I'm going go ahead and bump this........
I don't get the call for static arms and legs at all. The figure needs to retain posability to enable people to pull off other looks, rather than Regan just lying prostate in bed. Ok, the levitation scene is an iconic moment in the movie, but designing the whole body to homage that one moment seems pretty redundant because, really, who would risk trying to string a pricy piece up and leave it dangling in mid-air? If the figure is not going to be 'floating', then what's the point of it being stuck in a starfish position whilst lying flat on it's back in bed?
I was just going to get to that. The approach Rainman should have to the bed is not to treat it as an accessory but rather more like a Hottoys base. This way the elevation pose is possible.
I've had a lot of time to think about how to get the most use from the bed and easily you can get the 3 most iconic poses (1.Laying flat on Bed arms and hands tied 2.)Sitting up at Bedframe Headpost 3.) Mid-Levitation) if it's approached as a base rather than an accessory.
Levitation
Magicians use a trick plank to perform levitation tricks. That same idea can be applied to the design of the bed. For example, Hottoys uses a stem that plugs into the base for their stands in order to hold up the figure. The Reagan levitation is possible if a stem is used like a magicians plank in order to rest the figure on it. The plank will be hidden from view because it will slide right up inside Reagan's nightgown and since the nightgown drapes it will cover the plank and a bit of the base of the stem that's plugged into the bed(mattress) or the opposite side of the bed that's not in view when displayed. This will give off the floating illusion of the mid levition height, not super high but high enough to allow the fabric to drape a bit and give off the floating illusion.
Please guys, study the pictures. Take a close look at this one for example. Notice the board underneath Reagan's gown and then attaching (plugging) into the mattress. Examine the photo. This is the key and it is very possible to do this for a 1/6 figure.
MAGICIANS PLANK Technique (This is the optimal height)
This is the same technique they used in the film. For most of the scenes to hold up Reagan's body they used a magicians plank.
Static, minimal articulation, finely detailed sculpted arms, slightly bent knees, legs with wounds and tippy-toed sculpted barefoot is the way to go. The only articulation of real importance is the "wingspan arms" for levitation pose or tied up pose and the torso/waist so that we can sit reagan up when we detach the plank stem from the bed.
Rainman can do this...EASILY, it just has to be explained and sketched out for him. The key words are MAGICIANS PLANK.
Levitation Video Tutorial (Important)
Rainman doesn't even have to have the plank attached to the bed. He can make it a separate plastic peice that we can use when we want to do the levitation pose. Somthing with a plastic plank with a stem and bottom base you can slide underneath the other side of the bed.
Somthing like this (minus the fork lift obviously substituted for a plastic plank with base of course, lol) but pretend the forklift is a weighted bottom base. This WILL WORK!
Reagan Levitation Idea
Super easy to achieve this illusion and it will just add great creativity to what I predict is going to be an outstanding work of art from Rainman.
