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Mannequin Lamp........something for the house

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RMERR

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 22, 2017
Messages
429
Location
Northern CA
This started as mannequin I bought off Craigslist for $65. I've seen these turned into lamps and thought it would make an interesting project. Turned into a real "money pit" project, as I began assembling the myriad of parts and pieces needed. The legs were changed, the hands didn't match, it needed a wig and a stand. Finding just the right lamp shade that kind of "suggested" a hat too was a real search. Had to buy a vintage lamp to get the shade, have it recovered, that took $400 alone. Had an airbrush artist redo the eyes (another $150). Of course me being a fussbudget perfectionist didn't help the costs.

Lots of "firsts" here for me:

Choosing and aquiring clothes and dressing a woman from head to toe. (I've had gal pals, but can honestly say I never dressed them)
Sewing a "birdcage" veil (has to be sewn by hand, took two trys to get it right)
Applying false eyelashes
Choosing and aquiring jewelry (probably looked at 1000 pairs of earings, still had to mod them for the look I wanted)
Doing the nails (god what a rabbithole that turned out to be and realistically they barely show)

The electrical has a small bulb on top and low voltage leds underneath the shade. The strip LEDs had to be cut and resoldered to lay on the shade's conical surface correctly, used a mining pan for layout. I control the light with my Alexa system through a plug module. There is also a small manual switch discretly located under the right breast.

I started and stalled many times with this (has dragged out almost 4 years) but it is FINALLY done. Definitely gained an education into all the stuff women do to dress up, as well as a newfound appreciation of my birth gender (definitely easier being a man). It turned out pretty cool, but I'm so glad it's over and I can move on to the other 15 projects I have piled up.

****I have edited this post to avoid offending sensitive eyes****

M Lamp1.JPGM Lamp2.JPGM Lamp3.JPGM Lamp4.JPGM Lamp5.JPG
 

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mrvm

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PA
Good job! Maybe dreams can come true..
 

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phred

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Joined
Apr 23, 2009
Messages
527
Location
NC
I like it. I think it would look nice in my studio between these two that guard my desk. Nice job. I appreciate the detail and I fully understand the rabbit hole you went down!
 

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OP
R

RMERR

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 22, 2017
Messages
429
Location
Northern CA
Not for everybody, I get it. Married guys...don't even think about it. At the end of the day it's a silly mannequin lamp. Yeah Yeah she's a curvy mannequin, frankly, I think she's pretty well covered. But as I have no desire to offend, I have edited the original post. Everybody can take a deep breath and relax.
 
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PCustoms

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Joined
Jul 23, 2011
Messages
23,123
Location
VT
Now I'm creeped out but the giant set of toothbrushes in the bathroom
 
D

dchawk81

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Joined
Jul 31, 2014
Messages
14,395
RMERR said:
Not for everybody, I get it. Married guys...don't even think about it. At the end of the day it's a silly mannequin lamp. Yeah Yeah she's a curvy mannequin, frankly, I think she's pretty well covered. But as I have no desire to offend, I have edited the original post. Everybody can take a deep breath and relax.
Click to expand...
I could never marry a woman who wouldn't let me have that lamp.
 
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dchawk81

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Joined
Jul 31, 2014
Messages
14,395
PCustoms said:
It's almost like they had to be dragged there
Click to expand...
I mean the realism is uncanny. As in, real women would have the same expressions.

I especially love the big spender up front. And the other one who dressed her conservatively. Wouldn't want a *** doll leaving the house lookin like a hoe.
 
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R

RMERR

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 22, 2017
Messages
429
Location
Northern CA
PCustoms said:
First thing I thought of....

1708905024214.png
Click to expand...
Sorry guys, you're way too late. My sister already beat you to "creepy". Funny pic PC, looks like a meeting of *** dolls anonymous. I guess it's lucky for me I was off camera in that shot. Actually five feet to the right of my mannequin lamp is a polyester/fiberglass 6ft wall sculpture of a women's ***** (no, photos will not be following). Point being in my house, the mannequin lamp is pretty tame stuff.
 
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L

ludakris04

Well-known member
Joined
May 16, 2011
Messages
3,767
Location
Maryland
ok, there are obviously some other things happening here.
What is the joystick for?
Is that a huge Iron next to her?
And What about the giant toothbrushes?
 
D

DAustin

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 30, 2021
Messages
5,164
RMERR said:
This started as mannequin I bought off Craigslist for $65. I've seen these turned into lamps and thought it would make an interesting project. Turned into a real "money pit" project, as I began assembling the myriad of parts and pieces needed. The legs were changed, the hands didn't match, it needed a wig and a stand. Finding just the right lamp shade that kind of "suggested" a hat too was a real search. Had to buy a vintage lamp to get the shade, have it recovered, that took $400 alone. Had an airbrush artist redo the eyes (another $150). Of course me being a fussbudget perfectionist didn't help the costs.

