http://www.halloweenforum.com/blogs/herman-secret/ Halloween Discussion Forum, Haunts and Home Haunt Community. en Sun, 22 Nov 2009 01:37:33 GMT vBulletin 60 http://www.halloweenforum.com/fusion/misc/rss.jpg http://www.halloweenforum.com/blogs/herman-secret/ http://www.halloweenforum.com/blogs/herman-secret/296-2009-projects.html Wed, 08 Apr 2009 05:11:05 GMT Planned projects for this years haunt are already well underway. One of the things that I was looking to do this year was to animate some props.

With the help of a couple of shiatsu massagers I have a ground breaker now animated and an animated breakout skeleton as a new addition. Also, thanks to the project building group I now have a tombstone peeper.

New groundbreaker coffins have been constructed and I have revamped the old coffin.

The Spell book and photo album are completed.

So what's next ?

I need to upgrade the stirring cauldron, so hope to see this featured as a project in the group.

I also need to redo the garage exterior. I have some sheets of rigid foam that were donated to me, that I hope to use. they would be far more durable than styrofoam. The problem with them being that they don't hold paint well. I have tried vinyl and spray paints so far.

I have a couple of fence panels that need completing this year, and looking at the columns, they are probably gonna need repainting.

Once we get a bit closer to October, I will need to start thinking of the framework for the garage. Last year worked well, so will probably follow the same route.

I'm sure though like all of the members here, the list will grow as we see more props showcased ! ]]> Herman Secret http://www.halloweenforum.com/blogs/herman-secret/296-2009-projects.html http://www.halloweenforum.com/blogs/herman-secret/285-aaaarrrggghhhhh.html Mon, 02 Mar 2009 16:26:09 GMT Last week, the local power company decided to install squirrel protection on the overhead lines.

They had previously advised that this would be happening, with a power outage anywhere between 8am - 5pm sometime between Monday and Friday.

So... Tuesday went off to work as usual - ever had one of those days you knew was not gonna go you way ? Yep it was one of them.

On getting home from work, noticed the PC screen was blank. Traci told me the power was out for about 20 mins ... So I switched on my PC. Nothing ... Trie again ... still nothing. Checked the power cord was plugged in both ends (well you never know) ..
.. nadda..

Disconnected the PC, dragged it out from under the desk. Tried a different outlet ... By this time guessed that it wasn't anywhere between the outlet and the power cord that was the problem.

Well, I know a little about PCs having worked in an IT dept. for 12 years so took a look inside ... nothing evident.

Tried to swap power supplies with another computer but didnt have all the right connections. Phoned a PC guy I had dealt with previously, he came out later with another power supply, changed it out and .... nothing.

So my PC was doing a pretty good impression of a door stop. luckily the PC guy refurbishes PCs so I chose to replace the door stop with a refurbished HP Tower that would be dropped off the next day.

The old PC was hauled away (minus the hard disk) with the possibility of having the motherboard replaced.

Now, I knew I had to get the hard disk up and running and as Traci, has a PC as does my stepson Matt, checked I could read the data. So installed the disk in Matt's PC as a second drive and booted up ... and there was my disk able to be read ... woooohoooooooooo !

So all the docs and pics and web stuff and personal stuff was under 'my documents' ... tried to access the folders ... access denied ... seems that my idea of password protecting my account on my PC was my downfall.

So, lets try booting from my disk... great idea ! Windows starts ... enters my password and ... gets an error message that Windows need to be authorised. Toll free number is shown. Calls the number - follows the automated instructions and authorization failed. Passed onto a live support person, explains the problem that my old PC is dead and have installed the disk in another PC to get my data back.
techie (??): "was the version of windows preinstalled on a PC?"
Me: "yes"
Techie: "Is the drive in the original PC?"
Me: "No, I explained the problem that my old PC died and I need to get access to my data"
Techie: "Sorry, the windows software is only licenced for the original PC and can't be authorised"

After a brief message about calling tech support (at this point realised that I had contacted a call centre that did little but ask stock questions) the guy ended the conversation and the call.

Called tech support and followed many of the paths to reach my goal, only end at pretty much the same solution each time either call and take out a support contract or Microsoft was unable to help with my problem (was my problem so big even Microsoft couldn't help?!)

Now I am pretty much persistant and so went back to trying to reboot again, same error needs authorisation. If you ever get to see this, you are presented with a authorization number sequence of 8 set of 6 digits, which when you call the authorization number you read back to the automate attendant, which hopefully will get you a sequence of 8 sets of 5 digits to authorize windows, and which failed last time. SO I tried again ... read back the 8 sets of 6 digits ... and ...
the automated attendant accepted and proceeded with the authorisation code. Finally got the PC booted with my disk and then proceeded to pull all the data off the old disk. Which was installed to my new/refurbished HP and after about 4 days (well, 4 evenings to be exact) I am now where I was last Tuesday.

The story doesn't quite end there because I still have some data to recover from the disk and need to do the boot from disk on Matt's PC again, and I hope that this time it remembers that windows IS authorised.

