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April 15, 2010
the whisperer in darkness - big news!
by sven at 10:55 pm
Two big news items. First, there's a new trailer for The Whisperer in Darkness:
Second: I've just finished a top secret project for the H.P. Lovecraft Historical Society!
I've got some beautiful photos — but can't share them yet. For now, all I can do is tease you with process pics, impressions and interesting numbers…
The HPLHS contacted me on May 5, 2009 about making armatures for Whisperer. On Apr 5 — eleven months later to the day — they opened a box I'd sent them.
Between those dates, I put in 675 hours of hardcore research, development, and fabrication.
The first email described what they needed as "fiendishly complex." The message upon receipt of my package described the contents as "a thing of terrifying beauty."
I compiled some statistics before sending off this armature. It's assembled from 239 parts:
- 101 screws
- 132 hand-crafted parts
- 6 wire segments
And it has a total of 63 joints:
- 41 hinges
- 16 ball joints
- 6 swivels
The strangest part for me, experientially, was seeing that galaxy of atoms finally condense down into a single object.
It was unnerving putting 11 months of my life into a box and entrusting it to the US Postal Service. In the first day or so after letting go of it, my thoughts were mostly consumed with how I could make the joints better, worrying that they could somehow not be up to snuff. But after the glowing receipt — and catching some sleep — I hit a state of giddy elation. …Kind of like I've won.
And now? Doing laundry or dishes — doing anything other than machining — it just seems like the most wonderful treat!
posted by sven | April 15, 2010 10:55 PM | comments (9) | categories: stopmo
Comments
GobSmacked! An unreal achievement, Sven! Congratulations! The mind boggles at what you've created!
One question... who is that giant in the photo, with the enormous fingers, holding the exquisitely machined part?
Posted by: Shelley Noble at April 15, 2010 11:50 PM
Sven, absolutely amazing, am looking forward to both the film and seeing the work behind your armature.
Posted by: Andy from Workshopshed at April 16, 2010 3:40 AM
Thank you!
Gotta say: The real trick to this kind of work isn't precision milling… It's learning how to grow monster-sized clones in vats to act as my photographic models. ;-D
Posted by: sven at April 16, 2010 8:37 AM
So... I may be a little behind the ball here... are you involved with "The Whisperer in Darkness," or just excited about it? And is work progressing on the "The Horse Whisperer in Darkness" mashup?
Posted by: michael5000 at April 16, 2010 10:40 PM
Congrats on completion!! Can't wait to hear/see more on the topic, especially a pic of the completed armature assembled :)
So....now what? (after the dishes and laundry I mean ;) :D
Posted by: ubatuber at April 17, 2010 10:55 AM
Deeply, ultimately, reDONKulously kick-ass news, Sven! Like Eyjafjallajökull–level EPIC news. Congratulations, man.
Posted by: Carl Caputo at April 17, 2010 11:57 AM
Dont wash too many dishes man....we want to see this bueatysome time soon.
jriggityPosted by: justin at April 18, 2010 11:49 PM
Congratulations! Lets see some pix!
Posted by: shuju at April 19, 2010 9:28 AM
Oh Sven you are such a tease!
Posted by: Mark F. at May 7, 2010 8:17 AM