Monster in a Box Halloween Prop Tutorial
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- Опубликовано: 22 авг 2018
- This is a brief tutorial on how I built my “Monster in a Box” (2017) using a single FrightProps.com wiper motor and a FrightProps PicoBoo controller. "The Crate" was built from scrap wood and three old pallets. With the help of a couple friends, we were able to come up with the "bottom rocker" idea and have the movement of the lid assist in the rocking of the box. The key to this is, off-setting your balance point. In this particular case, the box (without the lid attached), "wants to rest" on its back edge. Once the lid is attached and the motor is in the "park" position, the “lid legs” keep the box in a neutral position. As the lid/legs move upward, the box rocks backward to its natural resting position. As the lid/legs move down, the box returns to its neutral position, thus giving the illusion of a rocking motion. Very important, be mindful of your weight distribution inside box. If not done properly your motor may bog down. Good Luck!!!!!
Special thanks to Elisa, Scotty, The Dave, Jeff, and Chris for all the inspiration and help! 
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Nice job on this prop! I really like it!!
Thank you, sir (or ma'am)!
This is quite brilliant! I have been looking to upgrade my box to have more throw on the lid. These kind of boxes are always a hit at Halloween. I love how yours rocks forward and back because of shifting weight. Couldn't be a better solution really.
It took a little while to figure out but we made it work. Much appreciated!
We need a step by step of this Monster in a Box. This is the best one so far! Really nice job. But really a step by step video would get a lot of views.
Willy, thanks for the comment, I appreciate it. A step by step video would have been possible if I knew what I was doing when I was building it =) Like many DIY projects, this was completed over the course of a couple weeks with ALOT of trial and error. Unfortunately, my brief tutorial is more for inspiration than instruction. Thanks again
No problem! I’m going to try to create one next year. Have a great Halloween!
Can I ask the outside dimensions of box please. Really good job on this. The best I’ve seen!!
Hey there John, thank you for the compliment! The approximate dimensions are W- 35" x H -22" x D- 23". FYI, It's fairly big. The only rhyme or reason to these dimensions are, I built it so that it would fit on the bottom shelf of the storage rack in my garage (when not in use). Hope this helps!
What did you use for the rocker assembly?
The "rocker mechanism" is single unit comprised of three parts. A piece of 2x4 (approx 16") with identical semi-circles screwed on to each end (kind of looks like a catamaran). I then drilled matching holes in the 2x4 and the bottom of the box so I could connect the two with a few nuts and bolts. This allowed for easy removal of the mechanism when storing the box. There was no real rhyme or reason as to why I used these dimensions other than it was what I had on hand that would work. Hope this helps
Is the Fog Machine hooked to the PicoBoo also ?
No. The fogger is not controlled by the PicoBoo. It has a separate "fog machine timer", as seen in 2:27 of the video. It is a small black box with yellow, red, and green square buttons. The timer utilizes two dials that control the frequency and duration of the fogger blasts. These fogger timers are available at most halloween stores or places that sell foggers for halloween for around $25.
Any chance you could post a pic of the rocker you made? I got an idea but pic would be awesome. Thanks man
Sorry but the Box is all set up and ready to go for Halloween already so removing the rocker would be a pain in the a$$ at the moment (plus I don't know how to upload pictures in the comment section). Try this...draw an oval on a small piece of wood board at least an inch thick. Cut it out. Now cut that "oval" in half, length-wise, that gives you your two semi-circles that are flat on one side, curved on the other. With a piece of 2x4 flat on your work bench, screw one of your semi-circles (flat side down) to one end of the 2x4. Repeat on the other side. Flip it over and voila!! You've got a rocker. Good Luck
@@miguelmejia2966 ok kool. Last thing did u make two of them or just one?
Just one
Just one@@erwinschwarz515
This is great. What did you use for the rocker feet?
The "rocker mechanism" is single unit comprised of three parts. A piece of 2x4 (approx 16") with identical semi-circles screwed on to each end (kind of looks like a catamaran). I then drilled matching holes in the 2x4 and the bottom of the box so I could connect the two with a few nuts and bolts. This allowed for easy removal of the mechanism when storing the box. There was no real rhyme or reason as to why I used these dimensions other than it was what I had on hand that would work. Hope this helps
@@miguelmejia2966 yup. Got it pictured in my head. Great idea. Just showed it to the wife and she's willing to break the pallets up so I can build it lol.
I know you posted this over 5 years ago, But am I assuming correctly that there is room to get your hands in to connect the lid? Also, what is the purpose of the lid legs, brackets, holes, etc? I thought the lid goes up and down from wiper motor and hinges? Please advise
1) You are correct sir, there is a little bit of room to connect the lid. This is done by removing the plastic "bars" (which are only wedged into place) from the window as well as removing the hanging monster mask. Attaching the lid is blindly done by "feel."
2) Without the legs (with the rocker attached to the bottom) the box would merely rest on its back edge and only the lid would move (up & down). It's the down force of the legs (thru the holes in the bottom of the box) which rocks the box forward to a neutral position. Then when the lid moves up, the legs lift as well, allowing the box to fall back on the rear edge. Brackets keep the legs in place. No hinges were used in my design.
Clear as mud??? Hope this helps
Thanks so much for the quick reply, I do appreciate it. So the entire lid lifts? Didn't see that.... One other quick question, where you show the IR sensor, it doesn't look like there is an opening for it to be effective. Is that mounted facing out? I just got the box made and am having fun trying to make something very similar. Won't be putting a fog machine in as this will be used in a "Haunted Hangar" that we do for young kids and the hangar gets filled with fog . @@miguelmejia2966
Yes, the entire lid lifts (although not very high in the rear).
Also, the IR sensor does face outwards from the frontside of the box. You can see it to the right of the fogger at minute 1:03 in the video. I believe I made the gap slightly bigger in that area (seen at 0.11). A lot of trial and error was going on during the build. @@user-pm8bx9sf2n
Thanks again for prompt reply. I am so going to have fun making this thing. Even tho it's a lot of work for a 6 hour event once a year. LOL
@@miguelmejia2966
Hey Miguel, So just got a control system worked out (Arduino with relays) and want to start putting this all together. It looks like in the pictures that the drive arm off of the wiper motor connects off center from front to back. Can you tell me about how much off center (from front to back) that connection point is? I know you state to keep weight in balance and I will work on that too.