Showing posts with label Closed Casket Studios. Show all posts

Animated Swaying Zombie Prop

Another prop for the 2025 haunt display is now done! My new swaying zombie animatronic is now ready to go out into the yard...

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After reviewing last year's display, I knew that I wanted to add some new props with movement this year. My time was short, so I needed something quick and easy. A few years ago, I had built a side-to-side rotating skeleton with lantern sitting on a tombstone with a quick and dependable kit from Spider Hill Prop Works, so I went back to them to see what they had available.

I settled on their Animated Swaying Zombie kit, complete with mounted wiper motor and all PVC pipe sections, and got to work assembling it. I really have to give a big shoutout to Spider Hill, because this kit had literally everything needed to assemble the full figure along with detailed instructions on how to assemble it. The figure went together quickly and easily and was soon ready for finishing. And the fit and finish on the completed kit was top notch.

I used a prop head from good friend to the Cemetery, Dave at Closed Casket Studios. The decayed head worked perfectly for this piece, and the best part is that I already had it sitting in my collection! The detailed sculpt really set the entire piece off nicely...

For the clothing, I lucked out and used a full, already-distressed suit that I had used for a zombie costume 10 years ago. It was just sitting in my basement unused, so it worked perfectly for this. And luckily, it fit the dimensions of the kit nicely.

I also ended up grabbing a cheap pair of white plastic zombie hands from eBay to finish the figure. The white plastic ended up matching the color of the prop head and they were pretty close on scale to the rest of the figure. It took a bit of rigging, but they fit snug into the pipe ends of the arms, and they look good when the arms are swaying freely as the figure rotates, almost as if they are reaching out to grab you.

To finish the piece off, I added an MP3 player with external speaker to the inside of the body. I had an old zombie audio track (unfortunately, I can't remember where I got it) that I dug up and used, which ended up working perfectly. A really nasty, gurgling vocal to add the final accent to a really great prop.

I am SUPER happy with the way this one turned out and with how easily it all went together. It is going to look fantastic sitting next to my crypt, right next to the walkway where all of the trick-or-treaters have to pass by to get their candy. I think it will be an intimidating challenge for some to get by as it growls and rotates...

Hangin' Out At Closed Casket Studios

I'm always reminded of how cool it really is to live in Ohio in regards to all things Halloween. A rich history of famous haunted attractions and a top-notch group of prop builders that all call this area home.

But having one right in your own back yard (okay, technically we now live 20 minutes apart since we both moved to new locations, but still!) is definitely one of the coolest!

This year, as things continue to get back to somewhat normal, I again got the chance to go hang out with good friend of the Cemetery, Dave Shonk at Closed Casket Studios, where we got to kick back with some special pumpkin beverages, talk about all things Halloween, and most importantly get a special sneak peek at all the new prop heads and masks to be unveiled at this year's Transworld Halloween & Attractions Show!

And now that the show is officially underway, I can show off his absolutely killer work. Thanks, Dave, for letting me come hang out and get some much-needed Halloween energy from your cool shop!

And if you happen to be in the St. Louis area, do yourself a favor and go hit Dave's booth to check out his incredible work. Closed Casket Studios is at Transworld booth #407.

Check out that old novelty Halloween Sounds of Horror cassette! Wouldn't it be cool to be able to hear the wonderful sounds of that old "spooky sounds" cassette again??

(And thanks for the swag! You KNOW I'm a sucker for old Haunted Schoolhouse & Laboratory memorabilia!!)

Closed Casket Studios Haunt, 2021

One of the things that I really wanted to do this Halloween season was take time out of my busy schedule and go see other peoples' haunts. Fortunately, with the various weekend trick-or-treat times, I finally had an opportunity.

On the night before Halloween, I was able to make it over to Dave Shonk from Closed Casket Studios' amazing yard haunt.

Killer props featuring his signature Closed Casket work, tons of trick-or-treaters running around, and perfect weather made for a great time. Seeing his work really inspired me for my display the next night and gave me motivation to improve on what I have and to go even bigger next year.

Enjoy the stunning work of the Closed Casket Studios haunt, 2021:

While the display looked great during the daytime, it was absolutely taken to the next level after dark, when the lighting adding so much more depth and dimension.

That scarecrow head looks vaguely familiar... (it's the same Closed Casket Studios The Harvester prop head that I use on The Harvester of Brine, centerpiece of Highbury Cemetery! The only two copies in existence and both look amazing, if I do say so myself!!)

Hangin' at Closed Casket Studios, 2019

For the past two years, I posted this exact same thing. I have the amazing luck of living five minutes away from Closed Casket Studios, so I get the chance to go hang out with Dave, drink a few beers, talk about everything Halloween, and check out all the new pieces he has rolling out this year. There are definitely worse ways to spend a Friday night!

This year the post comes a bit later than usual, as I skipped the Transworld show with them in March. I usually go over just before the show and post up some teasers as we're headed due west to St. Louis. There's been a lot going on over in my neck of the woods this year, so I'm behind, but there are still some really cool new sculpts and pieces creeping out from Dave's basement.

If you missed the Transworld show, you can still check out his new work at the upcoming Midwest Haunters Convention in Chicago this June. And if you're there, be sure to tell him that I sent you. You won't get anything special or anything, but at least I'll know that someone is still reading this blog...

And if you're going to miss both shows, just sit back and check out the photos below. You can always visit his site and pick up any of his pieces there! Enjoy!