$10 Flying Crank Ghost Type Prop

[Gothic Nightmare]

Hers my take on the cheap, um I mean cost-effective FCG type prop.

http://gothicnightmare.sc45.info/how.html

[PerfessorEvil]

I like it... nice and simple.
Just an idea though... you could probably get more of a flying crank ghost type of motion if you extended the stick to the other side of the fan, and attached the head to that side and the hands to the stick on the other side of the fan.

That way the hands would rise while the head sank, and vice versa

[Gothic Nightmare]

Yes. I've already tried that. The resistance of the added strings was too much for the fan I was using. A bigger fan or small pulley's instead of eye hooks will probably work. This is on my "tinker" list for this year. ;)

Because of where I have this placed, the air movement from the fan was bouncing off of 2 walls, giving a nice random side and twisting motion. I may still have a video clip somewhere. It looked pretty cool.

Thanks for the positive comment!

[Bone Dancer]

Simple but effective, I like it. I am putting it on my "if I have time" list.

[skeletonowl]

sweet idea! Oscilating fans are still quite untapped in the haunt business besides moving heads.

[Hellspawn]

I tried this last year and had problems with it working, the only thing I could think of is that the fan was sitting at floor level and I was running fishing line like 15' in the air (garage) it was just too much for the fans to work, I used two fans, one for each arm. I think if I could have put the fan closer to the pulley level, it would have worked.

I did find an ice cream maker at my local thrift store, the motor has nice tork but runs at approx 30rpm, im going to try and hook it up to a lower power source or figure out a way to gear it down and use that this year, couldent pass it up for 3.00

[Lilly]

Hey Gn nice ghost.. I also like your twitching torso ..guts are cool
where do you get wig heads for a buck or 2?

Hey hellspawn could you attach your fan from the ceiling upside down maybe?

[Gothic Nightmare]

Hellspawn - Yes if the line is very long, or the ghost is too heavy it will not work. My fan is actually positioned just a couple feet above the ghost. I found that the angle of the main line is crucial. Too sharp and it won't work at all. BTW the nylon netting is a lot lighter than cheese cloth and also made a difference.

Lilly - I got a bunch of wig heads a few years ago from a Halloween mask shop at a local mall after Halloween. They were "scratch and dent" which is fine by me! I also find them at yard sales from time to time, as low as .25 each. All my best stuff comes from yard sales.

[kungfubonanza]

Gothic Nightmare, I built a simplified version of your ghost last year, and I had really good luck with it. Instead of building the T-frame and eye bolts, I ran the fishing line through staples that were stapled directly into the ceiling (I left them hanging out just slightly so the fishing line could move freely), and I hung the head at a static height, instead of having it move up and down with the motion of the fan. It worked well, was cheap, and the staples left just a tiny a hole.

So...a belated thanks for the how-to!

[wolfen manor]

oh man the twitching torso was cool...nice GN.

[MacabreManor]

I'd like to see that torso in action. Plus, I think I could tinker around with that fan thing to make it work fine for my needs. I can't think of a reason not to try it, but that's only if time allows and three months away I'm already rushing.

[Gothic Nightmare]

Gothic Nightmare, I built a simplified version of your ghost last year, and I had really good luck with it. Instead of building the T-frame and eye bolts, I ran the fishing line through staples that were stapled directly into the ceiling (I left them hanging out just slightly so the fishing line could move freely), and I hung the head at a static height, instead of having it move up and down with the motion of the fan. It worked well, was cheap, and the staples left just a tiny a hole.

So...a belated thanks for the how-to!

Your welcome! That's why we are all here.

I'd like to see that torso in action. Plus, I think I could tinker around with that fan thing to make it work fine for my needs. I can't think of a reason not to try it, but that's only if time allows and three months away I'm already rushing.

In the how-to there is a link to a short video of it in action. It doesn't do much, but it did startle pretty much everyone. I know what you mean about time.

[MarrocBoneMage]

Cool idea...thanks for sharing. I might play around with this idea since it seems so simple.

[Big Howlin]

Hmmm I might try that out this year. I wanted to make one but never had the time or resources. This seems do-able.