Theedwin's Entry "Flying Crank Reindeer"

[theedwin]

Hello all,

Well, I almost have all the pieces, now to just put them together. I will start off with this pic:

http://i443.photobucket.com/albums/qq158/theedwin/stuff/FCRchip.jpg

This is the "Guts" of the creation.

Basically, it is a modified FCG (Flying Crank Ghost) but will make Reindeer appear to be flying and pulling Santa's Sleigh. I am going to mount the motor with the large washer in the middle of a 3 ft long by 10 inch wide wooden "holder". I am going to run the strings from the motor assembly through various eyelets along the 3 foot wood holder, and attach them to the reindeer. The Reindeer will be attached to each other with some ribon so that they won't spin sideways (as that always happens when you hang anything from string) The sleigh with Santa will be mostly stationary except for subtle movement from the Reindeer attached to it.

The Reindeer are some small stuffed reindeer that one of the casinos gave out last year, I managed to find 8 of them at various thrift stores. The sleigh I still have to purchase, but I have seen several that I like and should be light enough to use.

I have only made 1 small FCG before, but it wasn't a ghost. I hope this works out well and won't involve me throwing it across the room several times...... LOL

More pictures coming!

Edwin

[putrid]

Totally cool Theedwin! Looking forward to seeing your progress on this one. This IS cool!

[bethene]

wow, great idea!! can't wait to see it!

[Sickie Ickie]

FCR, eh? Great idea!

[theedwin]

Yep Sickie, a bonafide FCR!

Here are some pics of it coming together.

Measure once cut twice! LOL

http://i443.photobucket.com/albums/qq158/theedwin/Christmas%2009/Theatre3110.jpg

Checking the measurements against Blitzen

http://i443.photobucket.com/albums/qq158/theedwin/Christmas%2009/Theatre3109.jpg

Coming together

http://i443.photobucket.com/albums/qq158/theedwin/Christmas%2009/Theatre3112.jpg

Almost done with the frame.

http://i443.photobucket.com/albums/qq158/theedwin/Christmas%2009/Theatre3113.jpg

Placing the motor

http://i443.photobucket.com/albums/qq158/theedwin/Christmas%2009/Theatre3114.jpg

Still have to add the string, and the reindeer.

http://i443.photobucket.com/albums/qq158/theedwin/Christmas%2009/Theatre3115.jpg

Here's the string!

http://i443.photobucket.com/albums/qq158/theedwin/Christmas%2009/Theatre3093.jpg

A video anyone?

http://i443.photobucket.com/albums/qq158/theedwin/Christmas%2009/th_Theatre3116.jpg (http://s443.photobucket.com/albums/qq158/theedwin/Christmas%2009/?action=view&current=Theatre3116.flv)

Still lots to do, but I did get alot done tonight. It looks like the reindeer are trying to kill each other, but really they're not. I still have to "saddle and bridle" them with the ribbon, it will make them cooperate a bit more I hope. It was insanely slow tonight, so I was able to get alot done. The only power tool I had to use was a drill. I bribed the Casino Engineers with movie passes to do the cutting for me!!!!

Now for the painting, the sleigh, and a whole bunch of other stuff. Hopefully work will be alot busier tomorrow and I won't have time for any of that!

Edwin

[Frosty]

I like it :) yeah i see what your saying about making them all cooperate at the same time. Thats going to be a tough issue but i know you will figure something out cant wait to see it completed.

[Frosty]

NOW! where do i get 8 of those reindeer :)

[Sickie Ickie]

The reindeer are definate cuties. I see what you are going for Edwin, and it's looking good. Have you thought about increasing the length of the lever to make the deer go higher or lower?

[EnlightenedGrinch]

Cool idea!! I like it. Looks like it's coming along smoothly.
I'm surprised that reindeer motor has enough torque to lift all 8 deer. I know it will reverse direction if it senses too much resistance.
I agree with Sickie. Maybe a longer crank?

[theedwin]

Hi all,

Work has been busy, and so have I. I see where you are coming from Sickie and Enlightened, but I like the lever length as is. (already using a piece as the lever from my "Erector" set.) I was a bit hurried at work on this project, but honestly, I wanted to see if a Reindeer motor would actually do a FCG mechanism with 8 strings... I was just happy it worked! LOL

I was going to try 9 strings, but I didn't want to go "Putrid" after all... (that was a joke..) (I would honestly like to keep this thread down to 3 pages at the most, unlike Putrid who has 457,000 pages on his post..... ) LOL - that was a joke too.....

