Dave the Dead's Monster Mud Entry

For Whom the Bell Tolls

video of reaper in action is here
monstermud contest :: monstermud contest video video by davethedead - [email protected]@[email protected]@http://vid105.photobucket.com/player.swf?file=http://vid105.photobucket.com/albums/m240/davethedead/monstermud%20contest/[email protected]@[email protected]@[email protected]@[email protected]@[email protected]@[email protected]@m240/davethedead/monstermud%20contest/monstermudcontest002





other pix of the prop in progress are here
monstermud contest pictures by davethedead - [email protected]@[email protected]@http://static.photobucket.com/player.swf?file=http://vid105.photobucket.com/albums/m240/davethedead/monstermud%20contest/[email protected]@[email protected]@[email protected]@[email protected]@[email protected]@[email protected]@m240/davethedead/monstermud%20contest/monstermudcontest002

Materials:
Small square of plywood: free from furniture warehouse (base and tombstone)
Grey Cloth : free from furniture warehouse
Approx 25 inches of 3/4 inch pvc: $0.50
PVC T fitting $0.15
Chickenwire 2ft X 2ft square approx. $0.50
1 ft aluminum angle (left over from other project) $1.00
small skull (from horribly broken skeleton) $2
2 green LED's wire, resistor, 9volt battery connector,9volt battery $2
Small motor scrounged from electric fireplace---approx value $9
end of cord $1
1/4 can black spraypaint $0.25
various small quantities of acrylic for drybrush highlights $0.25
approx 2 tbs of sculpt or coat (for moving arm) $0.25
aluminum pole (scrounged from trash) free
bell $2
coathangers for fixed arm form and staff top-free
Spanish moss $0.25

Total $19.15 (although most of this was FREE to me, I have included approx prices)

Figure stands a WHOPPING 29 INCHES TALL!!!!

Procedure:
Mechanism to move staff was made from aluminum angle and some wood scraps. It is a basic crank mechanism to move the staff back and forth. Pvc post and T were screwed to the plywood base. Skull was then attached to pvc. Led eyes hot glued into skull and wired to a 9 volt battery . Chickenwire was wrapped around pvc to the form of robe, leaving access to motor and mechanism. Tombstone was screwed to base in front of form. Fabric was then cut in 4 strips and applied to form after being coated with Monstermud standard formula. Th e movable arm was coated with sculpt or coat only on the ridges of the fabric, leaving the fabric stiff but still moveable. The elbow was left uncoated. Monstermud was also applied to tombstone in 2 layers. While the 2nd layer was still wet, the words were scratched into the mud. Black spraypaint applied to figure, and entire project was drybrushed in several colors. Spanish moss was added for the finishing touch.