Love Manor columns, fence and sign...

[JohnnyL]

Alright, I decided I would make thread to show off my columns, fence and sign. Right now all I have are a couple of the columns done, which should be finished this weekend and then I will begin work on the fence and sign.

I had a hard time planning the columns, at first I was going to incorporate a slope into the design but cutting the sections just became too much of a hassle. So, I went with a more simplistic design and jazzed it up. My goal was to create an elegant style for them but overgrown and aged. I wanted to carve some brick work into them but due to the wood paneling on the side I wasn't able to.

I have to create about 8 of these so this weekend will be fun! Enjoy:

http://www.lovemanor.com/images/columnsfinished.jpg

I'll post picture of the building process when I get a chance. Basically it's a cardboard shipping box lined with styrafoam with wood molding. I skipped on the detailed molding due to cost and time. Some will have urns, some will have lamps ontop, and two will have gargoyles (for my sign area).

More to come!:jol:

[Spookkid]

Awesome!

[Beepem]

daaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaang

[Frighteners Entertainment]

Great job!
Love to see what they would look like at night with some good lighting.

[Black Cat]

Those look awesome. Can't wait to see some night shots of those.

[JohnnyL]

Thanks for the kind words so far everyone! Yeah, nighttime lighting will play a MAJOR role in my display. I have almost a dozen floods, mostly blue, which will be illuminating the yard.

[Otaku]

Wow, those look great! Can't wait to see how they look at night. Did you ever get a chance to build a multi-starter flicker circuit?

[JohnnyL]

Otaku, not yet. These two have personal flicker boxes at the moment, seems to keep it pretty simplstic at the moment, once I get them layed out into the yard in a couple weeks and wire them, I'll probably run them all to a central plug and do a flicker board there with multiple flicker circuits. I'm using white 20 watt bulbs atm, seems to give it a nice glow through the painted/stained glass. Also thanks! :D

[edwood saucer]

Great job~

[wormyt]

Johnny my gosh they are beautiful columns. Man you sure put mine to shame...uggggggggg. Now I would like to see the beginning of your yard before you put up the fence and columns. Its so cool to see the house and yard before the starting of decorations, then seeing how it all transforms into this errie looking yard and home. Come on you can do that for me right???? Before and after pics. Man the columns ROCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[JohnnyL]

Edwood and wormy, thanks a bunch!

Definitely wormy, I'll be taking a bunch of pics before and then a trillion after. I love seeing the transformation as well. I LOVE your columns, especially the cracks!

[krough]

Really Really Great JL

[Dreadnight]

Johnny that is primo work... nice job and good luck with the other six!

[JohnnyL]

Thanks a bunch!

[THeme ssaGE]

Those look pro. Well done. Looks like its made from marble, not wood.

[IshWitch]

Very well done!

[JohnnyL]

Thanks a bunch! :D

[heresjohnny]

Those look awesome! You do the Johnny name great credit!:D

[JohnnyL]

They'll be no destroying of the Johnny name! Thanks, haha.

[shaunathan]

Hey JonnyL, you don't have some pics of those columns in the process of being made do you? I need to make 6 columns myself this year, and we almost have no idea how we're gonna make'em.

I was thinking foam for the sides, but the problem with that is a 2'x2' column that's 4 feet tall is about 16-20 dollars each not that this is that expensive but 6x20=120 and that's a bit pricy. How much did you spend on yours?

--EDIT--

OMG I just noticed that angel in the background, that thing is awesome! where did you find it?

[JohnnyL]

Shaun, I'm not really sure how much each column was since I bought a lot of supplies all together for them. The shipping boxes are about 12" x 48" and were a couple bucks each. Then we just 3/4" or 1" foam sheets for about 9-11 dollars a piece and cut it into the appropriate sizes (4 pieces for each column). With a 4 x 8 sheet you get about 6-7 cuts. Then I just basically made the foot and crown out of 2 x 4's, 2 x 3's and 1 x 4s. The only image I have right now of it unplastered/painted is (as you can see the edges and wood work are very rough, but spackling and wood putty can fix that!):

http://www.lovemanor.com/images/columnnew.jpg

I don't have any step-by-step instructions YET but should maybe before or after halloween. I would suggest looking at the following for ideas:

http://www.unpleasantstreet.com/index.php?x=/projects/2004/thunder_columns&y=main

http://ravenmanor.com/projects/cemeterygatefence.html

http://www.horrorseek.com/halloween/juggernaut/projects.html

LOTS of ideas. Just google for some images of cemtery pillars and put together your design. I based mine off of The Haunted Mansion pillars and followed the coloring techniques used by Raven Manor.

I picked up the Angel at Wal*Mart for $25.00!!! She's absolutely incredible and will make a great piece for the cemetery. She was originally $50.00 but they put all their stuff on sale. Call around and check, when I picked her up about a month or so ago they had 2 dozen, lol.

[TearyThunder]

Johnny, I have watched these columns as they evolved and have been anticipating seeing them finished. All I can say is WOW! They are absolutely beautiful.

[JohnnyL]

Thanks TT for putting up with all that! haha.

[shaunathan]

sweet, thanks for the info johnny

[ScareFX]

Those look great JohnnyL! Nice work.

