twist your last 4 finger bubble to the last pinch twist.
You now have an "X" for the top body section of the Digger.

Inflate the Yellow 160 leaving 4 fingers un-inflated, attach the 160 to one of the rear pinch twists.
Make a 6 finger bubble followed by a 3 finger bubble.

The next bubble I have done as a 6 finger bubble.
This twist sits to the side of the 260 "X"


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Graham Lee

Push the remainder of the balloon to the other side of the centre of the "X"
There is a 4 finger bubble twisted under the centre of the "X"

Then make a 6 finger bubble followed by a 3 finger bubble.
You now twist the balloon into the other side of the Cab where you
twisted the 6 finger and 3 finger bubble at the front of the cab.

Then make another 3 finger bubble back to the other side of the front of the cab.
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Graham Lee

You then need a 3 finger bubble for the side top section of the cab and a 4 finger bubble for the rear of the cab.
This is twisted into the other side section where the 6 finger and 3 finger for the back of the cab are.
I think on a proper digger the rear of the cab is slightly wider so I have done this one the same.

You then need a 4 finger bubble back to the other side of the rear of the cab.

And then make your last 6 finger bubble back down to the other rear pinch twist.
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Graham Lee

Inflate the Black 160 leaving 6 fingers un-inflated. Attach to the rear pinch twist
and make a 6/7 finger bubble and twist into the front pinch twist.

Then make another 6/7 finger bubble back to the rear pinch twist.
You then need a 4 finger bubble to the other rear pinch twist.
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Graham Lee

Then make a 6/7 finger bubble to the front pinch twist and then the last 6/7 finger bubble back to the rear pinch twist.

The remainder of this black is used for the steering wheel although a Digger does not
have a steering wheel but two hand grips. I think this is called poetic license  ;D

Leave 3 fingers inflated on the rest of the 160 Black at the end of the balloon with half a finger un-inflated,
make two 1 finger pinch twists.
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Graham Lee

Attach the so called steering wheel to the centre of the "X"

For the scoop of the Digger, inflate the other 160 Black leaving 4 fingers un-inflated.

Make two 1 finger bubbles followed by a 3 finger bubble, 4 finger bubble,
2 finger bubble , 4 finger bubble and the last 2 finger bubble.
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Graham Lee

Attach the last twist to the end of the first 3 finger bubble to form the oblong.

Make another 2 finger bubble and double this up with the other 2 finger bubble as per the picture.
The front of the scoop I do as a 6 finger bubble to give the curved look of the lower front section.
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Graham Lee

Make another 2 finger bubble to double up the other side of the scoop.

You then need a 3 finger bubble back to the two 1 finger pinch twists.

Twist a 4 finger bubble and then two 1 finger pinch twists.
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Graham Lee

Make the rest of the balloon between a 6 and 8 finger bubble depending on how long you would like the arm of the scoop to be.

Push this into the front of the Digger, front part of "X" and twist the slack of the balloon
around the black steering wheel pinch twists and push into place.

Hopefully your Digger looks a little like mine? Hope it is of use to a few.
"Lets Improve Our Art"
Balloon Excellence 2012 Award Winner
For Services to the Balloon Community.
https://www.balloonartwholesale.co.uk
http://www.sempertexballoons.co.uk