[DustinBurgin]

Thought I would give this build a try and so far its working well.

Im mostly following the guide of Devils Chariot.
http://devilschariot.blogspot.com/p/cauldron-creep-30.html

I used a Deer motor for the head movement.



A Wiper motor in the cauldron. I have a 4 inch gap under the motors plate that I plan on placing frozen water bottles in an attempt to make a fog chiller.



I used Size #3 ball bear cross lock fishing swivel for marionette arm at elbow and wrist joints



Then I used one of my foam skulls for the head and some Ping Pong balls with leds for the eyes.



I am thinking about using this planter for the Cauldron. I really like the way it looked but then I remember that I wanted to put burning coals effects under it. Not sure if people will notice that Im using fake coals under a wooden barrel.



Here is a video of it in action.



This stick is just a broom handle I was using for testing. You can't really see in the video but he has lots of side to side movement. I did everything I could to balance him but I think its because hes moving way to fast and I'm using too heave of a stick.

Ive got a few questions on how I can make this better.

1. As you can see it moves way too fast! To fix Im thinking that I should either get a 5V 5A power supply or a PWM. What one would work better?

2. Do you think the "Cauldron" I've picked will look ok with a hot coals effect under it?

3. Should I put pupils on the eyes or just leave them blank?

I would love to hear with you think!

 

[Diabolik]

Looks great. I'd use a 12 volt 5 amp power pack with a PWM, then you can get exactly the movement you want. You're off to a great start.

 

[Bosco P. Soultrane]

Looks good so far. Did you hook up the wires for the lower speed? Also, if you have too much side to side movement, your arm from the motor for the "stirrer" looks long. You could shorten it a bit and it should keep the rocking down. Once there's clothing on it should also help. You can put weights under the frame to keep it stable if nothing else helps.

 

[DustinBurgin]

Looks great. I'd use a 12 volt 5 amp power pack with a PWM, then you can get exactly the movement you want. You're off to a great start.

Ok Ill do that then.

Looks good so far. Did you hook up the wires for the lower speed? Also, if you have too much side to side movement, your arm from the motor for the "stirrer" looks long. You could shorten it a bit and it should keep the rocking down. Once there's clothing on it should also help. You can put weights under the frame to keep it stable if nothing else helps.

Yes I used the green wire as it has listed on the side of the motor. I noticed that the side to side movement is coming from the stick pressing against the top arm as it turns. It even knocked it over then i first turned it on! Hopefully when I slow it down and get a proper stick it will move much better.

 

[J-Man]

Yep, another vote for using PWM control. I have my Creep running at about 6 rpm. Ebay is the best source, here's one.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/10A-12V-40V...64d166d&pid=100276&rk=2&rkt=4&sd=262136734273
There are US sellers for just a couple bucks more if you can't wait for a China delivery.

 

[DustinBurgin]

Yep, another vote for using PWM control. I have my Creep running at about 6 rpm. Ebay is the best source, here's one.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/10A-12V-40V...64d166d&pid=100276&rk=2&rkt=4&sd=262136734273
There are US sellers for just a couple bucks more if you can't wait for a China delivery.

WOW that is so much cheaper!!! Thanks for the suggestion. I even got one for my grave digger.

Also I'm a very luck man! Yesterday was my birthday and my GF got me the SpiderHill Animated Swaying Zombie (Basic Kit). It came with a 5v 5a power supply so Ill give that a try.

Thanks for all the info guys!

 

[DustinBurgin]

I made him a stick from some 1/2 inch PVC pipe and hooked up the 5V 5A power supply and he ran much better. I guess the 12V power supply gave the motor more torque then the frame could handle.

Also, dose anyone have suggests on what hands I should use? The plastic hands I used on my last prop where a pain in to form into place. I'm thinking about using these.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06WW334Q3?psc=1

 

[DustinBurgin]

I made the teeth and jaw this morning.







After adding the chicken wire to protect the neck motor he has a hunch back.



