It was another busy weekend.  While I was waiting for my power cord for my transmitter, I was messing around with some audio tracks that I was going to use to broadcast as a station id.  I am getting help from a professional who does this for Christmas broadcasts, so yes it will cost me a little bit of cast.  But not much.  This is his first attempt at Halloween, but he is doing a fine job.  I got the first one this past week and was adding different effects on it, just to see what it would sound like.  Here is a same of a station ID that I was messing with.  The music is from Virgil’s CD.

www.deathtouchhorrors.com/Welcome2.mp3

As you can see by the picture below, it was a really busy week.  I started working on my Pumpkinrot scarecrow, I got the witch’s hands done; along with part of the body, the motor was modified a little due to mechanical problems, testing my light controller with the cauldron’s lights, making sure the ladle doesn’t hit the witch in the head, and I got done with a corpse seen in the picture below

So today I got an email that the Transmitter has been shipped.  I am trying to add a few plug-INS to Winamp so it will act like a DJ.  Then I can throw a whole bunch of songs in Winamp and let it be my Halloween Disc Jockey.  It should be cool if I can get it to work.  If not, back to my wireless speaker, which I normally sit out in the yard.

I also started construction of my Pumpkinrot scarecrow.  I bought some wood and I built the stem on the head yesterday.  Still needs painting.  But I am hoping to get this project done soon.

Starting on Friday I started construction of my witch for the cauldron.   Also bought some amber lights from Romans; they now have their Halloween and Christmas stuff up.  So far, I have the main frame up and the motor is part-way working.  It still needs a little more.  My wife even pitched in and helped with the Witch’s face.  She found my stash of clay and went to work on her.  She really looks cool the way she has the face.  Sorry, no pictures.   I was so busy this weekend I didn’t have time to take any.

A few years ago I had a Transmitter from Ramsey that would broadcast my Halloween music for people to hear when they were looking at my display.  Well my dog kind of made it not work any more.  If you know what I mean.  I was trying to save up to buy another one but it doesn't look like it is going to work out.  So I did the best next thing.  I bought a Belkin TuneCast II Transmitter.  Now you are thinking that there is no way this tunecast is going to reach out that far, so the passer bys can listen.  Well, that is true if I didn't modify it to work.  There is a hack for the Tunecast that will allow it to broadcast 300-500 feet.  I have a couple of friends who did the same thing and it worked great.  So, now I am going to do the same.  It will be cool to be able to have the radio station again.

I'm sitting here thinking of all that has to be done and all that is on my plate.  Here's how I see it:

1) I need to write to the businesses on the three corners about a block from me to get them to agree as they did last year to donate their parking lots for our haunt.  Due to zoning, this is the only way we will be able to have our haunted attraction here.  I need to stop procrastinating and do that this week.  In fact, I AM going to do that this week.

2) We are going to be airbrushing our makeup this season.  That means less masks, less messy grease makeup and happier actors.  I purchased a Paasche Airbrush along with an airbrush compressor from Harbor Freight.  I've had it for a week, but have only practiced with it once.  I need to get a wiggle on learning how to use this as August 30th we will be debuting our creature makeup to thousands of baseball fans at Raley Field.  I have yet to receive the airbrush makeup I ordered, but he said it should have been shipped the last part of last week.  If I don't receive it in a few days, he will definitely be hearing from me.

3) Speaking of Raley Field and not hearing from someone...

I've left several messages for the head of marketing of the Sacramento River Cats, our baseball team.  He and I had agreed that I would call him the first of August so that we could finalize our plans for August 30th.  I've left him two messages last week and he has yet to return my call.  I'm getting a bit concerned....

4) The two avenues we thought would be certain to bring us a bus to put on our haunted trail have gone cold.  One has completely closed and we doubt the other avenue will come through.  So, I'm doing all I can by putting up ads in hopes that someone will have a bus that they can either loan or donate to us.  We begin building August 26th and we must have the bus in place by then or forget it.  Once the walls go up, it will be impossible for any vehicle to pass to get to the back for the trail.  I'm getting so desperate that I'm even thinking about having my son in law park his big klunker of a car to replace the bus.  We will have the front, side and back windows concealed by black material and view the from the backseat to the front concealed by a black curtain.  Each person will have to crawl in the back seat and exit the other side.  A monster will be in the front seat behind the curtain, of course.  This could be a great scare since it is in such close scaring quarters.  However, it will definitely slow down traffic and I'm not sure the fire inspector will approve it.  Oh, well.  We'll see.....

