Introduction: How to Be a Sim
well, I know The Sims may not be as popular as GTA or WOW, but is does have a large and loyal fan group. There are THREE major versions of the game and each are quite differently than the other. If you haven't heard of The Sims than this instructable will give you a quick tutorial which the game loves to give. If you have than you already know what a plumbbob is.
Step 1: What Is a Plumbbob? and the Sims?
Wikapedia states "a plumb-bob or a plummet is a weight, usually with a pointed tip on the bottom, that is suspended from a string and used as a vertical reference line"
Well, the one I made is just like that be hung with fishing line to be precise.
In case of The Sims plumbbob appears to be a green floating diamond above your Sims head, which allows you to tell which Sim you are controlling at the moment.
In The Sims 1 sims were fairly lazy you had to tell your sims to do everything including going to the bathroom, eat, and sleep. The camera was a third person view making you feel more like an omnipotent being controlling your minions.
In The Sims 2 sims got smarter, you no longer had to tell you sims to go to the bathroom, just put a toilet anywhere and they went. The sims 2 had much better graphics and let you recorded your sims doing their movements, this lead to many crappy TS2 machinima, including my own. Also TS2 is well known for loading screen for when your sims wanted to leave their house and go somewhere else.
The Sims 3 is the newest one, where your sims are more free willed or you can set their free will to nothing. the load screen is only at the start and your sims can explore their world freely.
Well, the one I made is just like that be hung with fishing line to be precise.
In case of The Sims plumbbob appears to be a green floating diamond above your Sims head, which allows you to tell which Sim you are controlling at the moment.
In The Sims 1 sims were fairly lazy you had to tell your sims to do everything including going to the bathroom, eat, and sleep. The camera was a third person view making you feel more like an omnipotent being controlling your minions.
In The Sims 2 sims got smarter, you no longer had to tell you sims to go to the bathroom, just put a toilet anywhere and they went. The sims 2 had much better graphics and let you recorded your sims doing their movements, this lead to many crappy TS2 machinima, including my own. Also TS2 is well known for loading screen for when your sims wanted to leave their house and go somewhere else.
The Sims 3 is the newest one, where your sims are more free willed or you can set their free will to nothing. the load screen is only at the start and your sims can explore their world freely.
Step 2: What You Need
Supplies:
one 9in x 12in foam craft-paper.
one pipe cleaner
and some fishing (not shown)
wire hanger (optional)
Tools:
Tacky glue
pen or marker
scissors (or other cutting utinsels)
ruler (preferably a ruler than a straight edge)
Yes I did this project right after I ate pizza.
one 9in x 12in foam craft-paper.
one pipe cleaner
and some fishing (not shown)
wire hanger (optional)
Tools:
Tacky glue
pen or marker
scissors (or other cutting utinsels)
ruler (preferably a ruler than a straight edge)
Yes I did this project right after I ate pizza.
Step 3: Measuring and Cutting
First thing you need to do is draw four diamonds onto your foam paper.
the easiest way for on a 9 x 12 paper is along the longest sides mark the points
1.5 in
4.5 in
7.5 in
10.5 in
and then to the same for the other side
for the shorter side
mark 4.5 in for the center
To make four diamonds take your ruler/straightedge and draw like shown from one marked point to the other.
Now cut along the lines and your should have for diamonds
the easiest way for on a 9 x 12 paper is along the longest sides mark the points
1.5 in
4.5 in
7.5 in
10.5 in
and then to the same for the other side
for the shorter side
mark 4.5 in for the center
To make four diamonds take your ruler/straightedge and draw like shown from one marked point to the other.
Now cut along the lines and your should have for diamonds
Step 4: Attaching the String
now take the pipe cleaner and form a circle. When the circle is done twist the circle into till it has two eye-hooks in it.
Attach your string/fishing line to one end. I tied mine like a small necklace so I could hang it more easily.
Now take one of the diamonds you cut out earlier and attach the pipe-cleaner to the diamond. (yes I'm extremely messy with my gluing, thankfully this will be on the inside and no one will notice.)
Attach your string/fishing line to one end. I tied mine like a small necklace so I could hang it more easily.
Now take one of the diamonds you cut out earlier and attach the pipe-cleaner to the diamond. (yes I'm extremely messy with my gluing, thankfully this will be on the inside and no one will notice.)
Step 5: Gluing the Sides
okay I suggest you start with the bottom of the diamond when gluing the plumbbob together.
The diamond with the pipecleaner attached will be your base.
I also suggest you don't glue all sides at the same time start with one side as a time.
Place a bead/stream of glue along one edge of the diamond. Then place a second diamond on top of the glue like shown.
Let this first side dry for about 15 min before continuing with the other sides.
Once this side is dry; continue gluing the other sides like you did before.
When gluing the top make sure you don't forget to leave your string hanging over the top point.
The diamond with the pipecleaner attached will be your base.
I also suggest you don't glue all sides at the same time start with one side as a time.
Place a bead/stream of glue along one edge of the diamond. Then place a second diamond on top of the glue like shown.
Let this first side dry for about 15 min before continuing with the other sides.
Once this side is dry; continue gluing the other sides like you did before.
When gluing the top make sure you don't forget to leave your string hanging over the top point.
Step 6: Hanging Your Plumbob
You should have a hangable plumbbob that you can hang from a wire, stick, ceiling, whatever.
I hung mine from a wire hanger that I straightened. To give more stability I threaded the wire hanger through my hair and down my back where it was attached to the bottom of my shirt. this gave the plumbbob freedom to spin and look like it was floating like in the game.
I also added Glow-in-the-dark paint to the edges of the plumbbob. Two reasons LED lights would have made this to heavy, also to hide my sloppy glue work.
I hung mine from a wire hanger that I straightened. To give more stability I threaded the wire hanger through my hair and down my back where it was attached to the bottom of my shirt. this gave the plumbbob freedom to spin and look like it was floating like in the game.
I also added Glow-in-the-dark paint to the edges of the plumbbob. Two reasons LED lights would have made this to heavy, also to hide my sloppy glue work.
Step 7: Final Sim Steps
Some tips on making your Sim costume complete:
- Talk Sim. This means usually talking incoherently or gibberish. If you actually played the game enough and you know some Simish please go ahead and use it.
- Wave your hands above your head and look up like someone has a fiendish mind and is controlling you.
- Often act like you have to go pee. Cross your legs wave and speak in gibberish. (Wetting one probably wouldn't be a good idea)
- Carry a blue bag of chips or cookies for snacking
- Carry some stuff in your pocket and pull them out at random and use them for fun. Some items Sims mysteriously always carry; bubbles (kids only), laptops, guitars, cellphones, mp3 players, portable gaming devices, Softballs & Footballs, Teddy Bears are some examples of what Sims pull out from no where.
- Talk Sim. This means usually talking incoherently or gibberish. If you actually played the game enough and you know some Simish please go ahead and use it.
- Wave your hands above your head and look up like someone has a fiendish mind and is controlling you.
- Often act like you have to go pee. Cross your legs wave and speak in gibberish. (Wetting one probably wouldn't be a good idea)
- Carry a blue bag of chips or cookies for snacking
- Carry some stuff in your pocket and pull them out at random and use them for fun. Some items Sims mysteriously always carry; bubbles (kids only), laptops, guitars, cellphones, mp3 players, portable gaming devices, Softballs & Footballs, Teddy Bears are some examples of what Sims pull out from no where.