Animated deer motors

**Texan78** · 10-02-2008,07:12 PM

I was at HD today and they had all their Christmas stuff out, don't know why this didn't hit me when I was at Garden Ridge because they have their stuff out too. I was looking at their Animated deer which turn their heads back and forth or up and down. So I got to wondering as I normally do, has anyone used these in their props? Is it powerful enough?

The ones I am going to make next year all I am wanting them to do is turn their heads back and forth or move their arm back or forth with a lantern in it like they are looking for something. I figured these would work perfect. What do you think? Does anyone else use them? Nice thing about them is they already wired for power so you just have to plug it up with no added need to purchase power for it and they are small and light weight.

What do you think?

**AZHalloween** · 10-02-2008,07:42 PM

I have used the motors for types of movement, I extended the arm on the spinner and attached light weight rat's and mice and some spiders.

We have also dressed up the deer to look like wild creatures, covering the body with fake fur and putting a mask on the head. then we place bones around the animals.

**walkingcorpse** · 10-02-2008,08:24 PM

I use a recycled deer motor to keep a large tombstone bobbing up and down, but i got the motor for free. I dont think Id pay $40 just for that motor....although I suppose you could just borrow the motor and still use the deer seasonally.

**Ugly Joe** · 10-02-2008,08:52 PM

They're great if you're not going to put much of a load on them.
Additionally, they all seem to be loaded with an auto-reverse, so stopping them in one direction just sends them back in the other.

If you're thinking of using one to run a FCG, I highly recommend counter-weighting the ghost to help reduce the strain on the motor...these motors really don't have a lot of torque.
(I don't have the specifics, but I can tell you that with a 6" crank, there may not even be one pound of force being exerted at the end...perhaps this is why they're made with such short cranks)

I have salvaged 3 or 4 of these from discarded yard light creatures (BigLots - frogs, turtles, and ducks - $2 each on clearance), and they withstand weather great.

**DeadTed** · 10-02-2008,09:20 PM

There's a group here in Florida that connect regularly over the internet and meet together every so often for a Make and Take. The last one, which was Sept, the project was Reindeer Wolf... which takes those animated reindeer and turns them into awesomeness.

I didn't get to go this time, but if some of the others pop into this thread, maybe they post some pics, because they turned out great! Covered in fur, replaced the heads with 'wolf' masks, changed the body; lots of cool things.

**Texan78** · 10-02-2008,09:35 PM

I just need them to turn the heads back and forth for my Grave Digger and my witch. Then I plan on adding one to a cauldron for a stirring effect for my witch. Also on the Grave Digger I might have one arm go left and right with a lantern in his hand. So nothing heavy at all. The heads will be wig heads with masks. Attach to PVC on a pivot point.

I found a place online that sells these motors for $10.

**theedwin** · 10-02-2008,10:02 PM

Hello,

I am using 2 of these motors that I took off an animated reindeer and an animated sleigh that I bought at a thrift store. One of them I am using to move a shovel up and down as if a ghost were digging in the ground and the other I am using to tilt a tombstone down and back upright. I am always looking for more of these, as I will probably have to recycle these 2 for my Christmas display.

Can you share the website that you found to purchase these?

Thanks
E

**Mr Grimsley** · 10-02-2008,10:09 PM

theedwin... I love the shovel idea! This year I have "A Grave Matter (the Grave Robber)" from Disney's Chilling Thrilling sounds playing in my cemetary and would love to have a digging shovel! Do you by chance have any video of this?