My mom used to say this about my toys as a kid... Your puppets live a lot of life, it natural that once they absorb enough love; they can't contain it anymore.

Love the 2nd design for the "crown feathers" ! Best of luck building !

the amount of work necessary to put these little things to life is absolutely mindblowing. Keep up the good work!

in a way, the plastic has been a gift. it gave you puppets that were strong enough to get you here. And they held together just long enough for you to be ready and able to recreate them. That is also a gift because we always get better with repetitions. Dabchick showed you that when you redo one of these, you get an opportunity to make them better. the new broken ones are just telling you that now you get to make all of your creations better. I hope you are ready for some attention, I suspect that the v 2.0 of these will get you a few more subscribers.

Hello. I've been a professional sculptor for decades and have worked with many plastic materials. All these types of products become brittle over time due to the loss of moisture from their compounds, which are volatile. They break sooner or later. Even more so in puppets, which are exposed to a lot of stress and work. That is why traditional puppeteers use wood for the volume of their puppets and metal for the mechanical parts. Those materials you are using are very good for experimenting, testing and sketching...but if you want durability there is nothing like carved wood and metal. I make this comment with all my good intentions and as an admirer of your work. I hope you find a solution. A cordial greeting from Spain.

If all else fails, taking up whittling might be useful. Orange wood, or Ash wood are both tough, but light weight materials for making a long lasting puppet; And you can always take the saw dust of the wood you're using, mix with wood glue, and make a paste to fill the cracks, and make little improvements to FIT THE BILL 🦆😅

There is something strange I'd like to suggest; if possible, when creating the new design for Dabchick, you could create a small compartment in any part of the body that doesn't require any complex mechanisms, and in the compartment, store a tiny fragment of the original Dabchick. Call me crazy, but I feel like the sentiment of keeping just a little bit of the Dabchick we have known and loved for so long in the new design is important, like the 'heart'%of him, I suppose. Either way, I'm eager to watch how this rehabilitation ends, and get our old friend back.

I hope the whole resin fiasco turns out to be the worst part in the end

This guy's voice is so relaxing and calming. A great story teller voice and great singer.

I love hearing the problem-solving process, you're doing fantastic! 👏 What a great idea to have the side feathers static, it works so well! You'll get past the material issue for sure 😊

You know, I was not the biggest fan of the moving feather crown design with the first passes, but this most recent design has entirely changed my mind because I can now see the vision you have. It makes him more expressive and now that it's more subtle I feel like it suits him wonderfully. Your ideas and problem-solving will never cease to amaze me

Barnaby you need to look into moulding all your finalised printed puppet parts and casting them in some kind of reinforced polyurethane plastic or rubber, perhaps a thin layer of glass or carbon fibre woven fabric would do. The printer is a terrific boon for prototyping but by no means a final solution. The press moulds are great but I'm unsure they would last that process. Stress fractures and breaks can be fixed quickly with some super glue and bicarbonate of soda and sanded back. If the area requires flex, a mix of 100% alcohol in two part epoxy leaves the glue to be flexible, experiment with the proportions. I hope you reach a successful conclusion!

HUGE fan of your works! I love how they're all hand made and with each action/emote you make up a new mechanism in your puppets It's very inspiring to me to see your behind the scenes and wip vids like this one!

Amazing explanation. So happy to hear you are getting a sponsored printer, hopefully with this printer and the knowledge you have gained setting it up and configuring it, the next steps will be a breeze. Good luck and hope to see Dabchick again soon.

Glad that printing issue was fixed! Dab chick does look much better! I do agree that first design was too big and kinda took away that feeling for dab, but now it looks awesome! you are so smart Barnaby, and your problem solving skills and engineering is really inspirational to me!

I really do prefer the second version of the feathers, it looks much better than the first! Also I'm glad that this whole ordeal had not impacted dabs sass!

I found you about six weeks ago and have gone through most of your back catalog. Your many talents, intelligence, humanity and grace astonish me- and I’m old. Thank You. The world needs your perspective and example right now.

Are we saying that Dabchick won't be the only disembodied head carried around by dolls anymore?

I’m always so fascinated with your creativity

Im been watching you for along time and I love your work

Try a flexible resin or a flexible/tough resin mix. Should give the strength and flexibility you need without having to mold them. Also you can pick a coloured resin such as flesh/pink or use a pigment in a white/transparent resin to create the colour you need.

Super excited to see how everything turns out, Good luck building, Barnaby!

I love the new way the feathers look, the weird square holes were off putting lol. I also really like dabchick finally being told off my barnaby, he kinda earned it.

Love the updated crown. Reducing the gaps and feather size was huge because the feathers down better evokes the previous dabchick.

Just to make the feathers look slightly more organic, might help to round off the tops of the feathers a wee bit. They’re already thicker than your average feather,but having the head flatten out when they’re in the resting position at an odd angle feels off.

It's amazing to see you working on our feathered overlord. How awesome that a printer company is going to sponsor!

