[davy2]

Yay!
I just finished 1st prop for Halloween 2009, my graveyard caretaker.

There are so many creative people on here, I'm kind of embarrassed
to admit that I didn't build it completely from scratch! LOL

Head, hands and lantern I bought from Ghostride and Somethin' Different...body is made from pvc, foam and bubble wrap. Clothes from Goodwill. Neck servo I had laying around.
Anyway, here he is, I'm pretty happy with the way he turned out and he cost me about 1/4 of the ready-to-buy version by doing it myself.

 

[dept1031]

no need to be embarrassed that guy is cool !!! do you know where u got that neck servo ? let me know, thanks

 

[davy2]

Hi, Dept, thanks!

I got this servo at my local HobbytownUSA, it's about 20 minutes from my house..it's beefy enough to move his head for sure...I've had it for a while (bought it to move a C3po I'm building, but went with r/c linear actuators instead)

HOBBYTOWN USA - Digital Giant Scale HS5745MG: Universal

 

[slaz]

Yay!
I just finished 1st prop for Halloween 2009, my graveyard caretaker.

Anyway, here he is, I'm pretty happy with the way he turned out and he cost me about 1/4 of the ready-to-buy version by doing it myself.

You did a great job davy2, and just think..... all the money you saved on the making of this prop can now go towards the start of a whole new family of graveyard ghouls.

 

[MorbidMariah]

This guy is awesome! I love how the movements of his head along with the expresison on the face really give him that "darting, terrified looking around" quality. Very well done.

 

[[email protected]]

you have pics of the neck setup?a how to?

 

[davy2]

Daddy, that's a good point...i'll see what I can do...I kinda have to disrobe him to get to it...didn't even occur to me as I was working on it, was so anxious to get it done ...it's basically a pvc pipe extending up thru another larger pipe...turning neck pipe attached to a turntable on bottom end, servo attached to bottom of turntable., head attached to other end of turning pipe..I'll take pics and draw it out...
LOL

 

[[email protected]]

also which head or mask did you use?I need a caretaker for my cemetery this year.and might use the neck idea for my grim reaper too.

 

[davy2]

head is from one of my favorite vendors Ghost Ride Productions, called "Caretaker with hair" on THIS page...no, don't work for them, just really like their stuff!...my caretaker is a cheaper version of theirs, which rotates at the waist, I believe, instead of the neck

 

[scourge]

That is fan-freakin-tastic! Excellent job. A great prop for any yard or pro haunt. You should be very proud. It looks amazing.

 

[Mr_Chicken]

I really like this guy! Nice job!
What servo controller are you using?

 

[RookieSpooker]

Extremely impressive. I would love to see the neck set-up also. I would also second the request of Mr. Chicken, is it VSA? Great work. He's gonna' look fantastic at night. Does the lantern actually light up?

 

[davy2]

Wow, thanks Scourge, and everyone else, for your very kind comments!

Chicken, it's a servocity 4 servo controller

Rookie, no vsa for this prop, though I do use it for my skeleton...this uses the servocity 4-servo controller that records and plays back animation, though there is probably a cheaper alternative for a single servo somewhere...the lantern does light up, plugs into landscape lighting wire, it's a 12v light, and the cricket sounds come out of a speaker in the bottom

 

[Terra]

He is terrific. I love watching him looking around. Great, creepy addition to a caretaker.

 

[TK421]

This guy is awesome! I love how the movements of his head along with the expresison on the face really give him that "darting, terrified looking around" quality. Very well done.

I second that! The head movements and expression are perfect! Love It!

 

[halloween71]

He is a great prop!

 

[davy2]

Thanks again to all of you! You're all too kind!

FYI, I just posted a "Head-turn how-to" in the tutorial section...requested by someone in this thread..

My first how-to, so go easy!
LOL

 

[Lot27]

He is a great prop!

the movement is right on. expression and all. i'd like to try the prop stuff just once. the servos and stuff scare me.

 

[davy2]

Haha, Thanks, face...don't be scared!

once you've tried motorized or servo stuff, you realize that it's (usually) really easy!

 

[Scatterbrains]

Great Job Davy2....

Kinda reminds me of the snoopy old lady across the street....she'll stand in the yard and look up and down the cul-de-sac just like your caretaker