As for the old PC? A new mother board would set me back $175-$250 ... not an option
A secondhand motherboard would be less... but it's trying to get one ...
BUT, my PC guy knows a bit more about PCs than I do and has found some of the capacitors have blown. So he is gonna try a repair job on the old motherboard.

I guess there is a lesson to be learned by all that read this and by the author too ... PCs are vulnerable, so make sure that your data is backed up.

Here endeth the lesson ... but not the story ]]> Herman Secret http://www.halloweenforum.com/blogs/herman-secret/285-aaaarrrggghhhhh.html http://www.halloweenforum.com/blogs/herman-secret/187-60-days-go.html Tue, 02 Sep 2008 04:56:14 GMT Where is the time going :eek: ? The days seem to be flying past and the project list doesn't get any smaller !!

So where am I at with projects...?

I have built my columns, now working on the tops and then need to paint them. Hope to have these completed by the end of this week.

Finally came up with a motor to use for my witch stirring the cauldron. It's a rotisserie motor, completely encased so hopefully will be weather proof. Cost $1.50 at Value Village :D - so now need to get that underway

I have completed the skeleton for my scarecrow and slowly working on corpsing him.

Other projects on the go are ...

New Coffin dweller, have the head almost finished then need to make some hands.

Candles - using the battery tealights and PVC pipe technique

Gargoyles - have one head finished and the next one on the go ...

Projects that I havent started yet

Boarded up windows... may use styrofoam made to look like lumber. (or just find a couple of pallets :rolleyes:)

Would like to add another witch this year

May have to make some extra fence panels

Need to work out how to decorate the garage as we are adding this to our haunt this year.

And with all that also need to keep an eye on the forum. :eek:

I think I need to find an assistant !!!!! ]]> Herman Secret http://www.halloweenforum.com/blogs/herman-secret/187-60-days-go.html http://www.halloweenforum.com/blogs/herman-secret/160-hit-jackpot.html Sat, 09 Aug 2008 04:32:00 GMT I purchased a few props today and boy did I hit the jackpot!

Amongst the haul I made was

A Don Post Flying Witch
A Vampire Ghoul
A Mario Chiodo Deluxe decor Stocks
Gemmy Magic Mirror
Gemmy Floating Ghost
62' Hanging Reaper
Battery Operated Scary Skeleton
4 glow in dark skulls
2 large bats
4 extra large spiders
jack Black Tombstone
2 battery operated motion activated tombstones
Spirit Rat in a trap
3 x Scene setter 3ft x 25ft Wood panelling panels
3 assorted scene setter panels
foam Skull
Sword in skull prop
4 various mini hanging demons/ghouls/ghost
6 spider webs
Full size Skeleton
lots of halloween cardboard cutouts
Motion activated skull
as well as a few other bits and pieces

Total cost $200 - worth at least $500

I think I got a real good deal :D ]]> Herman Secret http://www.halloweenforum.com/blogs/herman-secret/160-hit-jackpot.html http://www.halloweenforum.com/blogs/herman-secret/145-finally-back-halloween-track.html Thu, 24 Jul 2008 05:20:26 GMT It seems like an age since I have been able to to focus on Halloween and the forum.

So, whats been happening in my world ??

Well first of all my wife decided she wanted the spare room back as a spare bedroom. So my stepson and I have had to clear out what we had in there and minimalize. Unfortunately this was used as my workroom :(

So all my craft materials are now confined to a storage cupboard.

So did this take that long to do ? No ... the next thing was a total clear out of each room in the house for a Garage sale... during which time it was decided to give the stepson's room a total makeover.

So this last weekend we held our garage sale. It was a huge success. Don't worry, there was nothing in the sale that could be used as, converted to, or made a part of an halloween prop.

So now we can start to settle back and I can at last start to focus on my projects for this year's haunt.

I have already paid a visit to the dollar store and bought some of the crows, and I got a couple of boxes of misc halloween decor at a yard sale for $5 (pictures to follow).

The main thing though is I AM BACK ... and I missed you all ]]> Herman Secret http://www.halloweenforum.com/blogs/herman-secret/145-finally-back-halloween-track.html http://www.halloweenforum.com/blogs/herman-secret/119-my-next-project.html Wed, 11 Jun 2008 21:12:12 GMT Subtitled "the ramblings of an halloween haunter"

Actually I have two projects in mind, one being a revamp of my Scarecrow and a new coffin dweller. At present my dweller is made up of a Dollar Tree Mask and packing peanut hands, which don't cut it anymore.

So, I will be working on some skeleton parts.

I have plenty of foam skulls so don't need to worry about any skull casting.

The hands of the scarecrow will come from last year's scarecrow. It was about the only part of last year's prop that I was happy with.

I knew the rest of the prop was not how I wanted and at first couldn't get what it was, but it came to me that the proportions were all wrong. I had made the frame from chicken wire, I didnt really need much detail as it would be covered in burlap.

