Anyone Here Build Props?

6452 Views 57 Replies 31 Participants Last post by ScareFX, Sep 16, 2006

Zombie-F

Discussion Starter · Jun 27, 2004

Just curious if anyone else who visits here builds any of their own stuff. I do as it's the best way to get exactly the kinds of props you want. Alot of the stuff on the market is either too cutesy, too cheesy, or too damned expensive.

Any ambitious haunters frequenting this site?

21 - 40 of 58 Posts

Dr Morbius

· #21 · Sep 22, 2005

Ok,first off, I want to commend you, Skullandbone for your website..It is beautifully designed and your props are AMAZING!

I just had to write this post to tell you all, GO TO HIS SITE!..check out the prop section on corpsing a bucky, and look at the Picture of the Bucky with the Panty hose first put on..I nearly fell out of my chair laughing at this one!!

Bolt that pelvis, Skullandbone! HAHA...

and thanks for the entertainment...

Bob

ScareFX

· #22 · Sep 22, 2005

Dr Morbius said:
Ok,first off, I want to commend you, Skullandbone for your website..It is beautifully designed and your props are AMAZING!

I just had to write this post to tell you all, GO TO HIS SITE!..check out the prop section on corpsing a bucky, and look at the Picture of the Bucky with the Panty hose first put on..I nearly fell out of my chair laughing at this one!!

Bolt that pelvis, Skullandbone! HAHA...

and thanks for the entertainment...

Bob

I'll second that!

Great looking site and wonderful looking props. Excellent yard lighting tutorial as well. Thanks for sharing all that great work Skullandbone!

http://skullandbone.com

SpectreTTM

· #23 · Sep 22, 2005 (Edited)

Hey SkullAndBone,

Great site and Great props. I have a quick question.

How do you get the look of this prop?

http://skullandbone.com/page_07.htm

What kind of blue lights do you use to get the effect ?
and what kind of painting technique did you use to get that effect.

mrhalloween

· #24 · Sep 23, 2005

I have been making props for a long time! When I was a teenager I made my first ones! A hollowed out wig head, the reflector form a flashlight and a cheap mask. A wire coat hanger shoved into the bottom of the head and covered with an old window shear! I made several and ran them off a single 6volt battery in a box I made with switches to turn the individual "ghosts" on and off! Hid them in the trees along the driveway, and we didn't see any TOT's that year at all!

DeathTouch

· #25 · Sep 23, 2005

Skullandbones, now I now your site. That is that site that John from Pumpkinrot.com said he checks out all the time. You have some really nice stuff. But, you need more photos.

Blackwidow

· #26 · Sep 24, 2005

I too am a big fan of SkullandBone...Rob is very talented indeed!
I can't wait to finish my first bucky corpse. If it turns out half as good as Rob's I'll be extremely happy!

...and I thought putting pantyhose on my own legs was hard, HA! Try getting them on a bucky!! :googly:

Frighteners Entertainment

· #27 · Feb 18, 2006

Zombie-F said:
Just curious if anyone else who visits here builds any of their own stuff. I do as it's the best way to get exactly the kinds of props you want. Alot of the stuff on the market is either too cutesy, too cheesy, or too damned expensive.

Any ambitious haunters frequenting this site?

I build all my moving props and caskets. But most of the static stuff I buy and tweek it. There just isn't enough time to do it all anymore.

Well, with one big exception! I'm going to do something for this $20 Prop Contest you're hosting

HibLaGrande

· #28 · Feb 19, 2006

Wow! Skullandbones your site is very cool indeed. I really dig the grave diggers. yuk yuk yuk.

Otaku

· #29 · Feb 19, 2006

I buy a few things (skulls, a Bucky and a couple of Thrifty's) but I build most of the props in my display. Last year I made a few corpses based on Pumpkinrot's designs and methods. I also have a talking Grim Reaper using Scary Terry's ISD driver boards. I use a couple more of the ISD boards for local scares like sounds coming from the bushes (owl hoots, cat screeches and like that). Gets 'em every time. Here's a few pics of last year's efforts:
http://halloweengallery.com/displayimage.php?pos=-2193

Frighteners Entertainment

· #30 · Feb 19, 2006

Looks nice Otaku.
I see why the pumpkinrot is so popular!

