Thread: Transformation Box

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Well here I am again There have been many things going on in my life during the 'off season' that have kept me busy and therefore kept me from thinking halloween thoughts. To sum it up, I was working as a temp for a mental health agency as a counselor. They made a mistake and gave me one contract too many which means I now have a permanent contract with them. Once that happened and I had a regular source of income, I decided to take driving lessons in order to get my dutch driving license. I have an american license but that wasn't transferable here. Besides, driving in Europe in a whole other ballgame lol The requirements are much harder and you have to use a driving school. Anyway, I passed the test, got my license and bought a second hand car. Before getting my license I bicycled everywhere and used the bus and train for longer distances. The road taxes and gasoline here are almost double of what they are in the US. There was also a decision made about our neighborhood in the off season. Our neighborhood action committee had been working 8 years to try to save the houses on the edge of our neighborhood from being torn down. We finally won! The houses were put on the monument list and have to be restored instead of being torn down.

Anyway, its now August and things have settled down and we are finally thinking of halloween again. With all the other things going on, we've gotten started later than we normally would. Also, with the extra costs of the car, we are going to have to try to keep expenses down as well. Which brings me to our theme this year....Weird Science. Every year we set up a theme area under our carport. One year it was an execution room, one year a tomb, and last year a hard rot cafe. This year we are putting a mad scientist lab under the carport. I've gotten some great ideas from other threads on this site from members who have made a lab. Thanks for those!

There are a couple of things we want to make for the lab that I can't find much info on. I'm hoping that some forum members have some personal experiences with the props they will share with me. The first prop is a transformation Box.

This is the only site I could find with directions for making the box. Have any of you made or seen the box before? Is it a good effect?
http://thehorrordome.com/HDPROPS/Transbox1.htm

The other prop is a Jacob's ladder prop. I've found some sites with instructions for making it but would love to hear personal experiences with making one.

Thanks,
MsM

I made that transformation box a few years ago.

I had to add a small strip of wood in front of each light to act as a shade.
I remeber trying different wattage bulbs but no matter what I did there was too much light and it would spill out into the "intersection" and make it obvious there was another chamber at a right angle .

Other than that It was easy to make. here is a demo:
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QrR7CV5VEZk"]YouTube - transformation box[/ame]

Thanks iceman fred! Loved the youtube video. Thanks for the link and the tip about the lighting. Pieter's been working on the box this weekend so I hope to test it out this evening.

MsM

on the jacobs ladder prop, look at the video on this one....first link under green text.
I really like this prop.
http://cgi.ebay.com/JACOBS-LADDER-HA...QQcmdZViewItem

Three Hundred Dollars for a JACOB'S LADDER??? DO NOT GO THERE!!

A Transformer from a Neon Sign is about the size of a Car Battery, and is just a little heavier. You can most likely borrow a used one from a sign company if they don't give you one outright. A pair of wires and you're good to go. No Mad Scientist's Lab is complete without at least one.

Scare Shack: Really cool prop!

Wolfman: How dangerous is it to have one? I think that's the only thing holding Pieter back from trying to make one. The few sites I found describing it, also point out how dangerous it is. I'm thinking that's just an american thing...you know....don't say I didn't warn you type of culture.

Iceman Fred: We tested the box tonight. Had the same problem you mentioned so will work on a shade for it tomorrow.

MsM