[svaillan]

Hi all. Well I have been looking at building a Hearse for a few years now. But having the space to build it in was always a problem. But now with the new house I have the room for my Halloween to do projects. It took a couple months of researching local hardware stores to come up with the design based off of available parts. The Hearse is built in such a manner that it all comes apart into panels. Bottom, Top, Sides, Ends and the drivers seat.

Its about 80% done. Still have to wood fill the counter sunk screws, mount the axles and wheels. Then construct a roof, attach trim molding, maybe some lanterns and of course paint.

Maybe next year I'll try and build a fullsize horse skeleton.

Here are the pics:

 

[Lady of Chamberwell Manor]

That's a very nice hearse! Great work!

 

[Scatterbrains]

looks good....

did you make the wheels and are you using glass or plexiglass for the windows..

Keep posting pics of your progress

 

[svaillan]

The wheels are from harbor freight. Its best to wait till they go on sale. Also some wheels have tighter spokes so if they will let you open the box and check them first.
I do want to do plexiglass but the price on large pieces is outragous. Not so sure on glass though. I was thinking of mounting a flourescent fixture to the inside of the roof for a black light. Then hanging short white curtians that would glow. Or perhaps white washing the coffin that will go inside so it will glow as well.

 

[Scatterbrains]

The wheels are from harbor freight. Its best to wait till they go on sale. Also some wheels have tighter spokes so if they will let you open the box and check them first.
I do want to do plexiglass but the price on large pieces is outragous. Not so sure on glass though. I was thinking of mounting a flourescent fixture to the inside of the roof for a black light. Then hanging short white curtians that would glow. Or perhaps white washing the coffin that will go inside so it will glow as well.

Well, whichever way you go, post updated pics.

 

[Homestead Haunt]

I finished my hearse a few month ago. The plexiglass ran me about $60 I think..its been to long ago now to remember. I know I used the thinnest stuff Lowes carried and got a deal on a cracked piece. The curtains for mine was more than the plexiglass. The painting, molding, curtains, windows, etc took as long if not longer then building the coach itself. I build a horse as well....that thread is around here someplce.

 

[Eyegore]

The wheels are from harbor freight. Its best to wait till they go on sale. Also some wheels have tighter spokes so if they will let you open the box and check them first.
I do want to do plexiglass but the price on large pieces is outragous. Not so sure on glass though. I was thinking of mounting a flourescent fixture to the inside of the roof for a black light. Then hanging short white curtians that would glow. Or perhaps white washing the coffin that will go inside so it will glow as well.

Nice hearse! Instead of pexi, maybe you could use polyvinyl fabric. It's a heck of a lot cheeper than plexi.
Walmart used to sell it in their fabric department. Heres a store that has it. Clear Vinyl

 

[ScreamingScarecrow]

Looking good! can't wait to see the finished unit!

 

[Guest]

beautiful!!! love it!!

 

[Fiend4Halloween]

Oh man, that's awesome !!!!

 

[buckaneerbabe]

That's looking great!!! It sounds like it's going to be beautiful, no matter how you finish it off!!

 

[Skulkin]

Nice looking hearse, svaillan. At first, I thought you were going to say that you built it and couldn't get it out! LOL. (My Dad built a boat in the cellar once and had that problem. Ha!)

 

[Scatterbrains]

I went to the Habitat for Humanity ReStore today. I figured I'd have to pay about $90 for a sliding glass door. They have signs that say "Windows $45 and up" I was going to buy a full set...the slider and the stationary side so that I would have glass for the carriage windows. While browsing, it kicked in that the window/door is double paned. So I only needed to buy either the door or the stationary window side of the sliding glass door. As I wondered around, I saw a the window side and asked the guy who was working in the back how much. He said, he thought it would be $30 and it would be best to ask the folks up front to be sure. So I carried the window up front and asked how much? $10!!!!!

I think it's 32" to 34" wide by about 6 ft...

 

[Myra Mains]

I'm not sure exactly what you plan on doing with the glass. I guess you plan to use the glass for the hearse windows. If this is the case I just wanted to make sure that you are aware that the glass will be tempered and that you can not cut it. I have never tried to seperate the panes of glass on a sliding door but just to note that although tempered glass is pretty tough if it is set down improperly or hit on the edge it is likely to shatter. I hope that this doesn't mess up your plans.

 

[Scatterbrains]

I'm not sure exactly what you plan on doing with the glass. I guess you plan to use the glass for the hearse windows. If this is the case I just wanted to make sure that you are aware that the glass will be tempered and that you can not cut it. I have never tried to seperate the panes of glass on a sliding door but just to note that although tempered glass is pretty tough if it is set down improperly or hit on the edge it is likely to shatter. I hope that this doesn't mess up your plans.

Not cutting it at all, I'll cut the pattern for the window out of plywood then mount the glass to the back of it, making sure the whole thing stays pretty rigid so the glass doesn't break

 

[Eyegore]

I still think clear polyvinyl is the way to go! It's unbreakable, which is a good thing when considering ToT vandalism. It's easy to clean, looks like glass, doesn't yellow, it's less dangerous, can be painted, and is cheap!

 

[svaillan]

Update

Well all I havent been able to do much work on the hearse. I landed in the ER while on a trip to Colo. Drove back the next day and enede up in emergency surgury the following day after a cat scan. No lifting, no driving and stuck at home on pain killers. Sucks because I have all kinds of ideas just not allowed to work on them. Soon enough though. Steve

 

[Scatterbrains]

Well all I havent been able to do much work on the hearse. I landed in the ER while on a trip to Colo. Drove back the next day and enede up in emergency surgury the following day after a cat scan. No lifting, no driving and stuck at home on pain killers. Sucks because I have all kinds of ideas just not allowed to work on them. Soon enough though. Steve

Steve,

Get well soon....nothing sucks like having to lie around with no football to watch

 

[svaillan]

Finally done

Hello all. Well here are the pictures or update I promised. After 2 emergency surgeries in a month I finally got it done. Well almost I just need to add some small white curtians to hide the black light and give it that extra glow.

Now onto my "Crypt" front door entrence facade. Steve


Hearse :: Front picture by svaillan2 - Photobucket

Hearse :: 98% Done..just needing curtians. picture by svaillan2 - Photobucket

Hearse :: Front picture by svaillan2 - Photobucket

Hearse :: In the Dark and turned on picture by svaillan2 - Photobucket

 

[Madame Turlock]

Oh what a beauty. It would look so good at my house. Let me know when it's boxed up and I'll send you my home address. Really!