Muppet Whatnot kits

[torgospizza]

Have you guys seen these? They're supposed to be exclusive to FAO Schwarz, but you can find them online and at TRU. They're essentially kits with multiple parts to make your own full-size (for adult hands) Muppet. They also offer extra sets of clothes you can buy--a leather jacket, ballerina costume, or a dress suit, f.ex.

I'm not typically that into Muppets, but I ran across a couple different sets at TRU recently and was very, very impressed. If I had one of these as a kid, it would definitely have been a favorite toy.

[rche]

We play with puppets A LOT at my house. The big xmas box this last year was a set of these. Not only do we get awesome hand puppet time out of them, but my kooky kids came up with this one day to surprise me.



and then they came up with this: which is my son inside of a clown suit with his arms straight up manipulating the puppets head and mouth ala Big Bird while my daughter performs the arms via the rod extensions. awesome

[torgospizza]

and then they came up with this: which is my son inside of a clown suit with his arms straight up manipulating the puppets head and mouth ala Big Bird while my daughter performs the arms via the rod extensions. awesome

That is awesome! Very funny!

[rche]

we puppets

[Iron Mego]

These kits are cool. Unfortunately outta my price range.

[Captain Big Trousers]

...my kooky kids came up with this one day...

Awesome kids!

This is a household of many puppets. We have an monster muppet-like puppet, we have a Master Replicas Pinnochio marionette, we have a Sid the Cussing Rabbit hand puppet, we have my Frankenstein ventriloquist doll, Muppet Animal...



... and my current project: Building a "Parker" Thunderbird puppet...



Just made the neck and waist joints today and I'm currently waiting for the body to dry after spraying it black.

[rche]

a man after my heart Captain bt.
I would love to see some performance of the cussing rabbit. Sounds great.

[rche]

btw: back on topic with the whatnots. They are a very good puppet for the price.
A few of the accessories are a bit gimpy and need to be adjusted to work. Mostly just making sure there is adequate 'grip' room for noses and fur and such. The construction is very good, the sleeve is comfy, they can be used by adults and kids easily, and the rod connection is pretty sturdy.

When I was a kid, I played with my Grover puppet so much that my mom had to resew the felt in his mouth. Twice. And then she taught me how to do it so I could put him back into business the third time. I think these pups may get the same treatment. I hope so, anyway.

[Captain Big Trousers]

btw: back on topic with the whatnots. They are a very good puppet for the price.

I looked at buying one a few years ago but they don't ship outside the US.

Then I joined the Muppet forum and these days I think I'd just make one myself.

I wouldn't mind a Beaker. Hmm...

[Boshek]

I love them! I have four that I use in my videos. You can see them in the link below in my signature.

The ones at TRU are made much cheaper than the FAO versions, so beware. The FAO ones are more durable and have a fuzzy skin and the TRU ones are smaller and not fuzzy.

[LadyZod]

I got one for Xmas. I love it.

[ODBJBG]

I did a full review of one of these, a year or two ago. Check it out: Infinite Hollywood: Muppet Whatnot Review

[CaptainTrenchcoat]

Not sure why the TRU ones would be lower quality than FAO since TRU bought FAO several years ago, and put me out of a cool job by the way. Not that I'm bitter. lol

[jacoblb]

These Muppet kits TRU retail for $64.99 in my neck of the woods. There was a sale back in October that drove the cost down to $49.99, but I did not buy one then. I'm glad I waited because the week before last the cost was a bit better with an FAO 30% off all-FAO items deal, plus $5 off with my Rewards Card. I don't think there have been any other sales otherwise.
I picked up an orange and blue Whatnot Workshop kit (in addition to the $15 Captain Action sale.) I did not buy a costume as those run $24.99 as I feel I could make something of my own for a lot less even with a TRU sale.

I have not located any patterns on the internet. Has anyone by chance come across costume patterns for these type of Muppets? It will save a little bit of time and some extra steps so I won't have to take measurements.