The final product really came out nice.  I used the two columns on each side of the coffin.  Since the coffin is the main prop I put these on the side....only one has the pop-up head.  As people waited for the coffin to begin I would hit the remote control and watch them jump.  The pumpkin head on the top is bolted down.....and....a standard light bulb will not work.  The force of the actuator will break the filament in a regular bulb so I installed a halogen light in each pumpkin.

  I've seen a couple versions of this prop around.  I put my own little spin on the concept and came up with this.  I can spook kids when they are at the far end of the haunt either leaving or just getting to the party......BAM!!   I took a couple of the styrofoam blocks I had and hollowed out the inside to contain the prop head and the cylinder.  I welded up a cylinder post to mount the cylinder and I nearly had a prop.  Just add some texturing to the blocks and the top cap and I've got a new prop. Life is good

 
DSC01455.jpg (1485065 bytes)

This is a look at the heart of the system. It's really basic.  It consists of a base plate and a vertical piece of angle.  The cylinder is attached to the angle trough the mounting hole at the bottom of the cylinder.  The top is just zip tied at the top to stabilize it.

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DSC01456.jpg (1367129 bytes) At the bottom of the unit is the needle valve that controls the cylinder speed.  This allows me to control the speed of the cylinder no matter what the incoming air pressure is.
 The rod on the left is a guide rod that passes through some eye-bolts on the stand to keep the head and cap from rotating as the cylinder cycles.  Most cylinders, unless otherwise stated, will spin freely around.  This guide keeps the prop facing the same direction all night long.  The clear tube is on the top air outlet.  I ran this down to the bottom of the prop just to keep the noise down when the air is released and the top lowers down. DSC01457.jpg (1499246 bytes)
DSC01426.jpg (1429055 bytes) I hollowed out the inside of two of the styrofoam blocks I have to accommodate the mechanism.  I cut a top and bottom plate to 16" square to look like stone pieces. DSC01427.jpg (1178601 bytes)
     
     

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