Thread: Talking Skull at Walmart question

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Hello
I just saw a talking skull at Walmart that sings " I ain't got no body". They have a regular one and one who looks like a Pirate but they both say the same thing. I haven't purchased it yet and I don't know what the inside looks like. I do know that the jaw has a spring to close it.
Does any one know of it and is there a way to alter it to say what you want it to or work with VSA?

Thanks

I'll be picking up one of these guys later this week. They can be modified to say what you want by using a small color organ to drive the jaw motor. You just take out pretty much everything else, except perhaps the LED eyes. I'm almost done with hacking a Radio Shack LED color organ for operating Gemmy skulls and their ilk. It works with external audio sources, like MP3, CD and such.

Originally Posted by Otaku

I'll be picking up one of these guys later this week. They can be modified to say what you want by using a small color organ to drive the jaw motor. You just take out pretty much everything else, except perhaps the LED eyes. I'm almost done with hacking a Radio Shack LED color organ for operating Gemmy skulls and their ilk. It works with external audio sources, like MP3, CD and such.

You are the hack master.Did you finish the pirate head yet?
I hope my walmart carries them I would like to have one.

That pirate head mechanism responds very slowly to audio inputs. I tried several tricks with the audio tracks to get better definition in the jaw action, but had little success. The plan is to remove the entire jaw mech and transfer it to a large foam skull that will have a nice, slow voice track. I'm having much better luck with hacking the Gemmy skulls. BTW, I tried to find those $10 Walmart skulls at two different stores - nobody knows what I'm talking about. I have one more store locally, hope I can find one there.

Originally Posted by Otaku

That pirate head mechanism responds very slowly to audio inputs. I tried several tricks with the audio tracks to get better definition in the jaw action, but had little success. The plan is to remove the entire jaw mech and transfer it to a large foam skull that will have a nice, slow voice track. I'm having much better luck with hacking the Gemmy skulls. BTW, I tried to find those $10 Walmart skulls at two different stores - nobody knows what I'm talking about. I have one more store locally, hope I can find one there.

I picked up one of these on a whim. Will you be posting a how-to and parts list for your hack?

I have a how-to for hacking the Radio Shack Light-to-Sound LED board completed. It's actually a Velleman MK103 kit, sells for $8 at RS. There are a few more parts that are needed to get the thing to accept an audio signal, and they're listed on the how-to. I found it easier to put everything in a Word file, PM me with your email address and I'll send it along. I'm still working on the details of optimizing it with the Gemmy (or other) skull, but should have that part finished soon.

I bought 2 of the plain Walmart 9-inch Talking & Sing Skulls figuring I could always decorate it as a pirate later if I wanted. I thought they were Gemmy Skulls but after taking off the pkg. and reading the copyright info near the back of the head at the wall hanger, it says 2008 Magic Power. Otaku, is this the one you tried hacking? I'll post a photo later tonight.


Info on Walmart Skull: 9.97, Register Receipt -- 009072722889; pkg info -- BC - Skull - 22889D, Bar Code -- 0 90727 22889 4

I have a Gemmy skull that I'm currently working on, I got it at Lowes. I tried hacking the Pirate Head prop, and I have a board that works for it, but the mech is really clunky and slow. I haven't found any talkers at Walmart yet, but I have one more local store to try before it's road trip time. I have no doubt that the RS board I'm working with can operate the Walmart skulls, they're all pretty much the same.

I bought 5 of these guys,there is a how to on Haunt forum.search"cheap talking skull hack"....FYI