Started my witches cage

jdubbya · May 12, 2012

We're going to have a cage in our witch scene this year so I started on this one today. It's half inch pvc, fitted into 1x2 strips, whcih are screwed onto plywood top/bottom sections. It measures 18 x 18 and is 26 inches high on the inside. It will be painted black with some rust on the bars, and have hanging hardware. I'll hang it from a tree branch or possibly lash together a wooden tripod for it. Debating on what to put in it. I have some small poseable skeletons, but ideally would love to find a realisitic child size doll. Three of the bars are removable to gain entry into it.

matrixmom · May 12, 2012

How about that little creature you were making of pvc?

jdubbya · May 13, 2012

Ya know, I did think of that, but I kind of want the little goblin to be one of the witches minions, and not a victim. I do think I could use him in the cage scene, maybe looking up at it, poking whatever I put in it with a stick, something.. I've got a few ideas rattlling around.

Raven's Hollow Cemetery said:
That is gonna be sah-weeet! And lol @ your boxer freaking out a bit at your creature! Too funny!

The dog suffers from terminal curiosity! lol!

Raven's Hollow Cemetery · May 13, 2012

That is gonna be sah-weeet! And lol @ your boxer freaking out a bit at your creature! Too funny!

VirusHaunt · May 13, 2012

How about using some child size costumes/with pvc frames/ as if they were tots and have the goblin rooting through their candy bags?

jdubbya · May 13, 2012

I'm liking that a lot!!! Awesome idea! THanks!

Diabolik · May 13, 2012

jdubbya,

Looks great. I built a taller cage in the same manner several years ago. If you hang the cage it would be awesome if you could find some sort of small motor you could use to give the cage itself a little movement. Maybe have one of the TOTs arms sticking out like they are reaching for keys or something ?

Terra · May 13, 2012

Yep - it definitely needs a ToT in there.

jdubbya · May 13, 2012

The more I think about it, a TOT would be perfect. Thinking a Power Ranger costumed figure or maybe a little fairy princess (or both) Have a bag of spilled candy on the ground beneath the cage, the TOT reaching out and maybe even a recording of a child's voice saying things like "let me out, help me, someone please help me, mommy, daddy..." you get the picture. Thanks for all the ideas!

Diabolik · May 13, 2012

Spilled candy, a few random bones, and a couple of hungry rats enjoying some candy......

Sounds like winner !

crazy xmas · May 13, 2012

Nice job Jdubbya a Tot would be cool!

Halloween Scream · May 13, 2012

This is why I love the forum so much. Collective teamwork that turns a good idea into a truly great one! Nice job Jdubbya!

jdubbya · May 13, 2012

I couldn't agree more! I love pitching an idea and seeing what all the creative minds come up with. Stuff I may never have thought of.

jdubbya · May 13, 2012

Did a little more work today (after the Mother's Day celebration, of course!)
Put a screw into each piece of pvc, top and bottom to secure them. You can see that I left 2 of the bars free floating so that they can be removed to put things in the cage or change the contents. I drilled out the top piece of plywood so the bars can slide out all the way. also started painting the wood frame. Will hit the bars this week and get the hanging hardware on, then make a figure to go inside.

Guest · May 14, 2012

Doing diagrams and patterns for something a little similar. 3 TOTS, PVC n Chikn wire, with slightly motorized necks, chained up behind large tombstone beckoning to real tots to come play. Using daughters outgrown witch, red riding hood and dorothy costumes, cheap, walmart face masks (pumpkin, devil and skull) for the "three TOTs" placing it all in front of a large black widow prop along with hanging cage with "unconscious real tot" inside. Want to have diagrams and materials for these and every other prop ready for first week of June when I start fabrication. Fighting my arachnophobia on this one, the plan is for the spider to be about 5ft long, head to ass, with proportional pvc legs.

Raven's Hollow Cemetery · May 14, 2012

Looking good jdubbya! I'm loving the ideas everyone's come up with, and it's spawned a few of mine own for my haunt.

Are you going to give the cage a rusty finish?

jdubbya · May 14, 2012

Yup! After I shoot the bars with black, I'll mist them with some rust color to age them up a bit.

Hallomarine · May 14, 2012

Glad I tuned in today! Like that cage, jdubbya! I'm looking to make something similar to put a werewolf into. Now I know how it will look. My first cage I made from the 1/2" black rolled sprinkler hose, and straightened it with a heat gun. Because that system is not perfect, it makes the bars look like they've been bent a little over the years. That will be the effect I'll be going for in the w/w cage, but I will be using 3/4" intsead.

