Technical - Constructing Parade Floats?

[John Ranes II CPF GCF]

Fellow Grumblers,

I'm looking for some technical assistance
.......in the construction of our Parade float for this coming holiday season.

For the past two years, a friend and shop customer has helped me design and build two very good Christmas Parade Floats - These were both animated. In 1999 we built a 14 foot nutcracker. 1999 Christmas Parade

In year 2000 2000 Christmas Parade we added a second nutcracker, lights and music.

Now in 2001......we need to keep the ball rolling. We've got the idea of a large animated "Frosty the Snowman". I'm looking for any ideas on how to achieve animation for this big fellow (10 feet tall), so that he turns side to side and waves to the crowd.

I'm also looking for ideas on how to best add "smoke".......we want this to come rolling out of his pipe....natch!

I'll entertain any ideas, suggestions, or alternate ideas from those that may have done this before. Please share your ideas on this forum, or E-mail me directly.

Thanks

John

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The Frame Workshop of Appleton, Inc.
www.theframeworkshop.com
Appleton, Wisconsin
jerserwi@aol.com
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[This message has been edited by John Ranes II, CPF, GCF (edited September 16, 2001).]

 

[John Richards]

John:

Just thinking of you this weekend. I was at Menards and they have a fog machine for $49.00! There's your smoke. Side to side "washing machine" motion I've got some ideas. Do you want it to be motor driven or moved by a person on the float? Sounds great.

John

 

[John Ranes II CPF GCF]

John Richards,

Hey......thanks for the heads up on the "fog machine" - I'll check it out!

The side to side motion, we'd prefer to have motor driven. Our previous animation was achieved by a large 12volt powered electical motor purchased from Granger.

It has lots of tourque. Constructing a 12 inch disc attached to this, we utilized screen door pulleys and nylon cord to make things move. We might be able to use this same power source, if you have some ideas, fax me your plans........Much appreciated!

Fax: (920) 731-0220


John

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The Frame Workshop of Appleton, Inc.
www.theframeworkshop.com
Appleton, Wisconsin
jerserwi@aol.com
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[Lance E]

John,

Servo motors are easy to use for controling parts such as the waving motion you're after, a twelve volt power souce would easily provide enough power and creating a circut for it should be reletavely straight foward (if this is outside your expertise try a local school). You'll need a big sucker to turn the whole thing though, would it be possible to run that as wheel driven off the float trailer itself?