I hope you can figure it out and I'm rooting for you to be able to save your puppets!! It's so heartwarming in a way that you put this much work and effort to repair them. 🥰

That feathers thing. It reminds me of two mechanisms. Or, one that functions the way you want it to, two mechanisms spring to mind. 1) A "Mandala Wire Toy", the outer frill opens and closes as one, without gravity. 2) An iris, like in a camera lens. Probably moreso the mandala toy. You have that soft wire linking them, but it would be a few hard wires, connected to the hinge points and then the mount the feathers onto the wires. The feather base would still attach to the hinge probably. Just an idea, sudden picture in my head.

Thanks for the update. Hope things go smoothly from here.

It's been a lot of fun over the years, especially during 2018-2019, I'm just really glad your puppets and you are still here.

Thank you for sharing the process of rebuilding Dabchick from the ground up. Really shows your dedication and absolute ingenuity and it is enjoyable to see what goes on in your mind as shown through this video series and past projects. Hope you'll find a way to fix all of your puppets when you can, excited to see how Dabchick will look in the future. Good luck!

You are such an inspiration. Your tenacity is infectious. Thank you for sharing all you do!!

I didn't quite notice all the faults you found in the first feather design until I saw what an immediately obvious improvement the second design was. Well done!

The new feathers definitely look a lot more natural and seem to be more in line with Dab's personality! But it's sad to hear the plastic is breaking down... Your puppets are always so amazing and even if you remake them there's always just something so special about the OGs.

As a designer of very tight tolerance stuff, I am really enjoying your journey. Your various pains... yeah I feel them

Hope Dabchick’s recovery goes well!! I love this channel! Your work is incredible!

I love the fact that you're bringing us along for this and taking input from us as well. The mechanisms are really interesting and well done, good job!

I wonder if a light metal such as aluminum can work with the right molds. Good luck with this project Barnaby! If there is anyone in the world that can make great puppets, it’s you

Hey, I only just managed to find your channel after watching back some years ago. I love your stuff so much, and it’s sad yet beautiful how belongings fade away due to how much love we give them ❤

been watching your vids since i was 9 y.o! Its sad to see the old puppets broken, but its also exciting to see the new puppets!🎉(sorry for bad english)

I've been following your content for years. It's great to see your talent featured on other channels. Keep up the good work!

I do so love the new feathers. How they sit more flush with the head.

Oh, that looks SO much better for dabchick! Also, tragic that the other puppets are breaking, but poetic that the reincarnation of dabchick might save the rest of the crew as well.

Myself and my kids all love watching you overcome your creative challenges and we are so happy that the 3D printing company reached out. Just an old-fashioned idea, why not a very thin coat of paper mache over the plastic? It would be a nice paintable reinforcement and probably protect the plastic from deterioration. Puppets made with papier mache last decades. We hope it all works out. Good luck to ALL of you ;)

Have you considered adding a short stubby and static line of feathers in front of the mechanism to hide it a little more?

😆 oh my lord, That’s the first time that you have ever talked back to dabchick I really want to see more of that in the future

Damn bro,I have been watching you since the EARLYYY DAYSSSS (years and years..) and I recently re-discovered your channel. You have grown and evolved so much, Barnaby! I wish you the best of luck :3

A lot of the mechanisms when you get them right for what you want, can be scaled down in 3D software, or even cleaned up for printing, that is if you're looking to remove the individuality from the organic putty constructions. Even if all the printing method fails for you, you can always use resin to fill casts, which will just be better than that heat plastic.

I just need Dabchick back in my life. All was much better with him/her around. Life has sucked lately, and i blame it on the lack of dabchick. GET WELL! SOON OR NOW!

Barnaby is some kind of mechanical genius, an innovator, a scientist. I can see him working with NASA.

I love your puppets they were my childhood! Thank you for everything, and goodluck finishing him!

An idea for the feathers mechanism... finding a flexible material that could be layered on top of the holes where the feathers are clipped in. It could also have a feather-like form and allow for a seamless integration of the current mechanism without making it too noticeable. Not sure if it makes any sense, but feel free to discard the idea if it does not. In any case, can't wait to see how this ends and get more Dabchick and puppet videos... you, sir, are a legend!

Just the one thing that any physical object struggles with is always the old age… I’m just glad you made all that content with them in the first place before the breaking all takes place today, also one thing I realised from that feather mechanism. I just realized maybe you could make a bunny with that mechanism? Moving ears would definitely be a great touch to how your going for expressive puppets

It’s awesome to see that this process is not only working towards saving and improving our favorite feathered friend, but also improving upon your other puppets as well, unfortunate to hear that similar problems are occurring to them as well. Only good things can come from all of this work put into project ❤

I remember a long time ago that you kind of wanted these to come out to the public but no company would pick them up. This is the perfect scenario do to just that! Get everything worked out, then sell the models for people to make!

You could look into flextures for the hinges, that way you might get some realastate back. And when the plastic is suitable it can hold many thousands of cycles

im so sorry for you! you really inspired me to do art hope you can make your puppets better than before!