Lots of "firsts" here for me:

Choosing and aquiring clothes and dressing a woman from head to toe. (I've had gal pals, but can honestly say I never dressed them)
Sewing a "birdcage" veil (has to be sewn by hand, took two trys to get it right)
Applying false eyelashes
Choosing and aquiring jewelry (probably looked at 1000 pairs of earings, still had to mod them for the look I wanted)
Doing the nails (god what a rabbithole that turned out to be and realistically they barely show)

The electrical has a small bulb on top and low voltage leds underneath the shade. The strip LEDs had to be cut and resoldered to lay on the shade's conical surface correctly, used a mining pan for layout. I control the light with my Alexa system through a plug module. There is also a small manual switch discretly located under the right breast.

I started and stalled many times with this (has dragged out almost 4 years) but it is FINALLY done. Definitely gained an education into all the stuff women do to dress up, as well as a newfound appreciation of my birth gender (definitely easier being a man). It turned out pretty cool, but I'm so glad it's over and I can move on to the other 15 projects I have piled up.

****I have edited this post to avoid offending sensitive eyes****

M Lamp1.JPGM Lamp2.JPGM Lamp3.JPGM Lamp4.JPGM Lamp5.JPG
Click to expand...
It kind of looks like Mathilda May in the movie- Lifeforce
 
OP
R

RMERR

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 22, 2017
Messages
429
Location
Northern CA
ludakris04 said:
ok, there are obviously some other things happening here.
What is the joystick for?
Is that a huge Iron next to her?
And What about the giant toothbrushes?
Click to expand...
The joystick is a three way pnuematic valve to raise and lower my living room table from coffee table to dining table height. There's a pnuematic ram in the table base. It's powered by a small compressor in the basement.

The giant iron is a 1930 store display made by GE. Likely for giant department stores. Very rare, I've only seen 3 others. The shell and base are cast steel, weighs about 90lbs. I did a complete resto on it and built the custom display table it sits on.

The giant toothbrushes are from a company called Think Big back in the 80's. I built the custom stand for them. I've done art and sculpture and off-the-wall creations for over 40 years. I've built many oversize creations and also collect oversize objects. The entire house is packed with giant stuff. I'm hoping to get a website gallery going this year, I'm thinking I'll throw in a quick video tour of the house when I do.
 
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Jayman17

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Joined
Feb 6, 2017
Messages
3,809
Location
Seattle, Wa
This might belong in the WTF thread. :lol_hitti Are you by chance the member that has a couple giant screws in his shop?
 
OP
R

RMERR

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 22, 2017
Messages
429
Location
Northern CA
Jayman17 said:
This might belong in the WTF thread. :lol_hitti Are you by chance the member that has a couple giant screws in his shop?
Click to expand...
Yeah that'd be me, giant store props from Orchard Supply (now defunct).

Bigblue&Goldie said:
It's going to be awkward when you wake up after a bender and the lamp's dress is laying on the ground and it's makeup is smeared......
Click to expand...
Not going to happen! With roughly $900 bucks into this thing, NOBODY...NOBODY touches this mannequin. But thanks for thinking of me.
 
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larry4406

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 27, 2006
Messages
19,365
Location
Northern Virginia
Reminds me of this classic by @nicklouse10 where a mannequin, aka Candy, has a left "dispenser" which actually pumps beer after pushing her button!

The Gin & Tonic dispensing vintage suitcase build

I suggest you listen to A_Pmech...he's a VERY smart guy, (and master machinist), who knows pretty much everything about metal. Oh, and when you fill the metal box with water. and pop in in the freezer, it may burst due to the expansion of the water. This is why cooled, portable beer tap systems...
www.garagejournal.com www.garagejournal.com

Speaking of @nicklouse10 , please update your thread on how Candy and your gin & tonic briefcase is doing.
 
M

mike93lx

ALLIANCE MEMBER
Joined
Dec 9, 2013
Messages
37,666
Location
Richmond, VA
RMERR said:
The joystick is a three way pnuematic valve to raise and lower my living room table from coffee table to dining table height. There's a pnuematic ram in the table base. It's powered by a small compressor in the basement.

The giant iron is a 1930 store display made by GE. Likely for giant department stores. Very rare, I've only seen 3 others. The shell and base are cast steel, weighs about 90lbs. I did a complete resto on it and built the custom display table it sits on.

The giant toothbrushes are from a company called Think Big back in the 80's. I built the custom stand for them. I've done art and sculpture and off-the-wall creations for over 40 years. I've built many oversize creations and also collect oversize objects. The entire house is packed with giant stuff. I'm hoping to get a website gallery going this year, I'm thinking I'll throw in a quick video tour of the house when I do.
Click to expand...
Yeah, a little crazy, but you're having fun and making stuff! Not my cup of tea, but no one can say you are boring
 
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