Sickie Ickie's '09 $20 prop Entry: Skin Eating Spider

[Sickie Ickie]

Pretty amazing how two thrift store items can give one an idea of doing something, even though you've never seen it before!

For my $20 pro prop entry, I crossed a

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h231/Sickie_Ickie/prop%20challenge/09/100_2623.jpg
$2.00 Chicken Dance Elmo

with a

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h231/Sickie_Ickie/prop%20challenge/09/100_2694.jpg
$1 foam football

and came up with the Skin Eating Spider:

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h231/Sickie_Ickie/prop%20challenge/09/spider/blue.jpg

spider :: 100_2746.flv video by Sickie_Ickie - Photobucket@@AMEPARAM@@http://vid65.photobucket.com/player.swf?file=http://vid65.photobucket.com/albums/h231/Sickie_Ickie/prop%20challenge/09/spider/100_2746.flv@@AMEPARAM@@vid65@@AMEPARAM@@65@@AMEPA RAM@@h231/Sickie_Ickie/prop%20challenge/09/spider/100_2746

Materials:
chicken dance Elmo (thrift) 2.00
foam football (thrift) 1.00
1/2" pvc 10' .88
1/2" x 3/8" x 15' Polyethelene tubing (prorated) 2.00
~18' Galvanized 9 Gauge Tension Wire (prorated) 2.00
Dollar Tree Electrical Tape 0.50
2 cups polyfill (prorated) 0.50
D cell battery 1.00
black spray paint 1.00
waterproof Elmer's glue (prorated) 2.00
safety pin 0.05?
clothesline 2.50
wire cloth square 0.05?
Sequin Eyes 0.05
fun foam fangs 0.10
8 cable ties 0.10 (from that big bin of cable ties)
speaker wire 0.05

total around $16

In a nutshell, Elmo was skinned, and his circuit board removed. Head, Arms and feet were taken off. The (+) and (-) wires were rerouted through his neck.

2 coats of weatherproof Elmer's glue was applied to the outside of the sanded foam football.

A square of wire cloth was bent to the shape of the torso bottom, and tension wire was zip tied to that. This was held on with electrical tape.

1.2" pvc tubing was placed over the wire for upper legs, and poly tubing for the lower calves. Wire was left long at the end. Polyfill was wrapped for the knees, and electrical tape over everything.

Football and wire sprayed black.

Clothesline was noosed around the neck and up through the football to come out like a web and the whole prop can be dangled if so desired because no strain is on the motor this way.

Sequin eyes applied, stereo wires hooked up to the neck wires and run to a D cell battery.

Back web legs wrapped around clothesline and safety pin acts as a stop for the legs not to fall down.

I'm working on a more detailed how-to, but this ought to cover entering the contest.

Why do I keep doing props that look better in real life than in pics? heh Perhaps that's my curse.

[Sickie Ickie]

Yay! It's posted! :D

[Haunted Bayou]

OMG, Sickie!

That is one sshmooth spider. A fantastic animation for dirt cheap. Congrats!

BTW, now I know why you were asking all those questions about the motor heating up. LOL!

[Uruk-Hai]

VERY COOL!!! I really like the look of it - very realistic. The motion is subtle but would really creep them out. The sound of the motor even has an arachnid sort of vibe to it. Great job - Love it!!

[Otaku]

Wow! That's a nice spider - I can tell because my wife is scared of it. I like the ominous movement. Who would have thought that Elmo was so versatile. Good entry, SI!

[Haunted Bayou]

My favorite part is that you "skinned" Elmo!

There won't be a dancing Elmo available in any thrift store near any member of HauntForum cuz everybody who sees this is gonna go get one.

[Draik41895]

thats awesome,it looks like elmo went though puberty!where did you get those cable ties..i hope i can use that price

[Revenant]

Schweeet! I personally prefer spiders of the smooth, spindly, non-hairy variety.

And anyone who corrupts an Elmo is aces in my book.

[Devils Chariot]

great job ickie! I'd like to see what you'd do to Barney!

[DoomBuddy]

Awsome! Elmo finally has a purpose in life.

