Wire modifications for 1/6 TinyFox tails. (Long and pic-heavy!)

I don't know about you, but those wires are annoying!! To me, they take up a lot of space under their clothes, and if exposed, just look plain Ugly.

Here's what I just finished doing for my TF Poison (Mitzi):

All items were purchased from Amazon, but you might be able to get most of it from a local craft store. (Maybe even Booth, or Aliexpress?) 

1mm elastic thread.

Jumpers and 'Lobster claw' closures.

Crimp beads. (mine came with the crimping pliers, that's the key reason I bought them)

Wire cutters (I already had these, the sharper, the better!) 

OK, Let's get started! 

Start with your first loop. You'll be attaching a Jump Ring and Lobster Claw hook to this. 

If the end of your elastic is really frayed, cut or trim the end as best you can.

Add the crimp bead, then loop the end back thru. (You might have to stretch the elastic a bit, to make it thin enough. It shrinks a bit as you stretch it!) 

Use the crimping pliers to 'dent' one side, (I also use a filed 'chisel edge' Exacto blade, to make the dent deeper than the pliers can.

Dull the edge first! The bead is made of plated copper, and is very thin!) then use your crimping pliers to 'fold' the bead over. 

Once you've made your loop, add a jump ring and hook.

The jump rings are already 'open' so once you've got everything hooked up, bend it back in place to close it. (I use an old set of forceps and mini hobby pliers)

 

 

 Now, on to the tail:

Straighten the wire out as best you can, then wind it around something slightly wider than your elastic. I made about six wraps before I trimmed it. 

Here's where the very sharp nippers/wire cutter come into play. You'll need to cut it at an angle, so the end doesn't snag any fabric, or the elastic. 

(CAUTION!! WARNING!! Under NO circumstances, whatsoever, should you use your Gunpla Nippers to cut these wires! They will get ruined!! You've been warned!)

Then, bend the new coil to a right angle, I'll explain why.

 

Having no way to keep the tails from swinging left to right, if you only made a plain loop at the tail's base, means that if you bent it upwards for poses,

it'll just flop either left or right. Giving it a 'support' makes it less 'floppy' and you can pose the tail raised much higher. 

 

 

Back to the elastic!:

Here's where a pair of forceps comes in really handy! Having a 'third hand' is a lifesaver for my fumble-fingers! 

Loop the elastic thru the hook and give it a 'bit' of tension, then cut. It'll have a 'slight' bit more tension, but nothing too drastic. 

The tails are pretty light to begin with, and it's not like you're hanging the Brats from a ceiling fan by the tail, or something. 

REMEMBER! Now would be a great time to thread the elastic thru the loop in the tail! 

Once you've done that, close off the end, add a jump ring, then attach it to the Kiddo. 

 

 

A little more detail, after I got Mitzi dressed: 

 

No nasty bulges around her waist, and you can see how high I can raise her tail without it flopping over. 

I think I'll have to run two threads, at least, when I modify Grafa's (Mia's) tail, that thing is CHONKY!! 

 

Anywho, that's what my brain tends to rattle around about. Hope this helps!!! 

 

Rick.

Edited June 23 by battrastard
Warning inserted.

Adding on to this thread: 

I had picked up Grafa a while back, but let her sit for a while, because the wire system that TinyFox uses is a real Pain in the nether regions. 

I had gotten really frustrated by how bulky the wires were, for both the wings and the monstrosity they called a 'tail', which is why I went thru the process 

of getting the jewelry bits and elastic string and such. Mitzi was the "trial run", and I'm happy with how it turned out. 

 

Then, it was Mia's turn. (Yes, I renamed her.) 

Wings: 

The wings are molded in such a way that just using elastic tends to make them lean backwards from the top. 

 

I cut apart the lid from a small plastic box, then glued it in place to give the wing base more support. It stays in place much better, now! 

 

Tail: 

Monstrosity from Hades..... Clunky, heavy and way too thick. (in my opinion, yours may vary) Also, I had to use twice the string to get it to not 

droop at the base. (the top of it still wanted to 'pull away', even after double strands), so, I eventually left it off altogether. 

It also tended to push the 'hoops' on her outfit way out in front when fully dressed. 

All in all, she's a real cutie, and I don't regret picking her up with all her accessories. The tail issue is entirely my opinion. 

 

More, for the pic toll... 

 

 

 

 

Next, I'll tackle the two Kitty Kiddos, and that should take care of all my Smols that have wings or tails. 

 

Til next time, Have Fun! 

 

 

Rick.