We can rebuild him; we have the technology. Coming Soon: The Six Million Dollar Dabchick.

Haha! That "Shut up" at the end was funny!

Dabchicks new feathers look awesome! Great job Barnaby.

Ya know...all this modeling and new Dabchick design would do great in plushie form.

barnaby talking back to dabchick is something i live for

Oh no! I am so sorry that the plastic is breaking down. I hope you get all of this figured out so all of your work can be saved.

Watching your process is absolutely incredible as usual, and problem solving as you go is brilliant. Astonishing work !

Yessss. Love the bird footage. New mechanism looks good!

This version of the head crest is so much better than the previous one.

I’ll say it again, i still think Dabchick should have a single feather that pops up or a pop up Mohawk, kinda like those parrots or cockatiels. The single feather fits his personality more, looks less regal and fancy and more like a chaotic “!” Exclamation above his head. It will add to a feeling of surprise, anger, panic… the more Dabchick emotions… lol I think a full frill of feathers looks too fancy and a bit like a lions mane or something. It would fit on a more fancy or pretty bird, but Dabchick is a rough and rowdy little guy who needs a more abrasive and derpy looking single feather.

If I ever become a puppet teacher, I'm gonna show the class you're videos

Your mutual love and respect is so obvious.

Crazy seeing how much you've grown up, first watched your vids atleast 8years ago

I sympathize so much with being scammed on second hand resin 3D printers. I purchased one a few years ago myself and it was absolutely not working and the costs to repair it were just about as much as buying a brand new one... I haven't yet don't that and have opted to working with FDM for the mean time... glad to hear that your story at least has a happy-ish ending. Sorry to hear about the other puppets and I wish you lucking in getting all of this figured out!

i love that the desimbodied dabchick is just as sassy as the full body one

I need more! I love these process videos

i really cant wait for the new dabchick cuz his vlogs were my favourite back when

I do understand your case. Van der Wals bonding in every plastic is prone to break even from temperature changes, and there is no 100% sure diagnostic method how to predict it. I'm crossing fingers for You :D

I love your approach to writing the videos, you treat them like puppets, but you still interact with them like they're actually talking to you. The practical study of building them and the creativity sets your videos apart from other, similar creators. I really enjoy your stuff, man. 🖤☠🤍

honestly i'm just glad to hear you got sponsored, no more janky printer is a big win for this project and others moving forward

Loving this series of videos. Long live Dabchick!

Progress on Dabchick! WOOHOO...Take a trip to Utah and consult Mike Patey to learn Carbon Fiber molding...or possibly just carbon fiber the pieces over the 3d printed items?!?

The feathers look so much more Dabchick-ish now

We need Dabchick 3d models! Please? I wanna print one :)

I love that your documenting this journey and the steps you are taking to hande the redesign the new mechanism looks really cool! It has me thinking about how it would be controlled now. I wonder if maybe you could run some spring based sliders along the inside of the skull of dabchick that way all you need to do is is make it so the mechanism is more flush ? I'm not a mechanic or engineer so it could just be awful but your already using a lever type system so rigging it to the skull and making it more profile could work as it could be incorporated in to another mechanism

Oh wow, that's actually quite innovative. I don't what other two mechanisms you want to fit into his head, but if you can find a thinner tube, you could probably make the crab claws smaller to make it all fit. I'm seriously curious about what the other two functions are. Can't wait for Dabchick's return!

Barnaby you are a genius, a legend, I love your creations and your work. Congrats on a new printer, hope it helps you make your creative dreams come true.👍

My question, did you ask Dabchick if his preference is to look extravagant or not? 😉 Great work. Thank you for sharing with us.

Good luck! You are doing great work!

Have you given any thought into using a tension spring in place of the metal rod that actuates the feathers? Perhaps it would provide the added benefit of returning the feathers to a closed position on its own while still providing a semi-rigid arc to follow.

I'm excited on how dabchick will look

love seeing your videos and going along with the journey of building dabchick!

Dabchick is just cranky because he's only a head xD

the new feather mechanism looks awesome! it is heartbreaking to see that the other puppets are beginning to die...

At that point, I'd make it aluminum and cover it with matte paint or a thin layer of plastic! Would be light, and able to be thinner under for the mechanisms

I don't know if this can make the head looks more organic, I think the head can cover a bit more of the moving feathers. From what I saw the movement of the feathers don't interupt the head much after the changes you made.

I want to see dab chick adventures

That final interaction got me xD

I initially hated the feather idea, but I like this update a lot more than I thought. An idea, can the feathers closer to the top move up more than the feathers closer to the sides? That would really sell the look of a bird!

This is just incredibly amazing

"[Strutting his plumage] takes up a lot of real-estate in Dapchick's head." Makes sense 🤔😅

Sorry to hear about your puppets breaking, but that's amazing about the sponsorship. You deserve nice things!

Have you tried elastic thread? It would allow the feathers to close on their own.