Thread: how does it work?

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I am planing on building a guillotine for this year and I found this video on youtube but I cant figure out how it works. I know that he drops down but how do the mechanics work?

YouTube - Alice Troopers Giljotin Guillotine Try

I don't know how it works, but it looks SWEET!! That would freak out the TOT's pretty good. Have you tried to email the guy that posted the video. Maybe he would be willing to come of of the secret.

Guillotine

I found this one on the internet last year on hauntproject.com and modified it to be without the part that a person lays on. It turned out so good.

I just didn't get a chance to make the bloody body with water squirting out of the next area that would have looked awesome with it.

If you look on my 2008 pics on Homehaunt.net, one is a pic of my Guillotine.

By the way, the basket I found at Michaels which was PERFECT for the guillotine and using the 40% (unless they have a 50% off sale) was sweet.

I hope this helps.

The trick is in the blade & the housing were he puts his head.This illusion is done so fast that the eye cannot see the fake plate coming in.
The blade itself is not fixed, it slides backwards a little back into were the rope is attached at the top of the blade housing, You notice that the blade "looks"long but as it comes down ontop of his head 3 things happen,
1-the blade retracts a few inches,2-his head is in the "head holder" & is in a sliding track, 3-another mechanisim releases a hinged floor from the waist up so that he may "bend" downward so his head can "drop" into basket. as the blade comes down & retracks it pushes a box down above the head,as the head drops down into the bucket another plate with a hole that looks like were his head & the blade drops down into position.His head is still in a neck holder.Also notice how he opens up the holder & is using 2 hands & how he holds it so as not to let the slide down piece from driopping down before the other guy gets his head in........
I am a long time study of magic & illusions devices. I have done one of these when we did a medevil theme haunt. Of course had it rigged to "spray red water out as is chopped of his head !! Then had a second actor came from the side with a costume with his head missing would chase ToTers
Was Toooooo fun !!!!

WOW. And I thought I was counused before. Do you by chance have any pics?

YouTube - Alice Cooper decapitation

At about 27 seconds you can see the board holding him up fall as the blade is just about to hit. So, his body 'falls' before the blade gets there.

Yes you can see the lower board drop in this vid. There was another one posted on hauntforum,same thing only a little different the way they built they're guillotine.But they use the same principal for the effect. Sorry no pics
Maybe i can draw out a basic plan scan & post it for you. Alot of this stuff i know by heart & just build from mental plans.

I see this in my future! LOL...

Another one for the list of must haves...

Dennis

I am going to be working with someone haunting a small castle here in Vermont this year. (Welcome to the Wilson Castle Homepage)

This effect would be perfect for that place!!

Dark Lord, if you are able to draw out some plans, I would love to build one of these! I do understand the principle.

My only concern is that, although you are safe from the blade, it still appears to be quite a jar to the neck. I don't want to give one of our volunteers whiplash.

Any ideas on that?

Originally Posted by HalloweenBob

My only concern is that, although you are safe from the blade, it still appears to be quite a jar to the neck. I don't want to give one of our volunteers whiplash.
Any ideas on that?

And the rest of the upper body when it drops. Is there some kind of cushioning for the fall or some way to slow it down?