Thread: I want to build a horror box...

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I have "grand plans" on creating some sort of Alchemy style horror box. I'll do my best to explain it and if anyone has any suggestions on how to create the beast I'm all ears.

Here's what I sort of would like to do:

Imagine that you've stumbled in the laboratory of some mad scientist and in this room is a weathered looking wooden box (with or without satanic carvings) and there are convex porthole windows on each side. Looking into it reveals some sort of preserved alien creature, deformed baby (what have you).

Perhaps bubbles rise from the liquid?

Any ideas on where to get cheap convex glass windows? Round... porthole style?

On the note of storing things in beakers... if I get a great latex prop is there anyway to store it in something that looks like formaldehyde without destroying it?

Any help is greatly appreciated on turning my garage into a den of horror!!


Jamie

Is this going to need to be water-tight?
Will it need to be rather clear?

Thought that came to my mind: buy some thin plexiglass or perhaps the plastic that covers a picture frame (larger being better, I think).

Take an old cookie sheet, and a round metal bowl (or something hard and very heat resistant, that's curved like you want).

Invert the bowl on the cookie sheet, place the plexiglass/plastic on top of the bowl (centering it).

Place the whole rig in the over - turn the heat up quite a bit, but be careful not to actually burn the plastic.
As the plastic sheet melts, it will (hopefully!!) soften and drape over the bowl.
As soon as it does, pull the rig from the oven.

Doing this, you should be able to make your own. A few old poster picture frames, with that thin plastic covering, should be able to give you enough material to make good half dozen, I'd think - or make a few large ones.

I have not tried this, and cannot guarantee the plastic will soften and melt - it may curl, but I would think that once it softens, you can use gloved hands to press the edges downward, stretching the plastic over the bowl, giving the convex curve you need.

Other choice is to go online, and see who's selling convex glass, and for how much.

How about craigslisting an old square fish tank, getting a fish tank air pump and run the tubing along the perimeter, then plug the end, cut holes where you want the air bubbles to rise from then silicone it to the tank. Build a box to go over the fish tank and cut holes in the box to give the appearance of port holes? You could paint around the holes to look like a porthole, you know, rivets and stuff. Tank, pump, tubing, box.

For the box itself, I would not go with convex windows. Too hard to make, and even harder to keep water proof. I would listen to Scourge, I had the same idea right of the bat. A 20 gal. tank would be perfect. Fill the tank with watered down green Kool-aid for an alien slime sort of look.
Get yourself a cheap fish tank air pump and an adjustable valve. Play with the valve and different air stones, or just the air line itself, to get the desired bubble effect.
For formaldehyde, I always used apple juice. Add a little vinegar so it won't get moldy. Get a sealer for the latex prop to help stop it from absorbing the juice. Even better if you can get it shrink sealed in plastic. Some props come this way.
Good luck, and post up some pics of the finished haunt!

I agree, then enclose the fish tank in a your wooden box and, cut round holes for the "portholes" and insert cheap plexi, to make the unit look uniform.

Might want to add a UV light at the top of the fish tank, possibly paint your "creature" with UV reactive paint to make it glow, and/or add UV reactive laundry detergent to the water to make it glow.

I would love to see progress and complete pix...good luck...