Thread: Not a BUcky?

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I am a little confused, what is a Bucky? Is it the life-like skeletons? or the cheesy one's like i have?

Easy to get confused on terms people throw around.

A "Bucky" skeleton is an anatomically correct (mostly) analog of the human skeleton. The bones are solid, made of resin, the joints are held together with metal fasteners, and they're usually in the range of $100 - $150 dollars (depending on time of year, discounts and deals, and who you get them from).
Usually, these are desirable for props that will be put to scrutiny (static, near walkways, in people's faces, etc).

A "Blucky" (note the "L" after the "B") is a blow-mold skeleton. They're made of thin plastic, they're hollow, the joints are press-fit, and are much, much less expensive. They are good for light, not so detailed props (although I've seen fantastic detailed results with creative use of Blucky's).

Does that help clarify, some?

edited to add: There are lots and lots of reasons to use a Blucky or a Bucky...and many of them overlap! Don't limit yourself or think one is needed over the other!

On a side note, a BUCKY is going to weigh about 20lbs or more with a big metal rod up it's spine and holding on it's head. I have also seen some amazing corpsing of the blucky with latex, cotton, and paper. The blucky makes a great prop for hanging and blowing in the wind, putting into coffins that aren't up close or in windows on the second floor.

"Budget Bucky" is the name given to 4th quality skeletons sold by Anatomical Chart Company. ACC sells skeletons to hospitals, doctor's offices, and classrooms, to use as teaching aids. The pieces that come out with defects are assembled, and sold as "4th quality", to people like us. I got my first ones back when they were only $60.00 each, and now have six of them. I ,personally, prefer a Bucky to other skeletons for the sake of realism. However, they are more expensive, and heavy, and not really meant to be flung around as an animation, but they make great static props.

The community is ever growing and changing. Now we have #1 the ever popular (but more expensive) anatomically correct Bucky, which was originally meant for classroom teaching of anatomy. Buckies are made for the medical community and, sometimes in the casting process a few screw-ups come out and they are offered to the Haunt community for a reduced price (usually) I've had mine for about 10 years now.#2 A "Blucky" or blow-molded bucky is (as mentioned above) a cheaper injection molded plastic skeleton, hollow and not too greatly detailed with few moving parts. Recently #3 has appeared on the scene and is called different names but more frequently called "Bargain basement Barney", he is cast molded and much more detailed than Blucky but not as detailed as Bucky but closer to the detail of Bucky, they usuually run for around $60 or so. Barneys are a better choice if you wish to save on your haunt but desire a bit more detail. I will be purchasing one or two Barneys this year to throw around my graveyard. I hope all my blabber helps. BTW i have some pics of two different sized "Buckies" that i own......look in my albums......'Scruff'

Scruffywolf, if nothing else it helped me. I didn't know about the Barney's. I'll have to check them out. I want a few to climb my house this year using velcro.

I've heard that the anatomical models got the name "Bucky" for their buck teeth in the original mis-cast models.

Makes as much sense as anything.

Oh, and the pic you're showing Killerhaunts - that is definitely a blucky (with an "L") blow-mold skelly. Very useful and economical choice for corpsing, and displays where the audience isn't extremely close.

Good to know. I am attaching an an armature on him to make him just out at people while the scareactor is wearing all black with a black light iluminating him. I want something I can thrash around!! I did get him cheap! $10 at Spirit last year!

thanks for the info. That explains things pretty well.