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SlipperySnake Loyal user 230 Posts 
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I purchased an old creepy Victorian doll in hopes I can find a relatively easy way to make her head silently turn, and possibly raise one of her arms via remote. It would be used in a creepy parlor setting and be on a shelf where it would be talked about in a normal state, and then later in the evening trigger the movement (still debating whether to have the spectators actually see the movement, or just have it moved, and hopefully they will notice on their own after the fact). Does anyone here know of something I can buy on Amazon or such that I can use to put inside the doll to make this happen?
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Nick Birch Regular user Holmfirth, UK 154 Posts
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If only it was that simple! Professional prop builders and creators can spend months on R&D recreating the very effect you describe. However, what you're looking for already exists. My advice would be to try and track down one of Lebanon Circle's Dolly Darkos. They do sometimes appear for sale on the Café and we sold one last month.
N.
www.darkartefacts.com
Purveyors of the finest handcrafted hauntiques. The Uninvited, Deathwatch, The Gift, Whiteface, Satan's Circus |
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SlipperySnake Loyal user 230 Posts
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I appreciate the feedback. I have to think these days though there has to be a DYI method. Maybe something like a remote-controlled car and tearing it apart to use the wheel assembly inside the dolls body, etc. I have a remote-controlled R2D2 in which the head can spin, but I don't want to ruin it by taking it apart and rigging it into the doll. With all the inexpensive science robot kits I have to believe something is out there. I already have the doll I want to use. I just wanted to check here before moving onto a non-magic forum
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Joshua J Special user 792 Posts
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It's simpler to make an object connected with the story move. A cabinet card, a smaller toy with the doll. Check the ectoplasm thread for an idea of something smaller that can be made to move easily.
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Mind Circus Regular user Northern California 118 Posts
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What about some good old fashioned carpet th***d. Keep the doll in a cabinet or display box to easily hide the th***d. Activate with foot, or windup mechanism, or counterweight, etc.
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Joshua J Special user 792 Posts
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Quote:
On May 26, 2023, Mind Circus wrote: Sefalajia within Annemann's practical mental magic would be perfect for this. The doll sat in the cabinet making things happen. Don't need to go high tech, particularly if you are talking more theatrical seance type effect. |
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Bremner New user 73 Posts
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Quote:
On May 24, 2023, SlipperySnake wrote: Found this on Youtube.com https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sNBeW9x--8I Should give you some idea of what you are up against. Bill |
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SlipperySnake Loyal user 230 Posts
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I decided to try a remote-controlled tripod base inside the body of the doll. My thinking is I want to put the doll in a small chair facing the wall on a shelf (she has been bad and is in time out...). After doing a series of haunted effects, it is hopefully noticed at some point that her head is now facing forward... (180-degree turn). I will let you know how it goes,,,
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Joshua J Special user 792 Posts
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Good luck with your plans. Hope it works out how you want.
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Mind Circus Regular user Northern California 118 Posts
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Let us know how it goes. I think these DIY build threads are interesting and helpful.
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The Curator V.I.P. Beware Vampire, I have 3882 Posts
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This 1860's German doll does more than 60 different things and doesn't have any hidden mechanism.
Every effect used traditional magic from the XIXth century. You just have to study the classics.  |
Anverdi-museum Inner circle 1181 Posts
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I use Dolly Darko in my Halloween shows every year....I built a few extras for the routine such as a self writing chalkboard, smoking cigar, scarf in bottle and a few other unique effects. Here is the routine captured on video a few years back.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=200PpjiAo0s&t=18s Chuck C. |
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jolyonjenkins Inner circle United Kingdom 1177 Posts
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If you can get the head to detach from the body, and there's room for a small motor, then it's not that difficult. I would use an off the shelf remote control module (about $5 on ebay) and interface it with an arduino clone driving a small stepper motor. But then again, I know what I'm doing and it would be a steep learning curve starting from scratch. I know this isn't much help
Jolyon Jenkins
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Ibmerlin New user 37 Posts
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On Amazon you can buy slow RPM motors in 5v or 12v. You can also get Qiachip 433mhz remote modules that can be used with a 9v battery to power the motor only as long as the remote button is pushed. The only problem I see is that these motors are 3 or 4 rpm so if you continued to push the remote button the head would spin 3 times a minute and stop at a random spot. A stepper motor would be better but would require a controller and a way to program it. Just a couple of ideas
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Coppertop New user UK 12 Posts
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If you don't have any joy with the 'Tripod' option, drop me a PM and I will explain how to do it (or at least how I would do it) based on Ibmerlin's last post.
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| The Magic Cafe Forum Index » » The spooky, the mysterious...the bizarre! » » Remote control haunted doll question (5 Likes) | |
Posted: May 24, 2023 10:16 pm 
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