Thread: Has anyone ever made a large scale / heavy duty Axworthy system that holds 10+ lbs?

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I've been wanting to make an Axworthy Flying Ghost for a while but I wanted to added a twist so it fits into my "Horror Movie Monster" yard haunt. Here's a picture I created to explain my vision. Has anyone made an Axworthy System that holds 10+ lbs or more. I want it to be able to hold the weight of the mask, upper torso, and fake chainsaw. I want it to look like he's running around behind the fence or does anybody have an idea to simulate Leatherface running around in my yard?

Col idea, but I don't think you'll find a feasable way to make an Axworthy that holds 10 pounds.

Could you maybe just make a cardboard cutout and dress it up and paint it to look like Leatherface? That would weigh a lot less. I guess the wind might be too much of a problem for that, though.

I wonder if you could make ground level set up that pulls a little cart with a PVC guy in it.Wouldnt have to worry about seeing heavy line or sag.You would just need a strong enough motor.(no never tried it just tossing ideas)

My kids once had a battery powered train on tracks that they could ride..You could tape down the throttle and he would run around.That would work easy just gotta find one.Good luck.

Here's a picture of my HD Axworthy drive. It uses 2 sets of grooved skateboard wheels - one above the line and one below - on both sides of the big wheel. The return wheel is set up the same way. Powered by a wiper motor turning 50 lb test kevlar fishing line (found it at Big 5 sporting goods). This line does not stretch and you can pull it really tight. The ghost on this setup weighs about 5 lbs and travels about 30' to the other wheel. The ghost drops about 6 inches in the middle of the run, thus the need for the skateboard wheels to keep the line from derailing.

I had a similar idea to your skateboard wheels when looking at a chair lift at a ski hill

How does your ghost attach to your kevlar line?

I used a piece of 1/8" mild steel rod and bent an arc in it around a 3" diameter pipe. I left about 3" of rod on either side of the bend. Then I bent both ends 90 degrees from the arc in the same direction. The top end is taped to the kevlar line with black duct tape. The bottom end acts as an attachment point for the ghost. The arc in the middle allows the ghost to pass over the bottom skateboard wheel. I use two short lines of kevlar string from the ghost to the attachment point so the ghost doesn't spin. I know a picture would explain this better but I don't have any at the moment, sorry.

Thanks thisain'tmayberry for the picture of your HD Axworthy drive. That's one of the best setups I've seen. In a week or two I'll give it a shot and do some tests. If I'm successful I'll post some pictures or video of the setup. If I'm not successful I'm still going to attempt to make an Axworthy Flying Ghost. Thanks everyone for the help and ideas.

Weve made several custom axworthys that would hold more and move more than 20lbs but your gonna need a big motor and a high tension line adjuster or you risk eating up a motors bearings, not to mention you might look into a auto tensioner at one of your points, we usually stick with three travel points A B C kind of in a triangle, for some reason triangles flow better but if your looking to manuever / pull 20lbs of halloween props your gonna need one heck of a geared motor and im gonna wish you luck on that one.
The cardboard idea seems more practical for halloween home haunt projects not to mention at about 20lbs your gonna be hitting the aircraft cable need for sure unless you can happen to find a old conveyor system drive belt or you can always call up dupont and get some kevlar rope but there again thats kind of expensive.
Im so used to doing stuff new I forgot what it was like to be able to take stuff apart and buid from scratch.
I miss those days freedom.

Well I failed at my attempt to make my heavy duty Axworthy drive system . Maybe if I had more time I'd be able to figure it out. I did end up with an average AFG system. Thanks for all the suggestions fellow haunters! By the way @ kentuckyspecialfx.com, 20lbs!! WOW!