My name is Kevin Karstens, and tho I cannot afford to build/run an actual darkride, nor even set up a Halloween yard (we live in an apartment, the wife and I) I have wanted to create a dark ride inspired by Disney's Haunted Mansion since I was about 8 years old, back when my kid sister and I created 'rides' in our backyard (complete with fully operational animatronic figures, powered by record players, audio on cassettes and black light effects) which we pushed neighborhood kids through in a wheel barrow at 25 cents a head...

I finally determined a way, however, to bring my darkride ideas to life...

I am currently creating a 'haunted' theme in miniature/via CGI and models, which I am filming to demonstrate how the attraction might play out...I chose a 'haunted' one first, as they are my personal favorite, and I have created several fully operational miniature scenes from the 'Spectre Seekers: Daark Valley Orphanage' concept/script I came up with ...

Step 1: Making the Miniature Scenes

From concept art and designs to creating the miniature sets (9 of the 11 are completed as of this post), each sequence features fully functional miniature set elements and working special effects, utilizing everything from pepper's Ghost illusions to projections and miniature set details, all constructed from odds and ends in my home. The video linked here (Daark Dreams, Miniature Magic) explains in more detail. The video 'POV' showcases all the work I have completed so far, including a queue section for the 'attraction' at the beginning...

More on this project:

https://www.facebook.com/DaarkOrphanage

http://kkarstens.wix.com/daarkvalleyorphanage

https://www.pinterest.com/kevinkarstens/daark-orph...