So what I'm thinking is that I'll grab this bag of bones and place the spine on the hunch and have it sticking out the back of his shirt. I was also planning on having some arm and leg bones showing and only half corpse the hands. It'll give him this cool half skeleton half zombie look.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01KJ6V8MI/_encoding=UTF8?coliid=I184U2DQY5YDSM&colid=3GSAHRC2KY6MR

 

[Rustie]

Loving that skull so far!

 

[DustinBurgin]

I decided to build a Cauldron like SK Austin did in his Cauldron creep video.

I grab a Rope Handle Tub, 2 cardboard boxes and a hot glue gun from Walmart.

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Homz-17-...ategy=PWVUB&visitor_id=GRyXwOlcZRawDiPQu11rfw

Using my dollar store candy bowl from last Halloween I traced and cut out 16 cardboard circles. I then cut all the circles in half and hot glued them to the tub and added a layer of tape around it. I still gotta do some paper mache over the masking tape. Maybe some paper clay to smooth it all out.





Next I measured the gap between the hips of my creeps fame and made an H block out of 2x4s to set the Cauldron on. Then I made a ring out of chicken wire around the H block and ran some red Christmas lights through it. Wrapped the wire is plastic wrap and covered it in great stuff. A quick spray of black and a dry brush of gray and it was done.





The effect looks much better in person.

 

[spookydave]

This is coming out great, nice work!

 

[minksocks]

Great job. I did one of these guys last year and it did sway toooo much even with weights on. I hope to improve him for this year. More progress pics pls.

 

[DustinBurgin]

Here is the Face so far.









I would not call it some of my best work but I think it'll look good under haunt light. I'll add on some hair tomorrow.

I also finished the Cauldron and piped in the fog. I still need to paint the fog pipe to help hide it.



I also got his hands in the mail today



I shoved wires into his fingers so I could grip his stir stick. I still need to corpse them a bit to match the head.

 

[DustinBurgin]

Oh and the costume is almost done. Ill post a pic when its finished.

 

[J-Man]

Looking good! I see you've also tought him to do laundry.

 

[DustinBurgin]

What do you think he's string in the pot? LOL

Here is the link to the hands I used. These will probably be my go to prob hands from now on. They look much better than the yard stake hands I've been using and much easier to work with.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B06WW334Q3/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I also picked up a cheap bag of bones. You can see some of them in the rips I made in the costume. Ill probably corpse between the two arm bones just to give it more of a zombie look. This bag of bones worked buy they are not very good and I would probably not recommend them.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01F2LAZCO/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

This lastly I picked up this little light for inside the cauldron to light up the fog. I've not tested it yet but will report back when I do.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00DGP82GA/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

[Bosco P. Soultrane]

Are these hands plastic or latex? They look good. I think the creep is coming along great. My only small criticism would be that the fire looks too neat for a creep (because they are sloppy fellows!) maybe add some half burnt logs and sticks to the final display, it will make it look really good.

 

[Bosco P. Soultrane]

Is your skull made out of post setting foam? ( I noticed it was green) Did you make it yourself from a mold?

 

[DustinBurgin]

Are these hands plastic or latex? They look good. I think the creep is coming along great. My only small criticism would be that the fire looks too neat for a creep (because they are sloppy fellows!) maybe add some half burnt logs and sticks to the final display, it will make it look really good.

The hands are some kind of rubber according to Amazon. I was very surprised how good they do look. They look a little too good and I'm going to have to do some latex and cotton on them so they match the rest of my prop.
Sure I can always go back and add some more to the fire pit later/

Is your skull made out of post setting foam? ( I noticed it was green) Did you make it yourself from a mold?

Yes it is. I followed UnOrthodOx's guide to making skulls but used the post foam from home depot. Its a good base to corpse over.

http://www.halloweenforum.com/tutorials-and-step-by-step/141380-latex-mold-making-skulls-cheap.html

 

[DustinBurgin]

Always give your zombie some french tips!!!!