Thread: Four bar halloween prop

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I got this idea and information from a video on youtube. I built it and wanted to share it with you. It's really not hard to do. It's a pop up type of prop that raises the arms of your monster/skeleton as it gets higher. I will post more info after it is finished!

Two more images........

Interesting. I want to see this thing in action. Good mark up of parts and placement.

Shows where pivoting areas are..........

Two videos showing parts. operation and swiveling parts....

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qGkDQfwuydc]YouTube - Four bar halloween prop frame[/ame]

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WunnIEUhDBc]YouTube - Four bar halloween prop swivel close up description[/ame]

That video you found on Youtube didnt happen to be from "houseofbaddreams" was it?

Henry Forester from our group Rocky Mountain Haunters did that.

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f43D3MZR0oM]YouTube - four bar Halloween prop demo part 1 (up, down)[/ame]

Yep! That's the one. He did a Great job on it and I was impressed. The only thing I did different was to use 3/4" pvc instead of 1/2" and I'm gonna use an air cylinder instead of a door closer. I'm working on the rear linkage now and will reinforce the bottom bar that the cylinder will be pushing on with an aluminum plate. In one of his videos, he shows that the bottom bar split in two, so that was a weak point. After I'm done, if I like it, I may do the rear two arms in conduit pipe. I just have to figure out how to connect it to the pvc.

yep, you really need to use 3/4 pvc at a minimum, He had problems with the pvc breaking at stress points, he rebuilt it with the larger diameter pvc and its been golden. that movie was his very first prototype.

I thought the idea was genious, was planning on building my own this year.. but we all say that

Some progress today.....

The rear braces are 2x4's screwed to a 2x6 bottom. I used 1/2 inch conduit pipe that slips into the 2x4's on each side. My 3/4" pvc slips over the conduit. I did that to strengthen the pvc. I just got my air cylinder today. It will be mounted and pushing up on the lower bar. I will slip a 1/2" conduit pipe into the 3/4" pvc pipe on that lower bar because there is alot of stress there. I plan on drilling holes through the pvc & conduit to fasten a mount for my air cylinder. My upper bar is not trimmed enough right now in these pictures, that's why the head leans forward.


The rear frame showing conduit and pvc


Frame with pvc installed


Rear Frame


Frame with head


Frame head and arms


MORE TO COME!!

Looks good and keep the updates coming I am looking at doing some pneumatics next year and this could be an option.