Thread: Alligator/Crocodile Help

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Hello everyone,

I am doing a swamp theme this year, and I would love to have a animated crocodile jump out at the end of my "swamp bridge." I am at a loss on where to begin to design one. I have searched the threads here and found a link to a site that is no longer in service. (ghostmunsters)

I would like the crocodile to be on some sort of a track to make it appear to be swimming along in the swamp and then jump out at the people just as they think they have safely made it across the bridge. I would also like the jaw to open and close like it is trying to bite the people. Does anyone have any ideas, how-to's or advice? Anything would be appreciated... Thanks for your help in advance!

if you want a premade one, check out

http://www.nationalguild.com/ZIGGYST..._Displays.html and scroll to the mid part of the page.

For the alligator, all you're worried about is the top of the gator (or as we call them, 'Alabama Yard Dogs'). Start out with a plywood silhouette of a gator as seen from above (head, legs, body and tail). Glue on layers of Blue or Pink insulation foam (foam is your friend). From this foam carve the upper half of the gator. (You don’t need a lower (belly) half, as this is usually underwater anyway.) Once you’re satisfied with the shape, paint accordingly. It wouldn’t be a bad idea to use Ping-Pong balls for the eyes, with leds to illuminate them.

Do your research on the track. Make one long enough to match your display area, with one end right at the bridge. Hinge the end AWAY from the viewers, and use pneumatics to raise the end nearest the victims when the gator has reached the end of the track.

Two ways to do the mouth. Hinge the upper jaw and use some type of mechanism to activate is one way. A simpler (cheaper) way would be to carve a lower jaw and just hinge it to the underside of the plywood under the head, then let the head area of the gator overhang the end of the track at extension…that way, when the pneumatics actuate, the lower jaw will just flap open (a nice, recorded roar or hiss would be nice, or even a water spray effect). Design it so that the lower jaw will be closed by the track when the gator is retracted.

One warning, make sure that: 1) there are REAL sturdy handrails on the bridge, or 2) do the scare on the bank near the bridge. You don't want people falling off.

I have a 5-1/5 foot foam and latex gator I bought from Little Spider a couple of years ago. (Little Spider quit making props last year)

It came with just foam on the bottom of it, the top was latex.

I glued a piece of plywood to the bottom of it. Kind of like what the post above is telling you to do. Then I added a tie point for the air cylinder and casters to the plywood.

One year I made a contraption that shot him up at an angle towards the pirate row boat, last year I made him just shoot out from under a dock.

The first year didn't work so well. i had too small of an air valve to drive him quickly. I have a 24" cylinder, so he only moves 24". Last year I bought a air valve with 1/2 plumbing, He moved pretty quickly.

The first year I put the casters on the angled contraption that shot him up. Last year I put the casters on him.

I am starting on an alligator for our haunt this year...... I have the air cylinder and a switch that will activate him. I am making him out of pink foam glued together then carved. Then I will use latex on the body to make it a little more ridgid and give it some detail.
I PLAN on having a mechanism that the alligator tail will slide on... this will hold the tail down.
Toward the front about a 3rd of the way down from the nose, I will attach a rod on the belly and then to a rod on the floor. This rod will pivot and when activated will cause the alligator to move forward and up.... as it passes the max height in the pivot it will start to lower back down. I hope it will make it appear to jump up and out at the 'guests' !

Anyway, when and if I get this all worked out I will post pics and maybe a how to.

this is a spider I did you could modify this for a gator!
YouTube - pneumatic spider prop

I took some pictures of my gator tonight.

same idea as the spider in the post above.

I have removed the air cylinder and mount for storage.