Thread: Has anyone made a airblown prop?

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I think I'm going to pick up that Gemmy 2011 Vintage Cat Head airblown, and am trying to layout how I might use it in my yard. At 6-1/2 feet tall it's a pretty good size and I was thinking of using it along our 5 to 5-1/2 foot high fence (fence section is 17 feet long btw so head would be 1/3 the length apx.).

Plan A--Originally I thought of supporting the cat head on a structure behind the fence in our inner yard so that the head would be peering above the fence looking out at the ToTers, but realized that we're talking about a giant cat that would appear to be about 12 feet high. I'm thinking that might look too large and might become unwieldy especially if it is windy Halloween night.

So Plan B would be to put the head at ground level in front of the fence (head will still be taller than the fence) and create cat paws (maybe out of some kind of black landscape or plastic garbage bag or tarp material stuffed with something to give it form) that could be placed in front of the cat head. I'm hoping the cat will look like it was coming out of the backyard through a gate in the fence.

What I really could use help with would be a moving cat's tail that would be located behind the fence (to enhance the feeling the cat was coming through the fence's gate). I know you can buy replacement airblown fans, so no problem there, and figure a tall black tail (maybe 9 to 10 foot high) might be something that would be fairly easy to construct. Pretty much just a sleeve of fabric really. Right? With the blower on I'm hoping it will move back and forth in the air. Has anyone ever made their own airblown? I'd love to know how you did yours (I have a sewing machine), what kind of material worked and any other tips that you think might be handy.

I plan on using lighting in front of the cat's face and paws and add flood lighting behind the fence to light up the otherwise dark black tail.

Might also want to pick up a few of those really big latex rats I've seen in stores like Spirit to add in the foreground of the cat.

What do you guys think? Do-able? Easy project?

For the tail I would get a computer fan or a small/table top box fan (put the box fan on leg supports off ground) and attach nylon fabric shaped into a tail onto it. Wider at the base and tapered upwards.

Im thinking construction wise similar to the fabric flame setup. I dont know if putting a small hole at the end of the tail would allow it to whip around, but Im imagining it alot like those promotional whipping figure thingys to attract business.

http://www.arizonaballoon.com/Inflat...dvertising_Man

OK, on closer inspection of the fan used for the advertising man, I suggest getting this fan. I actually own one and think this would be perfect to use and easier to setup. It blows very hard. Just making the thing really tall like the advertising man will naturally make it bend and whip around. http://www.google.com/products/catal...d=0CGwQ8wIwAg#

I got mine at walmart but I dont see the same exact one but similar is this one--> http://www.walmart.com/ip/Lasko-Mult...y-Fan/15571811