Many thanks for all the answers/suggestions. after reading these and lots of pages on springs, I am going to order some wire and try to wind these myself. fortunately I've got a month to play before the show, and time to come up with something else if my efforts don't produce a decent animal.
thanks again,
bob

Have you considered using the springs from inside "spring snakes" as the snakes that come in the novelty "peanut brittle" cans etc. They tend to be about 1.5" -2" in dia and are compression springs...could be a useful "off-the-shelf" starting point.