Thread: 2008 Stalkabout

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I finally got around to starting my stalkabout... been looking at doing this for several years and never got around to it. This year it's on!

I started by assembling the base frame this weekend and will continue to update as I go. I plan on it being just shy of 8ft and having a removable lower frame that I can "dock" the beast into, unstrap, and get out of the costume rendering it a static prop. I am doing this because of the size and I will not be able to wear it for most of the day at work, but will migrate around from time to time, and have it looming in the lobby when not being worn!

I have also started some articulated hands similar to the instructable (animatronic hand). We'll have to see how these work out. The Boris skull is just a stand-in for the articulated head yet to be built. The shoulders are ball joints from the local hardware store. The backpack is a surplus alice pack with the frame.

The beginning pictures are of the base frame with a full circle cloak that fits me tossed on it for a drape test for aligning the fabric... The magnitude of this beast was only obvious to me once I realized that the cloak on me became a half cloak on it!

Just thought I'd share my over-engineered solution with you guys!
Picasa Web Albums - Jonathan - Stalkaround08

Wow! That thing is huge. Looks like you have quite a bit of room on the inside of the costume. I have to admit that anyone who's claustorphobic would probably not be able to wear mine.

How are you planning on moving the head?

Nice start. I especially like the base.

looks good keep the pics coming

Your project has great potential. The engineering looks great!
One suggestion I would have is to somehow try to "bulk up" the (boris ) skull. It looks way too small in proportion to the huge body. IMHO.

I finally got some updated pictures with the head installed and the skeleton almost complete (need to add rear fillout bar for shoulders). 2008 Stalkabout Progress. I worried my neighbors doing a body test this past weekend. I draped it in my cloak again and was testing the "inner" fabric for it's costume (movement and visibility)

I think I have most of the details worked out. The Inner cloak is going to be a drape of tripple layers of sheer fabric. There will be pockets in each shoulder to be able to pull unneed layers of the inner cloak out of the way as it gets darker. The outer cloak will be a one piece horror robe that is split halfway down the front. The cowled hood will be the third and final piece with a hardware cloth structure so the head has free reign. Once comlpleted, it should be less than an inch shy of 8ft.

Still todo are wiring leds into the head (wires run in photos), setting up the head linkage bars (need to be expanding to support the multiple users), hands, and sewing the costume. Time is getting short as the preliminary target is to be done by Oct 1st so we can demo it at the casting call for the haunt!

Sorry I don't have pictures/video of the fabric/movement test. I only get to work on this when the wife and little one are taking naps or in bed.

The plan for the head was to attach bars and strap hinges to a helmet. Unfortunately, I am having to go with a bike helmet for this year as everything else in the area is "out of season" or just plain too small! I don't have a small head and have a hard enough time finding hats that fit.

I will try to get a photo of the head base, but it is a flattened PVC T screwed to a block of plywood with strap hinges and nylon washers to allow movement. This is attached via a T-nut to the lug of an aluminum mini-trypod with the legs removed. Hopefully this will give me a decent amount of movement.

I love to see these. Mine's an inch short of 8' also. Makes life easy when you can bring that thingh inside. I have a similar tripod/ plywood set up on mine. The bike helmet will be kind of bad (that's what I have), but as long as you don't make it look down too much, you should be alright.

I was hoping to avoid the bike helmet because of the issues that have been posted, but the only options I have locally are all too expensive. I thought about one of the airsoft military helmets clones, but locally they want ~$40+. If I find I just don't like it, there is still time to modify before the event! This year though I've just about hit the budget and time caps.

I hear ya on the price thing man. The only prob I had with mine was at the end on the night, it wanted to hang it's head in shame due to the bike helmet. side to side was perfect, but the "nod" makes these things friggin cool. I'm planning on adding a rubber band or bungee cord to counter-balance the nod enough to not aggrivate me.

Working on this project solo, the base is the best part of the entire beast. The base separates into two sections that can easily be reattached to the main pipes. The plan is to put lift lines on washers so I can pull them up from the ground using a magnetic wand to get the lift line.

I know that on Halloween, I will not be able to wear this at my desk so the freestanding feature will allow it to Loom in the lobby! Maybe I can convince the powers that be to let me hide a small fogger and chiller under the robe.

I also have another set of feet that I plan to pop onto the main structure for transport. This has allowed me to work on the main structure without needing a stool. The torso without the head is just shy of 4ft on its own.

It looks like transport will be in four pieces: torso, head + linkage, hood, and base(s). Once set up though it is pretty easy to get in and out of. I hope to get the linkage for the head started tonight and plan on making it adjustable with wing nuts and slotted aluminum bar.