Hearse - Final Pics

Pictures of the completed hearse.

 
 
 

Hearse - Suspension

An faux-leaf springs assembly is made so the box has something to connect to the wheel axle.  Two of these were made of differing heights to account for the difference in size between the front and rear wheels.  They are secured to the carriage box via carriage bolts so it can be disassembled and stored.

 

Last Year

Halloween 2012 will officially be the last year of Nightmare on Bayshore.  A big 'Thank You' to everyone who has come out to check out our display over the last 9 years we've done this.  The neighborhood has been absolutely supportive of us and we hope we added to your enjoyment of the best holiday of the year.

Despair not - for we aren't moving far away.  Join us next year for Black Rock Graveyard on Lanyard Lane in Stansbury Park!

Hearse - Box

The box for the hearse is constructed using 1x4 common whitewood and 1/8" hardboard/luan.  The box sides are held together using angle brackets at the top and carriage bolts at the bottom.  This way everything can come apart for *cough* easy *cough* storage.

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.