Animated Haunted Soul Tree

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Intro: 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

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    19 Discussions

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    MarieM14

    3 years ago

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

    1 reply
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    dionicia12MarieM14

    Reply 3 years ago

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

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    ThomasR37

    3 years ago on Introduction

    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

    1 reply
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    dionicia12mudypawz

    Reply 5 years ago on Introduction

    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.