Thread: I've started my stalkabout

Tweet

Originally Posted by matthewthemanparker

Thanks, the wife is doing good. Surgery went well. She had to have some titanium implanted but it is healing nicely.

Man, must have been one hell of a blow out. Glad she's good.

I've had a couple of people ask about the connection of the helmet to the base of the grim reaper head. I have a couple of pictures I took before Halloween but right now the costume is buried in the attic so I won't be able to add any more. Basically all I did was take a camera tripod and removed the legs. I loosened all of the pivot joints on the tripod so they would move freely. I then took the removable part of the tripod that usually screws into the camera and screwed it into some wood. Basically any flat, light material will do. I then hot glued velcro to the top of the wood and bottom of my wig head to keep it in place. I then attached a hinge to the front of the wood and the bill of my hard hat. I connected the two hinges using some steel flat bar. Steel might have been an overkill but you will need to use some type of material that will not flex when you move your head from side to side. Make sure however you attach the hinges to the flat bar that it is a strong attachment. Again, you don't want any flexing or movement. I ended up welding mine but a few small bolts will probably work. Determining the length of the steel flat bar is the toughest part. I started out long and just kept cutting an inch or so off at a time, test fitting it in between each cut. Someone earlier in this thread recommended using a turnbuckle. I think this would be a great alternative as the more adjust-ability, the more people that can wear it. My setup ended up being front heavy so I had to add some counterweight to the back of the wooden base to keep from straining my neck all night. Hope this helps and if not feel free to ask more questions and I will try to answer them to the best of my ability.

I finally bought a heat gun this year and was able to bend the pvc shoulders down a little so he looked more natural.

Looking good. Any video of you wearing it this year?

That's a great idea with the arms as well. They seem to move freely.

I have a little video of the costume in action. Sadly, the camera that was aimed at the section of the yard I was mostly in was accidentally unplugged by ToTers walking where they shouldn't have. You can see it in the background at 1:25 in the video and the best shot is at 1:36.

Dude, that was awesome. I may have to try something like that!!! Too cool!!! The arms looked so cool the way they extended out. Very free movement.

Great Costume, LOVE IT!!!

I did some more work this weekend on my costume. I've gotten it now where the whole forearm will rotate. I think this effect will help him not appear so stiff looking while walking. Also, I am again working on getting the fingers to move. I am using braided wire instead of string. This should fix the whole shearing problem but the fingers are not getting the movement I was hoping for. I think it will be enough to surprise people when they want to shake my hand and feel some finger movement though. Next up, a new slightly larger head. I have a mask coming and will post pictures when I have it mounted. Time is ticking!

Picture of the new head next to a Walgreen skeleton for scale.