Hello Phoenix here, Ive been know as Phoenix for a long time in various places, it started as a nick at university, it became a natural username to use on the internet.... the story behind the nick is rather long, and not really worth the telling.
BTW one more thing Im dyslexic, so appologies for the the huge number of typos.
I Guess Im something of a rareity in these parts, A British haunter.
This year will be my second year of haunting, last years effort was pretty much an automated sound and light show, very limited on the props, but big on surprise (a hidden strobe lamp and 1000W of speakers system is great on the surprise front).
The cornerstone of my haunt system is a computerised control centre of which Ive put the build instructions on my web site.... I believe its worth taking a look at as Ive done a lot of work on it to make it simple to build, and most importantly, simple to program.
Computer Control
This Year Ive found myself in the territory of diminishing returns, mostly because last years simplistic effort was such a great success, everyone has been taliking about it all year long, and everyone is apparantly planning on comming back with friends and such, all of whom would have been warned and expecting, which in turn undermines the surprise elements behind last years sound and light show with a smoke machine for added effect.
So, this year is very much a case of upping the ante, and I started by doubling the capacity of my control system, and researching ways of using a 7.1 sound system as 8 independant speakers such that I can activly manipulate sounds and the speakers they use.... this is also detailed on my website if you are interested.
In addition to the electronic stuff there is props, Ive scored a couple of anatomical Skeletons from Ebay and a banshee prop, the first Skeleton Ive corpsified and added some electronics to the skull to make it talk, the second skeleton I only got a week ago and frankly not got time to do much with him, so hes become cruicified Joe, and will probably be used as a static prop in the graveyard... which the wife is currently populating with home made gravestones.
Then there is the Banshee, hm, this is getting to be a bit of a problem..... The idea of the banshee (we call her Mother) is to have her flying and screaming down the hall at the Trick or Treaters after the door opens (automatically), and the talking Skeleton welcomes the victims in, she looks great under UV light, and I plan to hide her behind a curtain so the victims dont suspect anything.
Anyway mother is turning out to be a bit of a problem, the motor I initially got was way inderpowered for the job, so Im hastily trying to rig a car strter motor to do the job.
Last year we also had a talking Pumpkin which I tend to reuse as it is such a simple and effective prop, all you need is a regular carved pumpkin and a Low Voltage lamp....and a control system, then just play a sound track, and flash the lamp in synch, add a little smoke and hey presto a fantasticly effective prop.
Another thing I may change this year is replacing the 20W stobe lamp with a 500W hallogen Spotlamp for the thunder and lightening effect.
Anyway, lots of work to do and only three weeks to go.
