[devilsfan]

We have 2 drop panels in a winding hallway that is 3' wide - it's a hallway of pictures in frames, and 2 of the pics drop down. They are close enough so that one will scare the front of a group, the second will scare the rear of the group. The panels are built and work great, but we've never run 2 before so I'm wondering how folks time these things. We can drill a peephole for #1, but do we do the same for #2 so they drop at the same time? Or should #2 just wait until #1 drops and then drop theirs? Any tips on how to get them to synchronize?

 

[EviLEye]

From what you described and sounding like you want them to work together, you should designate one drop panel to be the lead and the person manning the 2nd one should go off of the sound of the first panel dropping. I think if you allow the 2nd panel to make the decision to drop as well, I think you're timing will be impossibly off.

 

[J-Man]

The best way to sync them is some type of controller with a trigger. When the trigger gets activated it drops both panels. Of coarse if they are actor operated, this would involve some work to automate them.

 

[devilsfan]

I think it would be easy to do with a step mat or breaking a light beam. Just not enough time for this year. I've also seen folks use cameras - great idea, but not in our budget. Will the effect be just as good if they're not in sync?

 

[jdubbya]

We're doing tandem drop panels as well in our first scare room. They are about two feet apart and are actor operated. Another actor in the main room will give an audio cue to the DP operators to release the latches. They will drop at the same time, and when they hit perfectly, give a loud slam and a great scare. I think having them out of sync will diminish the second scare to a degree. Our actors will be doing a three count to each other to coordinate the release so that may be something to consider if your actors are close enough to each other.

 

[Trex]

We have used two drop panels for a couple of years, and we time ours similar to EviLEye's description, the 2nd panel goes as soon as they hear the first one drop. We mix it up though, sometimes we only man one drop panel and we switch the actors between two locations.

 

[maureenpr]

We plan on having two drop panels also down a long hallway. We are having them actor activated. I'm going to be cutting some "cracks" in the wall panel before the drop panels so the actors can see who's coming down the hallway.
I don't mind if they don't go off at the same time. I'm thinking it might be better to have one go off a split second after the other one.