HM

jdubbya · May 14, 2012

Hallomarine said:
Glad I tuned in today! Like that cage, jdubbya! I'm looking to make something similar to put a werewolf into. Now I know how it will look. My first cage I made from the 1/2" black rolled sprinkler hose, and straightened it with a heat gun. Because that system is not perfect, it makes the bars look like they've been bent a little over the years. That will be the effect I'll be going for in the w/w cage, but I will be using 3/4" intsead. View attachment 112988 HM

I like the look of that HM. Be sure to post up pics of your new creation too.

Icarus · May 14, 2012

I think it looks great so far and is an awesome idea. Am building a witch this year myself, so am now considering adding a cage now too! Don't know if I should thank you or not!!!

jdubbya · May 14, 2012

Thank me after it's done and you're happy with it! lol!
It's really an easy project so go for it!

tanliwod · May 14, 2012

Our TOT cage prop

A few years ago, we made a caged TOT prop out of painted plastic verticle window blinds, two round sections of plywood, a plastic skeleton, a child's costume, and a couple of pieces of hardware. The best part was that at the very end of the night, a kid showed up wearing the VERY SAME costume. What was so priceless was how he looked up, just shook his head from side to side, and muttered, "Oh, that's just not right." LOL!

jdubbya · May 15, 2012

Today's progress;
Got the cage painted with two coats of black, and added the eyehooks that the chains will attach to. Tomorrow I'll "rust" it up with a bit of brown spray paint and then add the chains.

matrixmom · May 15, 2012

jd- looking great! I love how everyone's same idea is always executed a differently !

jdubbya · May 15, 2012

Thanks! The cage magically rusted overnight!

Off to the hardware store to see what they have in the way of chains.

jdubbya · May 17, 2012

Hanging and ready for the victim!
Got the chains on. It hangs straight. A friend of mine is donating a couple of her kids old costumes to "the cause" and once I get those, I'll make the TOT victim inside.

Arronaf · May 17, 2012

that is awesome and may be something I try, thanks for the great visuals!

jdubbya · May 18, 2012

Thanks. It really was an easy prop to build, and inexpensive too. I have under $20.00 in it.

DoctorGrim · May 18, 2012

It is great. How much does it weigh?

There's all kinds of gr8 things that could go in there. Like some kind of beast and have an off-center weighted motor to cause a shake or swing?

Really cool.

jdubbya · May 18, 2012

It doesn't weigh much. I'm guessing 5-6 lbs if that. The inside dimensions are such that I have a lot of options as to what can go inside. I'm leaning towards a TOT or two. Hope to start on the armature(s) this weekend.

jdubbya · Jun 8, 2012

Started on the armature for the TOT victim that will be in the cage. 1 inch pvc. It will have a styro wig head and a costume. I'm looking for a one piece clown costume or something similar. I'll have one hand grabbing the bars and the other reaching out.

divinedragon7 · Jun 8, 2012

looking great! can wait to see it with the costume on

jdubbya · Jun 10, 2012

Garthgoyle said:
Your cage looks wonderful, jdubbya. I love the goblin so far, too

erie_pa_halloween_guy said:
Nice job old friend

Thanks! Appreciate it!

matrixmom said:
Looking great! Try Dollar stores for costumes ? I know sometimes they have different stuff in the toy aisle...

I'm actively looking for a costume now as I'd like to finish the majority of this up soon. I'll check the dollar stores and also need to hit goodwill.

tinafromidaho said:
Loving this, what a good idea.

Thanks! I had made one a few years back that eventually went to another haunter. I figured our witch scene needed one so it was a good reason to build another.

Breaker Mahoney said:
I think you will get a whole bunch of seasons out of this prop. The possible character occupants are endless. It reminds me of the Season of the Witch film that came out recently.

Thanks! I agree. I'm thinking of several little ghouls that could go in there is various scenes.

22606 · Jun 9, 2012

Your cage looks wonderful, jdubbya. I love the goblin so far, too

erie_pa_halloween_guy · Jun 9, 2012

Nice job old friend

matrixmom · Jun 9, 2012

Looking great! Try Dollar stores for costumes ? I know sometimes they have different stuff in the toy aisle...

Started my witches cage

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