building hinged wings
 

We have a huge Carnevale celebration at a local "castle" every spring, and this year ratbastid and I want to go as crows, on stilts. I would dearly LOVE to have wings that can fold down and then be extended - I think it would be a great effect. We've got the basic design worked out - a simple frame involving one metal tube up the middle of the back (strapped on with a harness) with the wing frames bolted onto that at a pivot point, extending up past the pivot point just far enough for a chain/rope to be attached to the extended piece so that when you pull down the wings will extend out. Kinda hard to picture, but our real question is materials:

What kind of material will be

1. strong enough to withstand being pivoted back and forth a few times, and to hold up the fabric the wings will be made of

2. flexible enough to be bent into a slightly curved wing shape, but strong enough to hold the shape

3. able to be bolted onto the main tube at the pivot point.

Any ideas? Copper tubing? Aluminum tubing?

I don't quite understand the construction, but I'm thinking whatever is used in fishing rods (fibre glass?) would be good. Light, strong, bendy and able to take a beating or three.

EDIT: I hope we get to see some pictures when the project is done, it sounds like an awesome costume idea!

Just like Pip, I don't completely understand, but I agree, lightweight is going to be your best bet.

Think fiberglass and carbon fiber. I think kite construction might be a good model for you to use. If you start going with heavier materials like copper and chain, I think it will become impractical very quickly.

not sure how long these wings are gonna be, but tent poles (cut down to 2 or 3 sections of course)?

Stilts + Large Surface Area + Slight Breeze = Broken Bones

You're basically building a cross between and kite and a sail, while standing on stilts which offer little balance. Be mindful of this and be careful.

p.s. have fun!