Animatronic power choices

Shipping overseas is a killer so I would use what is available in your country.

Check with local junk yards about getting a wiper motor. Wiring is actually pretty simple, either with either a DC wall adapter like a laptop computer would use (simple but relatively expensive) or a computer power supply (cheap but more complicated).

Another option is what everyone is calling vent motors. The technical term is blend door actuator, and you should be able to get them from a junk yard as well. They don't have as much power as a wiper motor but have the advantages of being slower and can make use of almost any wall adapter you have handy.

Another one that is gaining popularity is the microwave motor. They are available on ebay and are often shipped from China. They make low voltage and household voltage versions, with lower voltage obviously being safer if you're worried about the wiring. Check your version of ebay and see how much a microwave motor will cost with shipping included.

I have a couple of old laptop chargers if they are the expensive part of this??

As long as they aren't over 12 volts, and lower would probably be better. The lower the voltage, the slower the motor will turn. Depends on what prop you intend to make with the motor.

I am assuming that vehicle voltage in the UK is 12 volts. Is that correct?

eBay UK seems to have wiper motors for 5 pounds second hand which sounds cheap enough to me. If you're comfortable with DIY mains power electronics, that's your answer.

BigAnt from Eerie Acres has some how-to's for animated prop building ranging from the very simple (and cheap) through to reasonably complicated (and more expensive) - http://eerieacrescemetery.com/ . I'll be building his "monster in a box" using the car lock actuator this weekend - total cost of all the parts $15 AUD.

I was asking a question about my first animatronic build earlier, and a friend suggested the kind of motor found in the animated Christmas deer. You can remove them from the existing deer, if you have one or find one cheap, or you can buy the motors themselves for around $10. They give a back and forth or up and down motion, and are already wired and have a plug to connect to your power source.

I've also stumbled across rotating christmas tree stands that turn and can handle larger weights, varying in price from $30-$90 in the U.S., and they might be popular in the U.K. (wouldn't hurt to search out U.K. sites anyway).

Try to think of novelty items that already have motors in them that are all wired up and can be adapted to work for your props. Disco ball motors maybe, but they have little actual power and won't be able to handle heavy prop type stuff...Oh! Rotisserie motors should be something you can find over there maybe?

Frankie's Girl has the right idea if you're worried about wiring, or figuring out what to connect to a motor to make it turn. Keep a sharp eye out for things in stores, at work, and at friends' houses for things that already move that you might be able to buy relatively cheap. They will already be set up to plug in to the wall.