[Bone Dancer]

Good job, animation on the cheap, amazing.

[Frighteners Entertainment]

Very clever and for less than $20 is amazing!

[slightlymad]

Nice work SI

Nothing better than a skinned Elmo

[Joiseygal]

great job ickie! I'd like to see what you'd do to Barney!
LOL...I second that! Great Job Sickie! It's amazing what you do with things just lying around your house. Way to use your imagination.

[beelce]

Great work SI....I just love it when a prop idea just jumps off the bargain shelf straight at you throat just like a rabid red eyed spider!!....he's COOL

[RoxyBlue]

That is one beautiful spider, Sickie!

[BoysinBoo]

Nice job SI! Football Spider builders of the Forum UNITE! That's what I used for Bozo the DCS last year. Its perfect. The shininess/smoothness will look much better in the night when it picks up the ambient light.

I know what you mean about taking pictures. Mine always come out so, for lack of a better word, "flat".

[Sickie Ickie]

Yep, that's exactly what I'm saying, BoysinBoo. heh I supposes if I knew more about photography it wouldn't happen, but I only have a camera that works part of the time anyway. :confused:

Draik, "...where did you get those cable ties..i hope i can use that price" You can...anyone can. In fact, I may have OVERPRICED them. Go to your local hardware store (mine is Menards) and check out the electrical section. You'll find a clear cylender with around a 1,000 plastic cable ties in it various sizes and colors. I buy them when they go on sale because I use cable ties in almost any craft I'm doing. Even not on sale though, the plastic container is only like $7.

Here's a tip for anyone using wire- Galvanized 9 Gauge Tension Wire is AWESOME stuff! 170' is like $19 a roll. Think thicker coat hanger wire that holds shape under load. Easy-sh to bend with hands, and cuts nicely with thick wire cutters.

[Vlad]

Nice work

[Sickie Ickie]

Thanks everyone for the nice comments. To get the slow movement, I only used one D-cell battery. As for how to put the battery on, I just electrical taped the wires to the battery. LOL

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h231/Sickie_Ickie/prop%20challenge/09/spider/battery.jpg

to turn it off/on, just slip one wire out, and slip it back in.

edit: usually I can hook up DC motors and + - don't matter. On this one, the motor only works with the "correct" hook-up.

[Bloodhound]

Hey Sickie, Nice job !!!!!!1

[Sickie Ickie]

Thanks. :) It's the first time I had an idea this quick and carried it through so fast for the contest. Usually I get to the point where I'm running out of time!

[SpookySam]

Spiders creep me out big time. Nice prop!

[DeathTouch]

Oh man that is awesome Sickie. Good thing you didn't use Tickle me elmo. Because if I hear a spider say tickle me, I am certainly going to back off. Good job man!

[pyro]

nice job sickie--glad i cant hear the chicken dance

[Spooky1]

Great job Sickie. Who would have known Elmo was so scary under the skin.

[ededdeddy]

NIce Sickie.. The bar has been set

[Wyatt Furr]

Great job.

[Don Givens]

Great idea and great job SI.

Gives me some ideas for some critters I have around the house.

[The Bloodshed Brothers]

very very cool

[Sickie Ickie]

Great idea and great job SI.

Gives me some ideas for some critters I have around the house.

If it gave you some ideas, that's the best compliment I could get. Thanks, Don and go at it!

[psyko99]

You did a great job. Who would of thought Elmo had so many uses.

[kprimm]

Damn sickie, I am very impressed with that one. That just goes to show us all that with some imagination you can do anything. I would have NEVER thought you could do anything with an elmo except blast him with my paintball gun......wonder if ican still find him in my trash?

[Bethene]

Sickie,great job,very creative use of Elmo, I love the movement, and that he is shiny,very creepy! Boy, I have alot of work to do to come close to that!!

[marcus132]

Wow! That is great! I guess this contest is over...

[halloween71]

Love the spider.I really need to get a spider maybe next year.

[grim reaper]

Thats great sickie !! god i hate elmo ! but i love him as a spider Good job man!

