Thank you all very much.
Jamz, I'm going to have a look for some Red Skelton tapes or DVD's. Thanks for telling me what a skit was as I wasn't sure.
Scruffy, thats a really good idea about the cotten rope. I'll be sure to have a look for some rope that would be suitable.
ashes thats what I was aiming for the whole happy hobo type clown. Thanks for the website address too as I found them very helpful.
I think I've found my clown costumn vision
thanks to you all.