The Well to Hell

[ChrisBartram]

My most sophisticated prop from last year (unfortunately was damaged by construction workers working on the house halloween afternoon). It was working up till then though, and was pretty cool if I do say so myself! :-)

It was a 2 part prop; first a witch (pvc frame, witch costume, wig, hat, scary-terry animated skull, and speakers hidden in her chest). As TOTs approach, she began her spell, calling forth a demon from the well. Mouth moving, and diffused LEDs in the eyes flashing as she spoke.

Beyond her a well. PIR trigger hidden on the well triggers the program, controlled by a PROP1 mounted in a complicated electronics "box" inside the well.

As the witches' spell proceeds, the PROP1 engages a series of relays; first comes a set of black-lights mounted behind the well, which suddenly illuminate various demonic writing on the wall beyond (written in black-light paint). Next, a series of fans mounted inside the bottom of the well kick in, blowing air up through a narrow channel along the inside-front of the well. Next the fog machine inside the well, blowing into the same channel; fans cause the smoke to "blast" up out of the well.

Finally another relay fires and turns on a pair of red and yellow spotlights down inside the well (pointing up and illuminating the smoke so it looks like hell-fire - turned out very well!); just then the PROP1 triggers the 12V solenoid attached to a large cylinder mounted inside the well, shooting up the demon's head and hands out of the well.

Detailed specs and photos (and some video clips) at http://www.creepynights.org/Projects/2006/WellToHell/index.html

Hopefully we'll get it repaired in time for H2007 :-)

-Chris Bartram
www.creepynights.org

[ChrisBartram]

The Well to Hell WAS repaired (AND enhanced) for 2007 and was a big hit!

Lots of cosmetic enhancements, some functional fixes, and a little bit of reprogramming and the well was up and scaring the TOTs this year!

PROP1 controlled, with a PIR, a Rogue Robotics uMP3, RC4 relay controller, AP-8 sound card, pneumatic cylinder, black lights, fog machine, and scary-terry animated skull. This prop has it all! :-) It made it through the entire '07 season in great shape too and we're looking forward to resurrecting it in '08!

Details and a video of the well in action available at http://www.creepynights.org/Projects/2007/Well-to-Hell/index.html