[Phil]

Anyone who can build an animated spider for under $20 and skin an Elmo in the process should win automatically. Really nice job Sickie!

[Haunted Bayou]

LOL! Sickie is going to win because he killed ELMO!

I'd like to make this as a static prop with a large rope web. Maybe add some blinky lights to it. Would add a lot to my yard. We'll be seeing a lot of big black spiders this year. Great job, Sickie!

[Lilly]

Very Nice Sickie..
(did you save elmos skin maybe you can hang it from a prong ...LOL)
Looks simple and easy to make too
Great Job

[Draik41895]

thanks for the info,once again this is great!

[Sickie Ickie]

Very Nice Sickie..
(did you save elmos skin maybe you can hang it from a prong ...LOL)
Looks simple and easy to make too
Great Job

No saving Elmo's Hyde. LOL Thanks guys. :)

[GothicCandle]

thats cool! I quite like it.

[Sickie Ickie]

My appreciation goes out to you, my fair lady.

[Merlin (The Quiet One)]

Great job, SI! That is one cool spider.

[Spider Rider]

Wow, a very cool and realistic looking spider and using a dancing Elmo, whodathunk. Now it looks cuddly to me.

[Sickie Ickie]

...Now it looks cuddly to me.

This coming from a person who calls themself Spider Rider! LOL

[Ghoul Friday]

Now if they made all Elmo dolls look like this, I would buy one.

[spideranne]

Very cool spider and great imaination to put it together. So do think up the idea first and then go scavenge the parts or did you have elmo and figured out something to do with him?

[Sickie Ickie]

It was only after I skinned Elmo that I knew what I wanted. :)

[Monk]

It looks really good. I am so far behind on mine it's nuts.

[hlmn]

Nice Sickie very nice

[lowdwnrob]

very cool

[Ms. Wicked]

This is SOOOO fantastic! You did a great job on this Bryce!

[Sickie Ickie]

Thanks Ms P. er Ms W. :p

[Sickie Ickie]

It looks really good. I am so far behind on mine it's nuts.

I always had been before too Monk. Right up 'til the deadline. That's why this time is such a surprise to finish this soon for me. :googly:

[Scary Godmother]

Nice job Sickie, very cool!

[Monk]

Yeah, I'm never one to really get things done early. Shoot, that's why they have deadlines I guess.

[DeathTouch]

The bad side to this 20 dollar prop is that there are two kids from Sickie's family that are without toys. Poor sickie's kids. And with all those kids there it is tough finding any toys.

Maybe I need to send them a care package.

[IMU]

Very creepy looking spider! Nice ... very nice. Great prop!

[stick]

Great job there S.I.

[Dr Morbius]

Way to go Bryce!!
Reasons I love it:

1. It's animated
2. It's a spider
3. It's animated
4. It's built for under 20.00
5. It's animated
6. Elmo was slaughtered to make it
7. It's animated
8. It has a football, and I love football.
9, Did I mention because it's animated?

Terrific use of materials, very creative! Got my vote!

[Sickie Ickie]

The bad side to this 20 dollar prop is that there are two kids from Sickie's family that are without toys. Poor sickie's kids. And with all those kids there it is tough finding any toys.

Maybe I need to send them a care package.

I think you need to also, DT. They like playing with skulls and buckies. :p

[Sickie Ickie]

Thanks Doc. I'm flattered to have someone of the caliber of you and others here who have said nice things about it. I have to admit, I like it because not only is it animated, but the beginner can do it, and the advanced can have it with ambient lighting.

This prop would be covered by a carport or awnings or something. None of the spider should have a problem with the elements because of it being covered with electrical tape (rain has no way in), but if rain were to get into the football, it may expand because it's foam and ruin the paint job. Then you'd have to dry it out and paint it again.

[Draik41895]

hmmm....one bad thing vs about 5 mill. good things, i like it

[Sickie Ickie]

Thanks Draik :D

[hpropman]

The competition is stating to heat up - great job Sickie. Now to finish mine. I hope I can get it finished under budget.

[Monk]

The competition is stating to heat up - great job Sickie. Now to finish mine. I hope I can get it finished under budget.

