Hearse - Wheels

Time to make hubs for the wheels.  These will serve to hide the bolt/pin holding the wheel to the axel and add visual interest.  A plywood circle is cutout and a notch is routed on the rear side to fit over and conceal the bolt.  Decorative carriage bolts are added to the front and also to secure the hub to the wheel.  1/8" hardboard/luan is ripped down to strips, glued and nailed around the perimeter of the wheel. A plastic skull finial is added to the hub and the whole thing painted true black with some gold leafing applied.

New Project = Hearse

If you haven't guessed already, the new project is a horse drawn hearse.  First up are the wheels.  Obtaining a matching set of wagon wheels is easier said then done, so let's make some.  Two sheets of 3/4" plywood get laminated together by rolling out wood glue, clamping and screwing the pieces together.  To make the spokes, a straight edge is screwed to the middle and spun around while lines are marked.  After drilling pilot holes a jigsaw is used to cut out the pie-shaped pieces then the edges are rounded with a router.

New Project - ???

Getting started early this year with a new *BIG* project.  It's going to be great if I can pull it off.  Some teaser pictures for you - can you guess what it is?

2011 Photos

Here are the photos!

2011 What's New

Here's the new stuff for 2011 with the thoughts and reactions to it:

• Smell-O-Vision.  The fog was supposed to smell like wet dirt and cedar, smelled more like pumpkin spice.  Fail.
• Giant Spider.  People actually sat their kids next to it and took pictures.  Will work out a scare with this guy for next year.  I hate spiders for the record.
• Columns.  Where do you store these?  I have no idea, I'll get back to you when I know myself.  Lighting needs to be more potent.
• Explosives Crate with TNT Plunger.  This was an afterthought done in all of 3 minutes while setting up, probably at a cost of 25 cents.  Those kids that like playing with fire were into it.
• Girl Skeleton.  Another prop that needed some better lighting.  
• Candles.  Added subtle atmosphere.

2011 Halloween Recap

Another successful year!  Unlike the Northeast, the weather was fantastic -- warm with very little wind which made for some excellent fog.  We had over 400 ToTs this year which is way more than we were expecting.   Really tried to have everything setup by Saturday night this year but ended up tweaking things at the last moment as usual.

Cemetery Columns Part VI

Finished the gates to go with the columns.  These were made using PVC and 1x2 wood in the same fashion as the graveyard fence.  Here's some pictures.

Cemetery Columns Part V

After the black-wash painting was complete, some lighter grey and white were added.  Some cracks were also carved into the foam and some moss hot-glued on.  Then the whole column got a coat of polycrylic to seal and waterproof.  Finally, the skeleton sconces from earlier were painted gold, then dusted with black and mounted using drywall screws.  All done with the columns, on to the gates!

Cemetery Columns Part IV

Painting and more painting.  First coat is some exterior kilz primer.  Second coat is another primer tinted grey.  After the primer, the whole thing gets a watered down latex/acrylic mix of dark grey.  Before the paint is dry, a wet rag is used to remove the paint from the high spots but leave it in place in the cracks and crevices.  To give the illusion of more depth, a highlight is added by removing more paint from the top 'lip' of each 'stone' and exposing the grey paint underneath.

Cemetery Columns Part III

Some extra joint compound and some sanding done the other day to add some more definition.  These are now ready to prime for painting.  I've attached some pics too of some 'skeleton sconces' which will be placed on the front of the columns.