Animated Haunted Soul Tree

I decided more than four years ago that I was going to have an animated tree in my haunted house, but for a while, I couldn't figure out how I was going to get it to move. I went through three prototypes before I settled on this design. I'm really happy with how it turned out.

The outside is made using a cement form, 1x2 wood pieces, and Great Stuff. There are two car vent motors moving the jaws of the skulls and limbs of the tree. The movement is similar to a FCG (flying crank ghost). Also, there are green LEDs for the tree eyes and red LEDs for the skull eyes. They glow with the use of a 555 timer. The limbs were counterbalanced to ensure the load wouldn't be too much for the motor to handle.

An MP3 player with voices wailing makes this one scary prop for Halloween. Here is a video of the finished tree. Sorry it's a little shaky.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MZMLl4cMC0o

Comments

[dougknowsthai]

hi, I was trying to review your video on the haunted soul tree. The video is marked private.
please advise.
thanks

[dionicia12]

Hi. I fixed the video to be viewable again.

[MarieM14]

Love your tree. Can you explain how the arms are attached to the tree and the motor?

[dionicia12]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0QfqATDW38o at 3:14, I show an open version of the arm mechanism.

[ThomasR37]

Hi dionicia12,

This tree is very cool. My wife and I want to build a tree like yours for halloween 2015.

Could you explain the mechanism to move the jaws, please. Not the FCG, i dont understand where to place the fishing line at the skulls.

Would you help a little.

Thomas

[dionicia12]

This is the video of how I did the jaw. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c6vn858XpCE

[Running Wolf]

Way cool.... trying to get a prop made for the haunt I hang out at.

[mudypawz]

where do you get the skulls? I love your tree
Maryetta

[dionicia12]

I purchased them from Pitini when they had them available for sale to customers a few years back. They havent offered them since, but I keep watching for them.

[Just_Joules]

That is way too cool! Great Job!!

[dionicia12]

Thank you.

[J-Five]

AGHHHH!
But brilliant

[dionicia12]

Thank you.

[J-Five]

Also, you could add a smoke machine. Plus it's great for Halloween night.

[bcbreakaway]

Ingenious!

[dionicia12]

Thank you.

[SeaWingedSiren]

Omg, this is amazing and your very creative

[danlynne07]

that is so awesome. great job.

[dionicia12]

Thank you.

[mikeasaurus]

Wow, that is very spooky! You should include pictures when it's installed. Great work!