I just hope to get mine finished.

[Fangs]

That is Sick~~ie Ickie for ya!!! :D

Seriously, your spider is cool dear!!!!!

You and motors go hand in hand! ;)

[Sickie Ickie]

that works well, as long as the electricity stays off. LOL

[Tyler]

Wow, very cool, what an awesome idea!!!
He's great!!!

[Lady Nyxie]

R.I.P. Elmo... you will be missed.

Nice job Sickie.

[HauntDaddy]

Awesome. I just threw that little Elmo away. I'm gettin him outa the trash!!!!

[Sickie Ickie]

I found another chicken Elmo at the thrift store yesterday! Woo-hoo!

[Sickie Ickie]

Here's a complete how-to on my Skin Eating Spider Prop.

http://www.santasprojects.com/Corpse_County/spider/spider%20how-to.htm

[Draik41895]

thankyou thankyou thankyou!!!!!!

[Joiseygal]

Great How-to Sickie! Unbelievable you came up with that idea.

[Sickie Ickie]

Thanks Draik and Joiseygal. Personally I love when how-to's have as many pics as possible, so I tried to emulate some of the best ones I've seen. :)

[Uruk-Hai]

Great prop! Looking at it I still can't believe you saw a Elmo of all things and said "Hmmmm, that would make a great spider!" :)

[Wildcat]

Great job. Good how to.

[ghubertu]

Death to Elmo and a sweet spider shall be born! How long is the battery life?

[Warrant2000]

I can almost see the spirit of ELmo, trapped within the spider. Nice work!

[Sickie Ickie]

Death to Elmo and a sweet spider shall be born! How long is the battery life?

No idea. I had it running for about an hour, and it still was doing fine- but I was confined by the competition rules. I plan on substituting a phone charger for the battery later and limiting it to about 1.5 volts. 3 volts is fine, but then it runs too fast for my taste.

[Frankie-s Girl]

I LOVE that you gutted an Elmo for this... and it has a lovely creepy looking action. :D

[Terra]

That's better than any store-bought animiated spider I've seen. Incredible idea!

[Sickie Ickie]

Thanks Terra and FG. I'm sure others here could do better, but maybe this can provide a foundation to spring ideas from. :)

[Monk]

My kids REALLY like this one.

[Sickie Ickie]

Tell your kids thank you. :D

[Monk]

I will, it's their favorite entry to date hands down. Great work. I agree with FG, the fact that you made this from a gutted Elmo makes it that much better.

[STOLLOWEEN]

I really like this prop and I'm still laughing at the "skinned an Elmo" phrase...the final result looks great and I think you have set the bar for combining two very unlikely items into one Halloween prop. Now everytime I see an Elmo I'm going to be thinking about this prop!

[Spooklights]

I love this prop. And to my way of thinking, you should get a prize just for skinning Elmo!

[Just Whisper]

When I told/showed my son what you actually made this from he was totally impressed too.

[Dark Angel 27]

nice! love it!

[Bone To Pick]

Ha hah, Nightmare on Elmo Street!! Great job!

[HauntedAcresManor]

awesome job! looks like i'll be buying alot of pvc pipes this year.

[HibLaGrande]

very cool spider sickie!

[Sickie Ickie]

Bone to pick, that's hilarious!

Thanks for the kudos, folks!

[Bone To Pick]

:D LOL - no charge.

[debbie5]

WOW. Can I donate a Teddy Ruxpin to you to see what kind of evilness it morphs into?? LOL.
Great job. Is the secret to the motor not frying in the heavier wiring?We have LOTS of motorized kiddy toy-cr@p like this laying around, and I have often thought of bastardizing the items, but have no clue on how to electrically morph them. What things do I have to know as basic, standard operating procedure for a similar, simple project like this?? I know a lot of it is just trial & error, but are there some basics about motors I need to know? For instance, I thought if you ripped out the voicebox, the whole wiring would be screwed and not work (i.e. break the circuit). Now that I think about it, it makes sense that each item would be separate so they wouldn't both fail if the kid busted one part.

