Their story, in their words…
For my project, I made a protogen head (a protogen is a type of robotic animal). I was inspired by the beautiful heads I found online, made by professional protogen makers and I wanted to make this for years.
I finally got the chance with the money provided by Mark Evison. It was really REALLY difficult. The best way to learn something in my experience is to start a project and learn whatever you need as you go along; so many skills are needed to create such a head like coding, electronics, 3d modelling, sewing and vacuum forming (I had to talk to experienced makers for help).
This project, although presentable, has a lot more planned for it as seen in the 3d model. (lit up ears and a glowing wire around the perimeter of the head). The skills I have learned have also made me passionate about coding and electronics and pushed me to study this in university.
I have failed a lot, and had I the knowledge beforehand, I could have made this head 3 times over with the time and materials spent on failure. I failed with the 3d printer about 20 times.
In one of the pictures, you can see a deformed visor, alone worth the work of 2 months. To make that visor, I had to learn how to heat plastic and mould it over a 3d printed buck under a vacuum (If you plan to do the same, use a barbeque; I learned this after I destroyed the oven). I learned perseverance and despite the mistakes I am all the stronger for it and am so happy I took on this project.
