Thread: best material to use

Tweet

I am going to take a shot at making my machanical props this year the idea is to have on zombie ripping the head off another one with the hopes of using a pump on a timer to squirt blood in to the air with every rip
I was thinking of using 1x2's (w pading) for the body's and a wiper motor and a wiper pump hopfully hooked up to a timer or hook the entire thing up to a sensor mat if any one has any ideas to improve or if you feel I am am going about this in the wrong direction your input would be very much appreciated

It sounds like a good idea you have and you are off to a good start. If it were me, I might consider using a pneumatic cylinder to to the "tearing" off of the head. A wiper motor could work, but then you'd need a bit more complicated of a set up to give you some sort of positioning and timing for each cycle. With a dual acting cylinder, the prop would always just reset when the power was taken away.

As far as your bodies go, you might want to consider PVC pipe. Very light, very durable and probably end up costing you less time and money in the end.

Prop controller with a cylinder. Use a spitter for the blood. Mix red food dye with water. You can time each rip then add the spray. I would be worried about staining the prop but if it's a bloody mess who cares anyway. Just keep the controller away from the spitter.

This is how I would do it.

1 Cylinder about hmmm...7/8 bore 6 inch stroke double acting.

Attach the cylinder to the head of the unfortnate zombie through his body under his neck.

Glue the hands of the ripper zombie to the head of the headless zombie.

When the controller activates the first rip hit the spray. Then delay, then again longer...spray longer. Then finally POP!!! Spray everywhere.

thank you for your input I will definitely go with the PVC pipe but I can't use the pneumatic's due to not having a compressor and not able to house one at this time so if any one dose not think the wiper motor will work can you thnk of another way

thank you in advance