I envy you peple who do these things! Like you are all some delicious, Vince Price-ian evil geniuses, fomenting plans for recycled, fantastic creatures while driving cross town to drop the kids off at soccer....

[hpropman]

Debbie my website has a free electronics course in the links section it is not as hard as might think and myself and many here can help you with any questions that you will have. Try it you might just be surprised.

[debbie5]

On my way to visit,hp man! Thanks!

[Sickie Ickie]

Sorry for not getting back with you until now, Debbie- I've been Ebaying quite a bit to make bills.

WOW. Can I donate a Teddy Ruxpin to you to see what kind of evilness it morphs into?? LOL.

heh Ironically enough, the simpler the animatronic (cheaper toys) the easier it is to make work for a majority of things.

Great job. Is the secret to the motor not frying in the heavier wiring?We have LOTS of motorized kiddy toy-cr@p like this laying around, and I have often thought of bastardizing the items, but have no clue on how to electrically morph them.

If you have animated stuff laying around, I say go for it! What's the worst that can happen? Heavier wires have nothing to do with it. :)

What things do I have to know as basic, standard operating procedure for a similar, simple project like this?? I know a lot of it is just trial & error, but are there some basics about motors I need to know? For instance, I thought if you ripped out the voicebox, the whole wiring would be screwed and not work (i.e. break the circuit). Now that I think about it, it makes sense that each item would be separate so they wouldn't both fail if the kid busted one part.

I just gorilla hack them, and they do fine. heh If you want all movement the the same, and still want to operate it via push button, just remove the sound. I cut one or both wires to the speaker, and voila- no more sound, and it still works because everything is run differently from the circuit board.

For this one, I just needed to run the energy wires to the motor to keep it going and repeating the same action over and over and over.

I'm kinda a nut though. When I open toys up I tend to gut everything that I don't need. In actuality, you could just cut wires and leave everything there and save yourself some time and trouble.

Maybe this how-to on my spider will give you a better idea how to do a project like this. http://www.santasprojects.com/Corpse_County/spider/spider%20how-to.htm

A couple tips, if you are powering the toy motor from a wall wart, add up the batteries needed to make it work and multiply by 1.5 . (It's not an exact science, but it works for me.) So for example 2 AA batteries for a toy means it needs around 3 volts to make it work. (2 batts x 1.5 volts = 3 volts)

Since the energy from the wall is AC (alternating current), you need that wall wart adapter to put out the energy in DC which is what batteries would be. (Direct Current). In this case, an adapter that plugs into the wall and gives out 3 volts DC would work fine. (On the adapter that plugs into the wall will have your information about what input and output it has. Grab one that's nearby and take a look.)

While NOT plugged in, cut the end that goes the item off (not the wall plug), and separate the two wires.

The nice thing about a DC motor (which is what motors that use batteries for energy have) is that 99% of the time, it doesn't matter which wire goes to either wire of the motor. Hook up the wires one way and the motor spins one way, hook up the wires the opposite way and the motor spins in reverse. Big deal. :) Motors have two wires, your adapter has two wires. Hook one wire to one wire and the other to the other. (yes, we could talk about pos to pos, and neg to neg, but why complicate things if we don't have to right now.)

That's all there is to it. :googly:

If you are using battery power, just extend the wires from the motor and run it from battery.

If you really want to experiment, to make it run slower decrease the voltage, and to make it run faster increase it.

Feel free to pm me if you have any questions, don't understand anything I wrote or just need some help with your first creation or experimentation. I'll be glad to explain the process more on a one-to-one with you. :D

[Optym]

that is so cool!

[Smiter]

I am new to the forum, and seeing this for the first time.
Very nice job.. and the nerf works perfectly for the body/abdomen part!

[salem]

A very cool spider and one less Elmo. Double win!

[Sickie Ickie]

Thanks folks. Hopefully this inspires you to do this or something better! :)

[debbie5]

Is there a way I can wire a BIG wall wart to my ars to get me up & going in the morning??

[Sickie Ickie]

Gee, if I wasn't married I'd say you could bend over and I'd try my best. :p