Building fully flexible tail (several joints) with minimal actuation required

[jdiwnab]

Originally Posted by sanddrag

What I want it to be able to do is go from being straight, to being sort of like this but on it's side.

And now here's the really hard part. This thing's motion has to look good on TV (slow and smooth) and it will be all covered in flowers. There mustn't be anything visible except for flowers (I believe carnations to be exact) so it will need some sort of flexible skin/covering.

To do more than a small curve, you need the wires you are pulling to be able to extend into the gap between the curled up part to the end. Reguarding what Al said, Jabba's tail had covering enough and flab enough so that going from the tip back to the point they were pulling wasn't hard. It was already covered. See the pic below for what I am trying to say. If you try to keep the wire (small line) next to the tail (big line), you will be pulling agenst youself after a little while.