[vtswordfish]

I was at a haunt last year and saw an this effect and have been trying to figure it out since. I know it worked off of a similar set-up to the bottomless pit, there was a small shack on the path that you had to enter, immediately upon entering you are put onto a 'ledge' that continually shrinks...on the other side of the ledge it appears to drop off to an endless pit, however you realize that when you step down that it actually is a surface (mirror I believe) that you could walk on and that the bottomless pit was just an illusion. I didn't really get a good look at the works behind it at the time, but I made a diagram of how I think it may work (although i could be totally wrong). Any help would be great, I'm thinking of doing a smaller version of this for our haunt here.

 

[Homestead Haunt]

I think you are on the right track. The only thing I can think of right off the bat is that you cant walk on a mirror so a thick iece of plexiglass is going to be needed. You are probobly talking 3/4" to 1" thick minimum. I think lighting will also play a big part in your setup.

 

[vtswordfish]

That was the interesting thing, and I thought about that, but I'm pretty sure their setup had it to where you walked on the mirror which I didn't think was a good idea. You could tell it was a mirror when you stepped down on it just because of the sound it made when you put pressure on it.

 

[hauntcrazy]

I have a bottomless pit at the entrance of my haunted house.
This year I am going to add another bottomless pit that people have to walk across. The original pit is about 3 feet tall and very narrow.
The new bottemless pit will be only about 1 foot tall but 4' x 8'. I am going to build a narrow foot bridge that will go over the pit through the middle. I will place the pit directly inside the entrance and visitors will have to walk across it to get inside.
I will post videos when I get it built which will be soon!!!

 

[TK421]

I have a bottomless pit at the entrance of my haunted house.
This year I am going to add another bottomless pit that people have to walk across. The original pit is about 3 feet tall and very narrow.
The new bottemless pit will be only about 1 foot tall but 4' x 8'. I am going to build a narrow foot bridge that will go over the pit through the middle. I will place the pit directly inside the entrance and visitors will have to walk across it to get inside.
I will post videos when I get it built which will be soon!!!

That sounds great! Please take lots of pics and vids. It's a great idea to add the narrow bridge.

 

[vtswordfish]

Sounds like a great idea, I'd love to see it when you're done.

 

[Dollylinn]

bottomless pit ????

I also have questions on how does this work. I have started my bottomless pit, and have mirror and acrylic. I have to bend heavy cardboard in circle. I have made the top edges of cardboard jagged painting it black and was adding debris. I could not find anything else big enough round. my mirror and acyrlic are about 25-26 inches round. I have not attached film on acrylic yet. I am probably going to need help, some things look easier than they are. So I can't try it yet. I want to do this pit inside,the house. I was told it would not work uness I have something covering the top part of it in black. It will just show ceiling which is white. I did not even think of that when I started. Do I have to attach this on a tilt in base and face something black? I am going to use those L brackets all around inside and set mirror in. I did not even think of that when I started. I am trying to make it like a project exploded and put a hole in the floor. Thanks

 

[Pumpkin King]

I've seen the effect too, and am wondering how it works. Could somebody post pics of thier pits? Thanks.

 

[hauntcrazy]

Dollylinn and Pumpkin King
Here is the best link on how to make a pit
Bottomless Pit

It is a very simple prop to make and only cost me about $50 to make.
About 3 or 4 hours construction time.

You will need some plexiglass and mirror film which is avaible at Lowes or Home Depot.

Here is a video of mine at about 20 seconds into the video.
YouTube - Chestnut Hill Haunted House 08 Vid 2

 

[Dollylinn]

bottomless pit exploded science project done

I finally finished my bottomless pit science project that exploded. Here are a few pics. There will be a little more debri around.

 

[octoberist]

I finally finished my bottomless pit science project that exploded.

Wow that's a cool and sweetly original take on the oh-so-familiar bottomless pit. The melted and strangely upheaved carpet looks great. I like how it isn't just some inexplicable random mine shaft, but is instead some kind of physics gone horribly warped. It gives it a back story and makes it more believable and fresh. Nice.