Thread: Grave Digger Dog

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Got a request to post some pics of my gravedigger dog I built last year. Wish I had more pics especially of the re-bar frame but my phone camera has issues so this is all I had.

My theme is a Disney Haunted Mansion tribute and the Grave Digger needed his buddy. Needed to build something that can withstand exposure to Oregon weather for the month of October as my display goes up first weekend in Oct through the holiday. Halloween night the other items such as the Magic Mirror, Peppers Ghost illusions etc. are running.

- Research and get as many views of the dog as possible. Davesland has great pics and I was able to do my own research at the park of course. The Haunted Mansion book by Jason Surrell is also a good source. I used my own dog to get the angle of the rear legs.

-Frame was constructed out of re-bar from Home Depot, easy to bend in a vice. Welded it together with my small Lincoln 110 mig welder. only took an hour to whip up the frame, central spine with 4 legs and short piece for tail and head attachment.

-body constructed out of 2" pink foam. Used router to make groves in foam to fit over the re-bar frame and glued in place with liquid nails.
I use my bandsaw to cut the foam-100x better than the wire. No fumes, burns and exact cuts in any shape. MUCH faster as well. Best part is it gives purpose to dull blades that would otherwise be thrown away.

-eyes were wood beads painted,

-nose is just scrao of foam painted,

-fur is attached with 3m super duty adhesive as it is waterproof. I also used brass brads as "pins" to hold fur down this worked really great on the foam body. I wish I wore gloves during this process as I had furry palms for a week.

-details/highlights with rattle can.

Total cost ~$50

http://i843.photobucket.com/albums/z...0/IMAG0144.jpg ---you can see the re-bar frame inlayed into the foam.

http://i843.photobucket.com/albums/z...0/IMAG0143.jpg

http://i843.photobucket.com/albums/z...0/IMAG0142.jpg

http://i843.photobucket.com/albums/z...0/IMAG0141.jpg

http://i843.photobucket.com/albums/z...0/IMAG0151.jpg Head not attached yet on this pic.

http://i843.photobucket.com/albums/z...0/IMG_0943.jpg Dog and his master on display. You can see my "fence" which is based on the que lines.

This years project is the casket with lifting lid shouting "let me out of here!"

Looks great! I have a grave digger but no dog. Maybe next year since I have too much on my plate already for this year. Thanks for the pics, definately inspired me.

I LOVE that! very creative!!! ... i want one...


what did you use for fur?

The dog looks really great!
Yea, what kind of fur is that?? Nice work!

It looks really good! Did you airbrush the fur? Great looking prop!

Great work! I like your approach to the fabrication, as well.

Glad you liked it:

-Fur was just standard tan fur fabric from Joann's ~$6 yard.

-Yes, I painted it but not with an airbrush-just standard brown and black el-cheapo spray paint from Home Depot. You really can get good control with spray paint- look what those guys on the Vegas strip do with rattle cans.

-forgot to mention that I hit him with scotch guard to help keep the fur from matting down in the rain. It is Oregon after all!