[JohnnyL]

Thank you so much! So far 5 will be almost completed by tonight! The 6th is being started as well. More pictures to come... I'll probably take some time on the last and do a good quality how-to on them for everyone.

[Vikeman]

JohnnyL, your columns turned out great! Looks like you made the right decision. Plus like you said, it was a lot less hassle than the sloped column. The paint job really looks nice. Can't wait to see a picture with the fence.

[JohnnyL]

Thank you Vike! :D

[DeadSpider]

Those are booootiful. I like them! Great job!!

[JohnnyL]

Thanks a bunch!

[JohnnyL]

Here's a shot of two more in the works:

http://www.lovemanor.com/images/columnframe.jpg

I've been keeping it simple and have skipped doing 45 degree cuts due to the fact that I can use use spackling to cover up the ends of the wood.

[Mastahh]

Where did you get the 12X48 shipping boxes?

[JohnnyL]

I opened up the phone book and searched for every shipping supplies company I could. I found one and was there in a heart beat.

BTW, WELCOME to HauntForum!

[shaunathan]

by shipping boxes we're talking about the wooden ones right? how much were they?

[JohnnyL]

Oh no, they are just cardboard boxes. This way it would cut down on the weight of each column. I paneled them in foam and then the wood trims added the support so they wouldn't "disfigure".

[JohnnyL]

More pics to come tomorrow! I have two left to do! Then onto the fence and sign. :)

[Gloomy_Gus]

Wow! A fence was on my to-do list this year but I don't know if I will get to it. I definately like your design Johnny. I'm now inspired to try and get at least one column done this year.

[otherworldly]

Wicked-cool! I'd not ever want to take them down!

[JohnnyL]

Here's a very rare set-up shot so far with the fence and columns being put up. Enjoy (I hope)!

http://www.lovemanor.com/images/fencing2.jpg

[Wyatt Furr]

Those columns and fence are amazing JL, the detail is perfect in daylight. It will look even better,(if that's possible ) at night.
Great work

[JohnnyL]

Thanks Wyatt!

[Gloomy_Gus]

Those are awesome. The overgrown grass is a nice detail.

[tcarter]

very nice. I need to redo my pillars, but they'll have to wait till next year, running out of time and too much to do with other things, but it gives me some ideas.

[JohnnyL]

Thanks gus and carter!

[DeadSpider]

Wow. Very very nice.

[JohnnyL]

Thanks!

[CerysCrow]

These are frackin' fantastic!

[Lilly]

Very nice Johnny L
took some time to do all them and the fence.
paint and moss on that looks great along with the lamps

[JohnnyL]

Sunset shot:

http://lovemanor.com/images/fencesunset.jpg

[Haunted Bayou]

Fantastic!

[Lauriebeast]

Johnny, those columns and fence are absolutely exquisite! And that photo you took looks really cool.

[Richie]

The best columns and fence I've seen to date!

[JohnnyL]

Ah shucks! Thanks everyone, it means a ton to me! This year they'll be recieving a bit of a touch up, I may go a bit darker with them.

[JohnnyL]

Here's a "sneak peak" of the new look:

http://lovemanor.com/images/columns07.jpg

[mikeq91]

I like it! still looks really cool but a nice little change to make it different

[Daphne]

WOW! That fence is beautiful. I want to build one this year but have no prayer of creating one anywhere near that nice.

In terms of the fence, is that just horizontal 1x4s with holes drilled for PVC verticals?

I am seriously impressed, that is one fine looking fence! Well done JL!

[JohnnyL]

Thanks Mike, I was aiming for a bit more of a "darker" look this year.

Daphne, thank you as well! You can do it! Trust me, I did not think I could at all either. You're correct on the fence, it's just horizontal wood with holes drilled into it, then the pvc pipes are put in place and I screwed them in place for extra support. Then, just paint black!

This year, I'll be sponging the fence green and orange/brown to age it and give it a rusty look.

[DeadSpider]

Very very nice JL.
They were nice before, but I like the new darker coloring.

[buckaneerbabe]

Very professional looking JohnnyL. You truly have that special something to put together such an amazing haunt display.

[JohnnyL]

Changed the picture (uploaded accidentally over the last one I posted).

Here's the new look!

http://lovemanor.com/images/columns07.jpg

Not completely done, still going to sponge a darker mossy color on them, especially under the vines.

[Front Yard Fright]

Awesome job JL!
Very authentic looking!
:D.

[CerysCrow]

I've said it before - these are amazing. I love, love, love them. So atmospheric and the construction is top notch.

I can't wait to see pics of everything.

[JohnnyL]

Thanks for the kind words!

[Wyatt Furr]

Nice work JL,
Cant wait to see the finished haunt

[JohnnyL]

Did a little more work on the sign today, still lots more to do. :D

http://lovemanor.com/images/sign.jpg

[waldiddy]

Just curious, what did you use for the tops of the fence rails? I think that particular detail really sets the whole prop apart and gives it such realism.

[Spookineer]

Looking good JL, very nice work indeed.

[widowsbluff]

Gee whiz those are great, thanks for sharing.

[Lilly]

That will be great when its done