But the shape was all wrong. I see that now. I couldn't see the point in spending out a whole lot of money for a skeleton when it would be covered, so the project is to build a skeleton frame for this years scarecrow, and so I began...

First for the chest, I took one of those bleeding chest props (not sure if they can still be bought), mine came from a thrift store - 99c but not working. I didnt need it to work, I only wanted the ribcage.

Now I did use one last year, but it was in the wrong place. This year the proportions would be right.

Studying pics of skeletons I sketched where chest, hips, etc would go. Next I made a chicken wire frame for the chest, then rolled some chicken wire to make the spine. Next I placed the rib cage over the frame, and built up the collar bones, then made up the spine with duct tape. The pelvis were a problem at first... ever tried making a pelvis ?

Well I studied a couple of pics to get a general idea of the shape etc, then took some chicken wire and after an hour or so of bending and shaping had something that looked like a pelvis. Next covered that in duct tape and finally a couple of coats of paper mache. I was about to secure the pelvis to the spine ... the spine didn't look right. OK, I know that its gonna be covered in burlap but I decided that some of the skeleton should be shown

So to pad out the spine I used a length of pipe insulation. Then I got the brainwave to use cable ties to;
1. hold it in place and
2. make it look like vertebrae.



this is where I am at the moment with the project, A skull, hands and a torso. The arms and legs will be fashioned from PVC pipe I think.

My coffin dweller may have to take a back seat while I work on the scarecrow. My immediate thoughts for the dweller would be a skeleton, non animated for the time being, as the coffin has a real old look so would befit a skeleton more than a zombie or such

My ramblings will end here for now, but will add updates as they occur ]]> Herman Secret http://www.halloweenforum.com/blogs/herman-secret/119-my-next-project.html http://www.halloweenforum.com/blogs/herman-secret/105-grave-mistake.html Wed, 04 Jun 2008 13:30:26 GMT Well, I found a problem with my tombstone how to.

I have been working on my latest stone, I had the design worked out, had that all masked up.

For the lettering on the name, I printed out the name in a large font, cut out the letters and placed them in position on the tomb.

The rest of the lettering was put in place.

I was quite happy with the look of the design, etc, so proceeded to the next step.

Now let this be a word of warning...

I thought the spray paint I was going to use was grey... in fact it was white. Spraying white on to white creates this problem where you cant quite see where you have already sprayed.

Everything seemed to be going ok until I removed the lettering. Unfortunately in certain areas more styrofoam was removed than was required, resulting in some of the letters being eaten away by the chemical reaction of the paint.

I'm not sure if the stone is salvageable yet............ ]]> Herman Secret http://www.halloweenforum.com/blogs/herman-secret/105-grave-mistake.html http://www.halloweenforum.com/blogs/herman-secret/88-my-first-halloween-day-coming.html Wed, 21 May 2008 14:40:25 GMT Well I have 2 days off work ... the first day I will do some of the honey do jobs, the second day I hope to be able to spend on some halloween stuff! I have been wanting to put together an how to on a tombstone making technique, which is how I hope to spend the day ... Also working on the scarecrow from last year... watch this space :D Well I have 2 days off work ... the first day I will do some of the honey do jobs, the second day I hope to be able to spend on some halloween stuff!

I have been wanting to put together an how to on a tombstone making technique, which is how I hope to spend the day ... Also working on the scarecrow from last year...

watch this space :D ]]> Herman Secret http://www.halloweenforum.com/blogs/herman-secret/88-my-first-halloween-day-coming.html http://www.halloweenforum.com/blogs/herman-secret/68-my-2008-haunt.html Sun, 04 May 2008 15:54:40 GMT This year I was considering doing a pirate theme for my haunt. However, after reviewing the photo's from the past two years and the progress that was made last year, and the time, work money and effort put into my haunt I have decided to continue with the graveyard.

SO this year I will concentrate on adding more to the graveyard and upgrade one or two of the previous years props.

First on the list has to be an entrance to the graveyard, so I will be looking to build some columns this year, possibly with a arch over with the graveyard name. As for the name ... Well we live on Mize Road so I am thinking to name it "Mizery Cemetery".

I will probably follow one or two how to's to build the columns, but want to add gates as well, as the graveyard is not a walk around.

This is a project that I will start in the next month or two, so in the meantime I am tidying up a few bits and pieces that have been lying around waiting to be finished.

My skeleton hands that were made for my tutorial finally got painted and "aged" as did my paper mache skull. I have also been doing some paint effects on blucky hands to make them use able !

Also worked on some eyes ... have followed one or two tuts on these and have come up with a method of my own (sort of). The results of which look quite good. So I will be looking to incorporate these into my Witch and Groundbreaker props.

I would like to add some "motion" to my props as they are all static ... but I would need a how to for dummies to do this as I am more artistic than technical !

Well, thats some of my plans for this year... I will add any useful how to's to the forum, as and when . Hopefully they will be of interest to my fellow haunters. ]]> Herman Secret http://www.halloweenforum.com/blogs/herman-secret/68-my-2008-haunt.html