Thread: Fire Flies

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Hey Mike,

Like you, I have always loved those POTC fireflies, so I really appreciate you posting your version. Can't wait for the video. I've also done alot of research on how to make these, and looked at the commercially available ones out there. Your version seems to match with what I've heard about how the Disney Imagineers went about it. But, like you say, it's just hearsay. Anyway, good job and Happy Halloween!

Let us know how they turn out.

MikeBru, I haven't been to Disneyland in a while so haven't seen the firefly display that inspired you, but I did grow up in Ohio where as kids we loved running around after fireflies in the evenings. I totally love your set up here and will have to think about incorporating it in one of my haunt displays. I've been wanting to do a swamp theme for a while and next year maybe the year. The fireflies would be a very nice subtle addition I think. If it doesn't work out for that display I'm thinking of doing a bat cave and could see adding them there where it would be darker and hide the mechanics.

I'll follow your thread and would love to see a video of them in action. I'll probably sit down after halloween this year and try making a few myself if not before then. Thanks for the inspiration and the great pics illustrating it.

Yeah, FatRanza, I would go on the POTC ride and my only goal would be to try and figure out how those fire flies work. They have fascinated me since my childhood. I could not figure out how they made them so totally random. I knew they were fake but every idea I came up with had a flaw. The possibility that I have come across online is the one you see here.

Ghost of Spookie. I will plan to shoot the video tonight. I don't know how to upload a video so please be patient. I also suspect the picture will be grainy since I don't have a higher resolution camera, and I'll be shooting at night.

Thanks to the both of you for the compliments!

Originally Posted by MikeBru

Yeah, FatRanza, I would go on the POTC ride and my only goal would be to try and figure out how those fire flies work. They have fascinated me since my childhood.

Thanks to the both of you for the compliments!

Mike, you're welcome for the compliment! They way I see it, you're my hero. Man, if I had it my way, my whole house would look like the POTC ride all year long..with fireflies flitting about in every corner. Kind of weird for a 49 year old guy, huh?

I could just enjoy a good book and pick up pipe smoking to sit on the porch of the house that sits in the bayou. Rock in the chair, smoke a pipe and watch the fire flies. And, having dinner at the Blue Bayou once or twice a week would put me in a fine mood. Just get rid of the tourists, lol.
(I also would like to walk up the beach and check out the dead standing pirate skeleton with a sword in his chest pinning him upright. Ah, the seeds of halloween were sown)
Alright, that settles it. I will film the little flies tonight! I will also try to get them online... somhow.

[ame="http://http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y7B24iCsd9I"]http://http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y7B24iCsd9I[/ame]

[ame="http://http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OBPcS68tIW0"]http://http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OBPcS68tIW0[/ame]

These videos were shot on the front "porch" of my condo. There was no breeze so I had a fan running. I also do not have the background darkness controlled. The videos are all of different angles of the very same set up. Holy moly I learned how to post a video! First ever!

[ame="http://http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u6pu4lq4QTs"]http://http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u6pu4lq4QTs[/ame]

I could just sit outside and watch these little guys for hours. Can't wait to set them up for halloween and get the TOTs scratching their heads on how it is done like I used to scratch my head. Yippee!

Looks very cool from what I can tell you can get these lights in 12 volt versions and run them off a ac/dc converter. I really hate using batteries and it would probably be cheaper and you could probably run 10-15 off the one supply.

It has been a long time since I bought the lights. You're right, they could come in 12 volt versions and you could run them on a power supply. I would like to see that, so, if you do it, post it up for us.