Thread: help with a turnkey

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HI,

I have decided to be a wind-up doll for halloween. I am trying to figure out how to make the turnkey on the back. I figure cardboard and foil is out due to easy distructability. I was thinking a very thin plywood with silver spray paint but am unsure how to mount it. Some sort of light harness under the costume? Any ideas?

Thanks,
Shaz

You could buy an inexpensive backpack, the kind with wheels, they have a sturdier back to them and hook it up to that. you could use foam instead of cardboard or plywood. Plywood would be pretty heavy after a while. Then paint it silver.

I once made such a harness. I took a pair of 30" strips of heavy gauge sheet metal and formed them into a 'J' shape. I then connected them in the middle with four strips which ran perpendicularly. This is the backpack frame which was hidden under the clothing. To the frame, I mounted a bearing assembly from a swivel chair. The remaining portion of chair stand was cut down, and I mounted a lightweight key to it. But the key would turn freely.

In later years, I designed a similar one that included a slow moving servo, so the key would turn slowly as you wore it. But then you have to add a battery pack and it starts getting cumbersome.

Ohhhhhh turnkey, I thought you wrote turkey. Nevermind.

Mindcrime, You are a genius!! I have to figure that out! That sounds sooo cool. Thanks!

Wow, Mindcrime's idea puts mine to shame! My suggestion was cut the bottom & lid of a coffee can out, hot glue them side by side, then wire them to a silver spray-painted pop can that has its top & bottom removed. Slip the can through a hole in the costume and attach it to the outside half of a folded over piece of cardboard. Slide the inside half of the cardboard between your back and your bra (you may still need to tape the cardborad down to your back (maybe First Aid Tape? Duct Tape would rip up your skin too much!) ) and tape the bottoms of the cardboard together. Should be light enough, and the cardboard should be protected by the costume.

Anyway, I hope that's not too complicated!! Good luck, sounds like a fun costume!

Originally Posted by El Diablo

Ohhhhhh turnkey, I thought you wrote turkey. Nevermind.

LMAO! That's what I thought, too when I first read it!!!!