5) We bought 600,  22" glow necklaces as a fundraiser to get items we need for the haunt.  We have yet to be successful with selling them.  I'm going to our drive-in on Tuesday and see if they will give us permission to sell them there.

6) As I mentioned earlier, construction begins August 26th.  The haunt will go up much quicker this season as we dont' have to build the walls this year for the expection of a few and we have an actual construction team this time around.  Two guys on our crew who build for a living have friends they say owe them favors and will be happy to pitch in and help.  Wooohoo!  I'm hoping they will have it up and solid in four days.  That comes out to two weekends.  That will leave us with four weekends to get all scenes, decorations and tweaking together before Media Night on October 6th.

There's so much more on my plate that I could write about, but I'll keep it for another day.

So, how has your day gone so far?

PEACE

Emp

I did a lot of work on the cauldron Friday, Sat, and Sun.   A lot of painting and detail work.  I also got the motor working with the witche's ladle.  I didn't get to paint all of the ladle yet, but it will be done soon. If you look at the rings on the cauldron notice what is holding them.  Yes, I made hands to hold them.  The look ok.   I also started work on the witch's head, which will look like the Pumpkinrot witch.  You can guess that this witch will be a combo of ScareFX's cauldron and Pumpkinrot's witch.  The best of both worlds.  Here is a photo of what I got done so far.

This weekend my wife and I were invited to a hearse BBQ.  I must say it was good eats for all. For hearse drivers they sure can cook.  There were a few haunters there beside me.  That would be the 1st picture below.  Donna.  I forgot her haunt name.  Sorry Donna!  There are also a few links to some pictures I took while I was leaving.

Also this weekend I had time to work on my cauldron some more.  I added hands to the sides which will hold the rings for the chains.  Now, I know the rings are a bit big, but I will fix that.  I also bought a few more foam skulls for the front.  ScareFX is never going to produce another prop after see what I did to his awesome witch prop.  Well, you know me, I can just copy it with messing with it just a bit.  Of course, wait till I get the witch on there.  Then tell me what you think.  LOL.

First Picture

2nd Picture

3rd Picture

4th

5th

6th

Picture of cauldron

Laurie and I built this tombstone for HauntForum's Tournament De Tombstone contest. We didn't win (seriously, 4 votes for Claymud?, please...) but we did get a great new stone for our yard.

see how we did it here: http://www.fulcrumsites.com/haunt/html/the_guardian.html

Tonight I started working on the cauldron's base, which is a few 2x8s.  But I ran into a small problem.  The screws that I bought to hold it together were just a little bit small.  It didn't get put together.  I did, on the other hand, put some foam skulls that I bought on the front of the cauldron.  Next I am going to make latex fingers for the cauldron's handles.  I think it might look cool.  Here is a night shot.

Also, Larry from Halloweenforum has started up www.sinisterspace.com.  I had to sign up. It is pretty cool.  Check it out.  My sinisterspace is http://www.sinisterspace.com/Deathtouch

I have been busy...busy...again/still.

Recently launched http://www.SinisterSpace.com Social Community for the Halloween, Haunt, Goth, etc communities.

Spending time working, dealing with community issues, enhancing things and doing what I can.

My girlfriend makes sure I take a little time for relaxation too.

This weekend I worked on my scarecrow for a little bit and my animatronic witch's caldron.   I didn't get an updated picture of my caldron, but here is the start.  You can guess my wife said something about the nice black ring on the patio.  Oppss.  Crap!  The first shows that I had a few gaps in the top foam piece.  Well, as I was at the home hardware store, I found a larger piece.  Oh, goodie.  The piece just about made it all the way around, but I was able to fix that little problem.  You maybe wondering what those little pieces sticking out on the sides of the caldron.  Well, they are from work.  They are a fire detector cap.  They did have larger ones, but I went with the small cap.  I thought it did ok; I might have to make sure they are glued down right.  I also started working on the motor that goes inside.  I almost got it done.  Will have to show you it working some time.

