Our amazing Chingay parade electronic dogs and bones 2007 inventions and designs

In the 2006/07 Chingay Parade, our Prop group was assigned to make 40 electronic dogs (green & orange colour) and 4 bones props.

After numerous difficulties trying to find a solution, to stitch the uneven bone props foams together, because this time we didn't use any frames to support it. It's very difficult to hold the odd- shaped foam together to glue it with the hot glue gun and wait until it set. After gluing it together, we try to put some plastic frames inside to support it.

After many unsuccessful experimental attempts to hold it together the odd shaped materials and glue it with the hot glue gun, trying various methods. We finally discovered a way using some U-link wires to attached it to both sides and temporary hold it together, then apply the hot glue on it. After it were glued together, then removed the U-link wires.

To make forty electronic dogs for the students performers is no joke, all the different pieces ran into thousands. We didn't have machines to mass produce it. First I got use a blower to blow hot air onto the synthetic foams into various parts to shapes of different parts of the body and use my hands to hold it until it set into shapes. This process is too slow.

Later I developed a way to speed up  doing it. By making wire moulds. Put a few foams into the wire moulds. This methods greatly enhanced the speed of making the props. This way more foams set into shapes much faster.

The idea of cutting a heart-shaped hole on the front cover chest foam and put heart shape translucent covers on it and put an electronic blinking lighting device on it and with the wire inside linking to the hand to control its various  modes of the lighting effects, initially ran into difficulties.

Later I invented a way of cutting two pieces of thin synthetic foams made it into a heart shape glued it together put the electronic lighting device inside it, which able to fit into the foam (front cover of the performer) so to be able to take it out and replace it or change the batteries.

And cut a hole on it, so can switch on/off and the light, cut a hole in front so that the three little blinking light bulbs (red, yellow & blue) were able to put nearest to the translucent plastic cover, so to bring out the best possible lighting effects.

The synthetic foams were later sprayed with paint, scotch tape were use to stick on the surface to make it look glossy and prevent rain from damaging it. To tighten the tape so that, no trace of outline of the tape to be seen, a blower were use to blow hot air on it until it tightened and look glossy.

Various lightning reflective accessories were later sticked on it.    

Series of small light bulbs which blinking, were then installed on it and linked it to the batteries pack on the belt. The sewing group were to make the uniforms for the performers. The foams were then attached to the uniforms. Electric motor were attached at the back to make the tail spin. So it look like robot dogs.

Many graduates are now joining the props group maybe due to the satisfactions of seeing their creations been appreciated, that attracted them to join. Some of them stayed overnight, rushing to  compete the props for the grand finale

Dogs Props

At the Geylang Kaikan

Photos were from SGI members