Thread: animated hanging body in a bag - help

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I've seen those animated body bag props go for $400 & up. I figure there must be an easier way, but I can't think of one. Maybe something based on the hangman - just upside down? I'm working on an outside prop with a torso BBQ, hanging body parts, and a butcher table, all under a tent. I just need the "next victim". HM

sounds interesting and i think it may be done using as you said the hangman method

These props are really easy to make if you know pneumatics. You could build one in less then 1 hour. A simple .75 bore double acting cylinder with a stroke of say 3 inches would make it work like a charm.

They sell bodybags and hanging props on ebay which would be perfect for the movement you desire.



Hook the cylinder either via rod clevis or mounting brackets and either attach to a gallows pole or ceiling connecting it to the chain/rope. When the cylinder activates it will push the prop forward since the throw is so short the prop will swing violently. Dial it into around 60-80PSI and you are set.

Or a wiper motor which can give you movement but it is very robotic. Meaning the same rountine over and over and......

I've been trying this with dual shiatzu massagers, one for the torso and one for the legs, but it isn't working out very well.

@Industen-

I actually bought those body bags (6 of them) and would love to make one of them animated!! But I'm clueless on how to build my own pneumatics. Any way you (or anyone really) could give me more detailed directions or build one for me for a good price?

Do you know anything about pneumatics. Do you own an air compressor? If you are just starting out I would suggest a wiper motor. Leave the crank arm on it and build a simple armature for it. Hook one end to the prop and the other to the pole or whatever is going to suspend the bag. Then with each rotation the wiper motor give the bag will start to sway a little at first. Once momentum takes over the bag will sway faster. It will be random to some degree because the swaying will be different every rotation.

I've done and seen other wiper motor projects that a too mechanical (same exact movement over and over and...). This one though would work quite well.

Of course the wiper motor is bulky and the linkage could be mind bending to some. The pneumatic system that I can think off would require 4 screws for the cylinder to be mounted to a wood ceiling or crossbeam pole. One nut to attach the cylinder to a metal chain. Then when the cylinder opens and closes the chain is pulled and pushed. Less work and less chance of spotting the "how's that done" factor.

Here is a quick pneumatic I put together in about 5 minutes to give you an idea. If you want even more movement you could add another cylinder inside the body to make it wiggle. Here is a quick video to give you an idea of what I'm talking about.

you can use a wiper motor, maybe this will give you some ideals on how to do it.



Here's the linkage I used. I had the linkage from a artificial leg so I used that but anything could replace it, You could even use PVC since you wont have much weight on it. Take a piece of 1/2 or 3/4 PVC as the waist and slide larger Tee fitting over it then a piece of PVC for the spine. Use a piece of metal for the piston that fits over the arm of the wiper motor and the bolt on the spine.





I dressed my prop but really all you would need to do is make it bulky with some plastic or foam. Then put it in a body bag.

@Industen

That actually looks fairly simple and do-able!

I've worked with pneumatic props before- just never built one myself. But I definitely think I could handle that!.

Thanks for the video!