Zombie Mind Control

DarkLore · #1 09-22-2009

This prop is one of several brain jars I am building. I wanted it to have a bit of a steampunk look to it.

In one of the other thread's I mentioned that I have built several props that use internal servos to drive animatronic movement. (see Mourning Wood Stew thread) The oversized eye on the front panel is driven by a couple Hitec servos. The controller is stored inside the case.

On the side of the case, the brass grill secures a speaker (4" if I recall correctly). Lifting the water meter lid, reveals the servo mechanisms for those interested enough to want a look. I figure this type of prop can be educational and inspiring as well.

All of the lights on the front are led backlit, driven by a 9v battery. Thanks to Spideranne for the clear leds I used. They were so bright I had to mount paper between the light and the lens to keep from blinding the person looking at the prop.

So...why call it a Zombie Mind Control? I built three standing shiatsu zombies that have been wandering around my garage for the past month. I had so much fun building them, I figured, if a Chinese guy can put thousands of terra cotta warriors in his basement....why can't I have a few thousand zombies haunting my garage in the after life? 2,997 more to go...whew.

Each zombie has amplified sound (see woot thread) that will turn on when power is applied. (Credit to Joker for bringing Zombie technology to the DFW/Okie MnT.) So I thought...Zombies eat brains....why not use one for bait? The first switch on the panel controls the front lights. The next two switches control wall outlets built into the back of the prop. Basically making this just a thoughtful power strip I guess. Turn on the power and the zombies on the left start thrashing about...."Eat Brains....arggh." Next switch....and you get zombie chorus in stereo.

Here's how the zombies are made....

2x4 sections for legs. A 9" box in the middle to fit a shiatsu w/the handles sawed off. Wood planks used to make feet. The rest is simply pvc, pool noodles, and one of your Dad's old torn up suits.

The brain jar itself is lined with blue lights that flash around the top of the rim. You cannot see those lights in any of these photos. The red lights are wired c7 lights with a bimetal switch so they randomly pulse like a Frankenstein lab. I should add...this prop is made to match a prop I did last year that I call The Petrified Man (my favorite prop).

I created this thread so I could continue a discussion I started in another thread. What is a good light solution to light up the brain jar without the bulbs generating a lot of heat? (You should have seen the look on the lady's face today as I purchased about two dozen bottles of hand sanitizer to put in this jar.)

I'd also like to find an old clock or something that has a brass ring I steal to seal off the rim of the brain jar containment area. I might have to settle for gold colored door stripping.

For those curious...the brain is not from a store. You're going to have to ask a buddy for a spare brain, make yourself a mold and....well....figure it out. Luckily some of us have friends that work with cadavers. Muu-hu-ha-ha-ha.

(see Fritz42_male's $10 servo controller for more picaxe info.)

jaege · #2 09-23-2009

Thats a nice looking prop. Great for the mad scientist lab!

Toktorill · #3 09-23-2009

Wow, that's a beautiful piece of work!!!

IMU · #4 09-23-2009

Very nice ... did you make the brains?

ghost37 · #5 09-23-2009

WOW! Great job, Love it!

joker · #6 09-23-2009

Nice prop DL.

Where's the vid of the Zombie Horde?

DeathTouch · #7 09-23-2009

That is too cool. And the name sounds like a rock band.

scareme · #8 09-23-2009

Wow! That thing's fantastic. I'd love to see your haunt this Halloween. It's going to be wild. By the way, I seem to have lost my mind when I was down in Texas. It's not the one you are using, is it?

RoxyBlue · #9 09-23-2009

That is just a beautiful piece, DL, and I would love to see the video when everything is in place.

Hmm, I used to have a co-worker who acted as if he'd left his brains at home. I think I know where they might be now...

fritz42_male · #10 09-23-2009

I am sooooooo jealous!

Where the heck did you get those fantastic lights and the meters?

When I was back in the UK recently, I sold off some old sailing kit including some bras portholes with screw down covers - they would have done very nicely to keep the brain in the jar so the zombies couldn't get at it!

Maybe you could find something similar in a chandlery?

http://www.huronlights.com/new_store.../BP-702-lg.jpg

Or even mock one up in carboard and bits and spray with brass effect spray?