Thread: My Leatherface prop fell over and broke.

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My Leatherface prop fell over and broke.

It's been my baby for years. I bought it new quite a while back and it was my first expensive, life-sized prop. I've loved it and kept it in good condition all these years - to the point where it still functions very well. I've read online that, at least this specific prop, people have had problems with them breaking rather easily. I don't know if that's true, but for a while, I lucked out. While it didn't move as good as it had in the past, it still was a pretty superb decoration that scared most my trick-or-treaters.

Well today, I looked outside and noticed it was lying on the ground. I didn't think much of it, as it's fallen before and been just fine, but when I picked it up, the hand had snapped off and now can't connect to the chainsaw like it did before.

It still looks okay, as I've wrapped the chainsaw handle around the hand, but I doubt it'll work (I haven't tried, I was too distraught haha).

But it just pisses me off. I think I'm mostly disappointed because I just don't see the Leatherface prop for sale anymore. The other day, I did a search and found it on ebay going for $2,000. It's a cool prop, but that's probably $1,900 more than it's worth now. Plus, Spirit doesn't sell it anymore, so this is it. Once it's broken, or gone, I won't be able to replace it.

So at least it's still standing, even if it doesn't move anymore.

Photo from the other day, pre-accident!

Prop Rule #4: Anything that breaks is fixable (asuming it wasn't alive)!

Your Leatherface is just plastic, gears, connecting/drive rods, power supply, and a motor, all of which can be repaired/replaced. You just need to find out what stopped working and replace it, either with an original part or a substitute. I guess we've become such a society resigned to replacing bad equipment that we've forgotten there's still thousands of excellent repair shops out there, or That Guy in the neighborhood who knows how to open stuff up and fix it.

More likely than not, you're Leatherface problem is a simple and cheap fix. Find an electronics or appliance repair shop in your area if you don't feel comfortable opening him up yourself, and see if they can fix him. There isn't much to these props, so you're probably going to find the expense isn't much.

Soo true!! The Spirit props are pretty simple - or so they tell me. AnD where better to get help on a repair than right here on Halloween Forum? There are enough teckies in the member list to fix the worlds electronic/mechanical probs. Don't despair - Bruzilla is right on!!

Good luck and feel the force when it comes to fixing your prop!

While you are fixing Leather Face, here's an upgrade he would love to have!

He can dismember folks a half mile away!



Eric

Sorry to hear about your Leatherface but I bet once you start working on him ask the guys in the prop room to help you and if he is broken they can help you bring him back I know it.