For anyone that noticed, Hauntforum has another contest.  This time the scarecrow contest. Already members have started working on their scarecrows, so I thought I better start on mine.  I kind of ran out of time today, but the picture below show the early workings of my scarecrow.  I know, it doesn't look like a scarecrow.  I am working on that.  It will, I promise.

Update:  Witch Caldron:  I think I need more black paint and I need to fill in gaps on caps before I move on.

Yesterday I got an email from a DragonLady Sue about a new Halloween internet broadcast that talks about all things Halloween.  Like making tombstones, home haunters, music and sound effects, and etc.   I was able to tune in last night, and it really was good.  He was talking about how the term Jack-o-latern came to pass and etc.  You will have to check it out if you have time.  You can listen to it on his site or download it free on Itunes.  Check out the site.

CreepCast Radio

Remember the corpse I was making for my tombstone.  Well, I have been working with him a little.  So that he doesn't look as happy.  He is now part sluch latex and paper mache.  He is the only prop I had a chance to work on this week.  I call him Timmy!  From SouthPark.  I know, too much SouthPark.

I got a little done this weekend.  I worked on my caldron and my corpse for my tombstone.  The problem with the corpse is that his face is just a little too cute for me.  So after taking this picture I tore part of the upper face off to work on his tude.  If you know what I mean.  He just doesn't have that, "I am going to come over there and get you!" look.  It is more like, "I am coming over there to give you a big kiss."  Which I don't like at all.  I guess it is back to research and dev. for me.  Here is the picture I had at the end of the day.

So I was minding my own business today when all of a sudden my wife appears magically and gives me this gift.  To me, this is the gift of Halloween.  Why?  Because it gives me ideas says I.  This thing is awesome.  It spins around with different colors of LED light.  It is perfect for my new prop.  What prop you say?  I guess you will have to find out later.  Ahahahahahah.

Since I saw a few hauntforum members try to building some crosses, I thought I would do the same.  I just did a quick cross last night.  It still needs a little paint, but it coming out nicely.  I think I will build a few more with out the foam skull on top.  Since I ran out of foam skulls.

I have been working on a corpse for the front of my tombstone.  He is starting to look ok.  I am also thinking about using this same method and paper mache to create my ScareFX witch.  Here is a picture as of today.

Today started the voting for hauntforum's Tombstone contest.  I was able to get mine in, luckily.  If you have time, check it out.  Here.  It has been an uphill battle with it.  I think I spent maybe a few hours on it total, even the painting.  I also updated my website with Ironstock pictures.  I think the website needs a little more sound.  If you know what I mean.

Speaking of sound, I am planning on sending a video of this year's haunt to Hauntforum.com.  They are planning on doing like the Halloween-L video DVD thing.  Everyone will send in his/her video and then people can buy the dvd to help raise money for the forum.  I don't normally believe in helping out like this, but Hauntforum is a very good site.  It kind of makes you feel at home.  That is why I like it so much.  If you have time, check it out.  www.hauntforum.com  So, anyway before I get sidetraked, I talked to Virgil Franklin from http://www.virgilmusic.net/ at Ironstock.  He has some really nice scary music that he sells.  He actualy produces his own music.  Well, we got talking and I was asking him if he had any upbeat dark tracks.  Well, normally dark tracks are not upbeat, but he told me that he would be willing to make me one for the video if I would give him credit on my site and on the movie. Which I told him, Sure!  So I guess I better get cracking on more prop, huh/.

Well, I decided to take a wack at the kit that I bought from Ironstock.  It comes with slush latex, batting, brush, and hair.  I got out one of my skull I bought from ACC and gave it a try.  Not to bad.  I might have to add more to it, but not bad for my first night.  I might be able to do something with it.  Maybe my witch or an ash tray.  Who knows?