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I get some crazy requests for dimensional pieces and some are possible and others are ot of this world! Like this one...
The customer has a trailer and has built a 2 level float which they have used for the past 3 years. Each year they change the theme and add new pieces. This year they want a flying saucer on the top. the trailer is 12' long by 8' wide.
They would like the saucer to hang off each side since the float actually looks kind of like a bunk bed frame and the saucer is going on the top level.
What can I make this saucer out of and not look too cheesy? It may cost too much to build, but I would like some suggestions on materials. My first idea was magic sculpt, but it may be too heavy. Any ideas from you Imagineers?
Sign-cerely Spooked, Steve
-------------------- Steve Luck Sign Magic Inc. 2718-b Grovelin Godfrey, Illinois 62035 (618)466-9120 signmagic@sbcglobal.net Posts: 870 | From: 2718-b Grovelin Godfrey, Illinois 62035 | Registered: Dec 2004
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Since it's a float- why not something less permanent...like foam with a hard coat? I just watched an episode of "Making Monsters" last night where they made a flying saucer...you could do what they did and carve it up out of wedges. Make a big pie shape and taper it to the widest edge and then repeat until you have enough to complete the saucer top...then repeat again for the bottom. Then, whip up a "top". If this makes no sense, give me a yell... Doug
-------------------- Doug Haffner Haffner Signs www.haffnersigns.com 309-338-9570 211 W. Williams Wyoming, Il 61491 Posts: 211 | From: Wyoming, Illinois | Registered: May 2010
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A flying saucer is gonna look kinda cheesy no matter what you do with it. However, an alien spaceship could be made out of anything. A old satelite dish, car parts, bedframes, rope lights & even the cardboard tubes that vinyl comes wrapped around are all things that might be cool looking to build a spaceship from. We had a pretty cool looking alien room in the haunted house a few years back that was built from a bunch of junk, some expanding spray foam, clear plastic fluorescent paint & a bunch of blacklights: Henry Street Horrors spaceship room Use your imagination. Let us know how it goes.
[ October 17, 2011, 01:12 PM: Message edited by: Ben Diaz ]
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Thanks Doug and Ben for the ideas. I hope to get something together and get a photo of it. I like the foam idea and the old sattelite dish which I'm sure are plenty of them around. I'll continue my quest for useable junk!
Sign-cerely, Steve
-------------------- Steve Luck Sign Magic Inc. 2718-b Grovelin Godfrey, Illinois 62035 (618)466-9120 signmagic@sbcglobal.net Posts: 870 | From: 2718-b Grovelin Godfrey, Illinois 62035 | Registered: Dec 2004
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I'd build the flying saucer from thin plywood over a wood frame. The wood frame would be simple trusses radiating out from the center. Some flashing lights would look cool if they were sequenced. You could whittle some more complex pieces from styrofoam if needed, For a dome on the center you could blow a dome from plexiglass. The design should be governed by the budget more than anything. Since this is a one day event so I don't see the need for hard coats.
Spending time looking for pieces is worth money as well. Don't sell yourself short.
-grampa dan
-------------------- Dan Sawatzky Imagination Corporation Yarrow, British Columbia dan@imaginationcorporation.com http://www.imaginationcorporation.com
Being a grampa is one of the the most wonderful things in the world!!! Posts: 8738 | From: Yarrow, B.C. Canada | Registered: Nov 1998
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Hiya Steve, I watched bits and pieces of the episode Doug mentioned and it turned out pretty sharp. But it was a lot of work and heavy though. My thought would be to make it out of awning materials or trade show display products - square tube aluminum and/or fiberglass poles and wrap it in shiny stretch fabric... http://www.mossinc.com/products/shapes/three-dimensional-signage.html
Havin' fun,
Checkers
-------------------- a.k.a. Brian Born www.CheckersCustom.com Harrisburg, Pa Work Smart, Play Hard Posts: 3775 | From: Harrisburg, Pa. U.S.A. | Registered: Nov 1998
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Budget is always a factor for a one-time display piece, but these people find more ways to use this stuff over and over which is good. I'll definitely make it light-weight and easy to assemble. Oh and Dan, their will be flashing lights on the rim of the saucer which was the first thing they asked for! I love this stuff and finding ways to fabricate it. The "wow factor" will be foremost on my mind during this project.
Sign-cerely, Steve
-------------------- Steve Luck Sign Magic Inc. 2718-b Grovelin Godfrey, Illinois 62035 (618)466-9120 signmagic@sbcglobal.net Posts: 870 | From: 2718-b Grovelin Godfrey, Illinois 62035 | Registered: Dec 2004
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Foam is easy to carve the white beaned foam is the cheapest then the insulated stuff normally pink, both can also be carved with enamel spray cans really make look spooky and damaged entering earth.
Worked on a Halloween crew this is how they shaped a great deal of stuff and lettered using the white beaded foam.
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