Chingay Parade

HOW TO OPTIMIZING THE VISUAL EFFECTS OF PROPS (EMBEDDED TECHNOLOGY)

James who use to make lion dance and lanterns props in his childhood days, prepare the outline.

Our props group was to prepare the musical props for the performers. It was an exciting challenge to glue the synthetic foams to the bamboo frames nicely. Translucent synthetic foams were used to stick to the bamboo frames together, by hot glue using glue guns. Between the props and the performers lights bulbs systems were installed inside and the props were then covered by translucent clothes.

As I used to work as a welder and also as a printer in a major newspaper company. My experiences and skills were able to put into good use. I am able to use my skills which I perfected for setting the printing rollers in SPH.

I used to practice hours and hours setting, the printing rollers accurately by pulling 2 piece of paper out from 2 printing rollers from both, sides as great skill was needed to set the rollers accurately for the printing operation. Click View Blog machinery

During the Chingay rehearsals numerous props were brought back with the synthetic foams sagging, as it was not properly pulled and glued to the bamboo frames.

It's very difficult to glue it to the frames, lots of fingers were burned, trying to stick and pull the odd shaped synthetic materials tight to the frames and hold on it until it stick tight to the bamboo frames, with the hot glue. As the foams take some time to stick to the frames.

To bring out the best possible visual effects of the props. When gluing the foams, it need to stretch it tight to the limits, so that to allow the best possible penetration effects of the lightnings system inside the props.


As time was short, I got to muster all my skills and experiences rushing from morning, till night to completely redo all the props for the grand finale.

Innovations in prop-making

Because of my skills transferred from the pulling out of papers from the printing rollers, I am able to meet these challenges, to the stretching of the foam to the right tightness, which enhanced the overall appearance and special visual effects of the lightnings. Click here to see more of my innovations.

Lot of satisfactions, they were so impressed & fascinated with the effects of the props, it were displayed in the temple for months after the performance.

The tightness of the foams, the multi-colours & the blinking of the lights inside the props made it a extraordinary sights to view.


In the 2006 Chingay Festival, our group was to make 40 electronic dogs (green & orange colour) and 4 bones props.

After numerous difficulties trying to find a solution, to stitch the bone props foams together, because this time we didn't use any frames to support it. It's very difficult to hold the odd- shaped foam together to glue it with the hot glue gun and wait until it set.

After numerous unsuccessful attempts to hold it together and glue it with the hot glue gun, trying various methods. We finally found a way using U-link wires to attached it to both sides and temporary hold it together, then apply the hot glue on it. After it were glued together, then removed the U-link wires.

To make forty electronic dogs for the students performers is no joke, all the different pieces ran into thousands. First I got use a blower to blow hot air onto the synthetic foams into various parts to shapes of different parts of the body and use my hands to hold it until it set into shapes. This process is too slow.

Later I found a way to increase the speed of doing it. By making wire moulds. Put a few foams into the wire moulds. This methods greatly increase the speed of making the props . This way more foams set into shapes much faster.

The idea of cutting a heart- shaped hole on the front cover chest foam and put heart shape translucent covers on it and put an electronic lighting device on it, initially ran into difficulties.

Later I found a way of cutting two pieces of thin synthetic foams made it into a heart shape glued it together put the electronic lighting device inside it, which able to fit into the foam (front cover of the performer) so to be able to take it out and replace it or change the batteries.

And cut a hole on it, so can switch on/off and the light, cut a hole in front so that the three little blinking light bulbs (red, yellow & blue) were able to put nearest to the translucent plastic cover, so to bring out the best possible lighting effects.

The synthetic foams were later sprayed with paint, scotch tape were use to stick on the surface to make it look glossy and prevent rain from damaging it. To tighten the tape so that, no trace of outline of the tape to be seen, a blower were use to blow hot air on it until it tighten and look glossy.

Various light reflective accessories were later stick on it.

Series of small light bulbs which blink , were then installed on it and linked to the batteries pack on the belt. The sewing group were to make the uniforms for the performance. The foams were then attached to the uniforms. Electric motor were attached behind the back to make the tail spin. So it look like robot dogs.

Many graduates are now joining the prop group maybe due to the satisfactions of seeing their creations been appreciated, attracted them to join. Some of them stayed overnight, rushing to compete the props for the grand finale
Hearing people commended our props, brought me great satisfactions.