I need to get back to my lettuce heads now... LOL

Edwin

[putrid]

LOL 228,000 of those pages are,
"Well that didn't work"
Looking forward to seeing the finished prop. Is this something that you could use at your job next Christmas?

[Sickie Ickie]

I could easily see this over the ticket booth window.

[theedwin]

Hi Guys,

Busy day today, but didn't get to the project. :(

I will definitely be using this for work for several things. For Harry Potter this summer I plan on using it for the floating candles, I also plan on using it for some fish to make them appear swimming. I have a few more ideas that I have in mind, but can't think of them at the moment. I do tend to recycle my projects, it is more cost effective that way, and people don't know. They just think I am extra smart or something.... HA HA

Hopefully I will have some time on Saturday!

Edwin

[Just Whisper]

I'm surprised that reindeer motor has enough torque to lift all 8 deer. Well, it IS a reindeer motor, after all. LOL


I could easily see this over the ticket booth window.
Or on my front porch.:twisted:

Edwin, I am really loving this prop. and I am a sucker for anything utilizing stuffed animals (I still sleep with a bear... and a stuffed animal too)LOL
I think it will look great and for your information you really are smart.

[theedwin]

Thanks "Just Whisper" :D

I really appreciate that from you since I hear that you are the featured speaker at some symposium coming up! I also checked out your "how to" web page, Me thinks you and I are on the same page! ;)

Wait til you see my "Tinker Toy" Bunny!

E

[Sickie Ickie]

Just a reminder. March 19th is the ending time for all entries. :)

[theedwin]

Here is the update that I did today.

I wish that photobucket was being a bit more cooperative today, but here is what I got so far:

Bridling up the reindeer

http://i443.photobucket.com/albums/qq158/theedwin/Christmas%2009/Picture149.jpg

Bridled up and ready to fly!

http://i443.photobucket.com/albums/qq158/theedwin/Christmas%2009/Picture152.jpg

FLYING!

http://i443.photobucket.com/albums/qq158/theedwin/Christmas%2009/Picture153.jpg

(Notice the Easter Bunny in the background.....)

I have a couple of videos that I am still uploading, see em on the next post!

Edwin

[theedwin]

Happy St. Patrick's Day!!!

Here are the videos, Can anyone guess who just got a new video camera???

Video 1.

YouTube - Mar 17 2009 VID00002

(I love background noise! lol)

I need to add an inside ring of ribbon/"Bridal".

Video #2. The HOW and WHY it works.

YouTube - Mar 17 2009 VID00005

I still need a pic of a newspaper, I need to either paint or wrap the box of the unit, I should at least attempt to hide the "wires". I need to do alot of things! LOL

I am sure that Sickie will be along pretty soon to tell us how many seconds we have left! LOL

Edwin

[Sickie Ickie]

Lookin great!

[EnlightenedGrinch]

Cool prop!! Kind of looks like they are sort of "hovering", waiting for further instructions!
Great job, theedwin!

[Just Whisper]

Oh Edwin, I just love it. It is adorable. And nicely done.

[putrid]

Totally cool Theedwin!

[theedwin]

Hello All,

Here is the pic of the newspaper. Sorry it is the USA Today, but that is all they had left at the shop in the casino. I guess I could have gotten "Strippers Weekly", but I didn't think that appropriate. (LOL, just kidding)

http://i443.photobucket.com/albums/qq158/theedwin/Christmas%2009/Picture154.jpg

Here is a picture of the finished FCR. The stanchions are not part of it, I just used them to hold it up. Eventually it will hang from the ceiling.

http://i443.photobucket.com/albums/qq158/theedwin/Christmas%2009/Picture155.jpg

Now for the costs:

2X6X8 wood $3.64
plywood $4.50
Screws $1.00
Motor $5.00 (after Christmas sale)
String .25
Washer .42
Reindeer $6
Santa .25
Sleigh .50
Wrapping paper .50
eyelets .50
Safety pins .25
Grand Total!!!!!!!! $22.81

This was alot of fun, and a bit frustrating at times but I am glad that it worked and turned out pretty good. I will definitely be using this idea again and again.

Edwin

[bethene]

it is so cute, theedwin, love the reindeer!! good job!

[DanoNJ]

I take it this will be an indoor display. (?) Pretty neat!

it would look great inside of a large picture window!!

[Mummy deer-est]

That is great! You did such a good job!