Thread: Actor Based Prop: Cage

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I had posted this in the props section a while ago but I thought it was more fit for the tutorials section.

We built this in 2006 and it was a big hit! I'm not sure how many of you have either heard of this idea or ever done it so I decided to share it. I hadn't heard of this ever being done so I had come up with the idea to build a cage. I know it sounds simple and kind of cheesy but the results are amazing with the right actor. Most people do not suspect the actor to be able to jump out through the bars so it is an extremely easy scare.

What the prop consists of is:

- A basic frame
- Dowels
- Two rubber tubes the same width as the dowels
- A dowel that's slightly smaller than the inside of the rubber tube.


Here is a picture of the nearly finished cage. The two black poles in the front are actually the rubber tubes, and the others are obviously dowels.


This is the painted cage, when painted it's nearly impossible to distinguish between the rubber tubes and the dowels.



The finished setup:


This is the whole purpose of the prop. Although this picture does not show it all that well, the rubber tubes are EXTREMELY flexible and you are able to stretch them and jump out. They were able to stretch to the dowels nearest to them on either side.


TIPS & TRICKS:
- When attaching the rubber tube insert a smaller dowel into the top and bottom of the tube. Then drill holes in the top and bottom of the frame (Where the tubes attach) to insert the tubes. After inserted put a screw through the outside of the frame on the top and bottom making sure to go through the wooden dowel inside the tube. You should now have fairly straight and convincing looking tubes.

Hope you all like it.

Oh, let the mayhem begin Great prop.

this is something i thought of doing. the PVC is super cheap and i have some wood laying around. were did u get that "flexable pipe"

Very nice! We built one for our haunt this year but used 1/2" EMT conduit since it's cheap and we didn't have to paint it. I like the bendy bars though... have to think about that as a future upgrade.

BackYardHaunter It's just rubber hose painted black.

great idea, although I'd prefer a stronger version..so I can lock the Husband in it after Halloween....nothing kinky, for peace and quiets sake

ohh like garden hose?

You could use garden hose I guess but it wouldn't look the same. I forget the actual name of it. If you go into Hope Depot or something like that and as for black rubber hose or black rubber tubing they should know what you mean.

looks like you used the black tubing for ponds. I wonder if you can get the same effect strining pvc with bungie cords

I don't think it would be as effective or look as good, that's just my opinion though.