Thread: need help with Dracula prop

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I am trying to make a life size Dracula prop, but I would like to have him standing arms at his side. I would like his arms to both go up (at once) and spread the cape out. I want it like he is ready to fly. I have a animation head, and I will be using a body out of PVC, and stuffed and dressed to Kill...., maybe arms attached on hinges. The only thing I can think of is a pulley. I am not really good at any thing electrical. plus on budget. Any ideas. I will use him on Halloween, and for a Halloween party. Thanks

Use steel cable, attached to both arm-ends, then attach a counter-weight that will drop towards the floor, pulling the arms up (sort of like a teeter-totter action)
A small peg under the weight could be tied to a piece of strong fishline (nearly invisible) that could be pulled by you from many feet away.
A slide-channel to direct and contain the weight as it falls is a good idea too. This could be as simple as a long bolt sticking out of your counter-weight with a carriage bolt head trapped behind a slot cut in a piece of wood, washers and some grease should also be added to the mix.
All of this will need a good solid base holding your critter to resist your pulling the peg and falling over as gravity redistributes itself during it's operating movements.

This might work, its a mechanism for wings but it could be used as arms if mounted in the right spot. Credit for this goes to burkee 1

You might could use a fan motor set up similar to the one here
coffin_jumper
combined with the arm mechanism shown here.
pop-up mechanism
you might could modify it slightly and leave out the elbow joints if you just wanted stiff looking arms.