Jeff

Otaku

· #31 · Feb 20, 2006

Thanks! The corpses are really fun to build. It took me a couple of tries to get the look I wanted, and now I can't wait to get started on the next ones. It's amazing what can be done with paper mache. I see you know of Pumpkinrot - you should also check out what Bill at www.spookyblue.com has done with John's methods.

DeathTouch

· #32 · Feb 28, 2006

I like the fCG. I guess the person in front is his wife?

Dr Morbius

· #33 · Jul 17, 2006

Shot to the top for all you new members...Do you build your props as opposed to buying them? If so, why? What are the advantages/disadvantages to each?

Sickie Ickie

· #34 · Jul 17, 2006

I don't have the dollars to buy, and it's more fun to use creativity to build.

Hellrazor

· #35 · Jul 17, 2006

I make most of my stuff. You just cant buy good stuff here with out losing an arm and a leg.. literally. So I do the best I can. Its hard to remember in the dark they look better, cuz I want them to look great in the light too...

TearyThunder

· #36 · Jul 17, 2006

It all depends on what it is, how much it costs, and if I want it bad enough as to whether I buy or build. If it's cheap enough I buy. If I can't afford it or can't find it reasonable then I build. For example, lifesized props usually run over $100. I can't afford to spend that much on a prop but I have mastered being able to make them for about $10.00 rather quickly so I go that route. So far I don't have over $50.00 in a prop so I'm think I'm doing pretty well.

Empress Nightshade

· #37 · Jul 17, 2006

We don't have a whole lot of props in our haunt. But, that we do have, I venture to say it's 50% purchased, 25% Donated and 25% created. The reason being is:

1) In a commercial haunt, people are expecting to see fabulous things and I'm not a fabulous propbuilder

2) I just don't have the time

When I was giving haunts in my garage, I built just about everything. A couple of years ago, I was pumping out props every week. Now, I have to concentrate more on marketing and advertising. It sort of takes the fun out of it, ya know...

ruafraid

· #38 · Jul 17, 2006

Empress Nightshade said:
When I was giving haunts in my garage, I built just about everything. A couple of years ago, I was pumping out props every week. Now, I have to concentrate more on marketing and advertising. It sort of takes the fun out of it, ya know...

Empress that just made my heart sink quite a few feet

I realize business is difficult at times (I own and run one myself 7 employee's 13 years) and a non profit is even more challenging for sure. If it aint fun then it aint worth it ! Thats my motto so we need to change that somehow for you ?

slimy

· #39 · Jul 17, 2006

I build about half or more of the props that we have. I like the creativity of Halloween. Halloween should fun. If scaring the crap out of little kids is fun- have at it. If cutesy kid friendly yard balloons are fun ( the bane of Morbius) then go that route. For me, I like coming up with the scenes and using both static props and animatronic. I am a hacker. Why reinvent the wheel? If I can use something from another prop cheaper and easier than to start from scratch - why not?

Last year, I built ScareFX's Hanging Cauldron witch and the scene that was in was one of the big hits of my house.

Empress Nightshade

· #40 · Jul 17, 2006

ruafraid said:
Empress that just made my heart sink quite a few feet I realize business is difficult at times (I own and run one myself 7 employee's 13 years) and a non profit is even more challenging for sure. If it aint fun then it aint worth it ! Thats my motto so we need to change that somehow for you ?

ruafraid,

it IS very challenging for me. Most of the time, I'm doing everything on my own. Last season, I ran myself into the ground. But, I did get a chance to do something I've always wanted to do which was work a drop panel. GREAT FUN! When the haunt was all over, I collapsed and was sick for several months.

This season is different. We have just about all our walls built already, things are falling into place a lot easier and I'm learning from a friend to delegate. Unlike last year, I have an Assistant this year and she's great! So, I'm thinking I'll get a chance to have a bit more fun this season. It just won't be in the form of propbuilding. I built one prop this year (MM Death Angel) whish was a great accomplishment for me. The crew and I will have to build quite a few dummies (10 of them for our Bus Scene). I will probably have to do a few more things, but nothing elaborate and that's because of the way I build my mazes and scenes. Patrons NEVER take the time to look at all the props and decorations and that is the reason why I stopped becoming so elaborate with propbuilding. We are a fast paced haunt. Once people come in and get past the Greeter, they are traveling. Always scare 'em forward! :devil:

Thanks for being concerned for me.

When I started this, I gave myself five years for things to be as they are. Afterward, I figured the haunt would be self sufficient and I wouldn't have to work as hard. This is year #2. We'll see.....

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