Self-Contained Floating Lantern Upgrades

[@HLR4th]

I love how floaty the new version is! It seems half the fun/madness of a project are the workarounds. We all look forward to seeing the next stage of the lantern’s evolution.

[@paappraiser]

Amazing project as always. Stage prop designer here. Here is what we do to combat sticky lines. Whenever we use fishing line (spider wire) for small stage props, we always run it through as much 1/4 air line nylon tubing as we can. We can bend it around items , paint it and the action still remains smooth. Zip tie in place. Stage crew usually breaks the props before the spider wire and tubing wear out. Another trick we do to smooth out actions is hard tie/secure the main line (under tension) and then connect the motor or release mechanism to a key ring and have it pull on the hard tied line. Our goal is to try to control all motion and not rely on gravity unless the item is in a free fall.

[@VanOaksProps]

I’ll have to look into that. Thanks for the tip!

[@gravemarker]

Thus is a suggestion not so much for the mechanism, but to hide said mechanism better. A hollow (maybe MDF?) tombstone encompassing both the motors and levers, built around both the front and back of the rear portion of the fence, as to make the fence look like it was mounted onto the sides of the tombstone. And, of course, the tombstone has to say something about the Hallowed Haunting Grounds and Gary Corb.

[@pennst1179]

I liked how you went back and revisited a previous project to make improvements!

[@blackmarketoutpost]

Love the fact that you revisit project to make them more efficient or in this case a better product well done !!!

[@PropGuru702]

To reduce weight of lantern it could be 3d printed as well. Glass could be replaced with blister packaging or clear PET

[@tal125]

THAT is brilliant! No suggestions, no notes. 5 stars!

[@ThatBobMcNelis]

Thanks for the update and sharing your process! You mentioned lightening the weight of the lantern. I build a square lantern last year out of EVA foam and very thin acrylic for glass panes. Keep up the great work and content!

[@Pschtyckque]

Always reaching for the ideal! I love this. Also, love the railings that enclose this effect. And, if you ever need photo references or measurements from anything here in New Orleans, I'd be more than happy to assist! I love spending time in our Cities of the Dead, and would be happy to assist on any future projects.!

[@rickhager7684]

I don't know how I missed the original first video but this looks awesome. I love these self-contained yard scenes like this. Keep up the great work!!!

[@VanOaksProps]

Thanks a bunch!

[@Hauntcast]

I remember you mentioning the issues during our interview and I was having trouble wrapping my head around it. Great job on the upgrades. I am constantly fixing, reworking and upgrading my props, it's a never ending process.

[@thepaleotrucker634]

I love that you're revisiting an old project. I think instead of using a washer on the motors, use a roller bearing. You should be able to find the correct shaft and outer diameter to cover the bearing with a piece of pvc pipe, so you have an easy place to anchor the fishing line. Also firmly mount some small quality pulleys as guides for the lines coming through the posts.you could probably recess them into the wood,to help hide them. I don't know if you'd want to go through that much trouble, but I think it would end the problems you're having.

[@VanOaksProps]

I’ll have to look into that! Thanks for the suggestions.

[@reddogterrain]

I love seeing your process for improving the lantern.

[@HMFan2010]

There's a design I've seen of a triple-arm cantilever system (like a Calder mobile) with a motor suspended about 8 to 10 feet above the ground. It takes some doing to get the counterweights just right but the effect is incredibly good. The lantern's gentle bobbing and truly random pattern is amazing. That solution obviously wouldn't work with Derek's design but I hope he can figure his out. He's got a few months to solve it 🎃

[@rayk141]

Awesome improvements....glad to see you revisit this..... Although the lantern itself is great, classic look, what I did on my floating Lantern prop was make the lantern in all foam. I lightened it up to be just about 1.5oz compared to 1.5lb lantern I found in Amazon. I took a chance to recreate the lantern in foam to lessen the sag for going across the whole yard, which is about 30ft. run back n forth. 🎃🎃.

[@BlanckMortuary]

I listened to your Hauntcast interview from May and you spoke of your frustration with this particular prop. I think many of us are similar in that we are always examining our props to see if somehow we can make it better.

[@nathanpape9026]

Hey man! Great video as usual! They make very thin braided fishing line that is colored green or black and has a smooth coating to go through the guides easier. It also has much higher knot strength and abrasion resistance. Maybe give it a try?

[@TheSteveAS]

Hey Derek! Having seen your floating lantern gag in person, I can attest to how great it looks in situ. For the friction-wear on the fishing line - have you considered small pulleys attached to the posts, rather than eye hooks? I would think that not only would the pulleys mitigate wear, but might provide for smoother motion/movement as well.

[@VanOaksProps]

Great idea!

[@Tworottenbeagles]

Looks fantastic! Possibly dusting the barrel and swivel hardware with a little matte black spray paint might help camouflage them better.

[@coasterbp]

Those corner brackets are genius!

[@DadBodDrumming]

you need 4 controllable motors. 1 in each corner. Each connected to the lantern in the x formation. As one motor reels in the line the others let it out to match and keep tension or release a bit more to create slack. With programable motors you can control all of the motion of the lantern not only left right but up and down as slack lowers it and tension raises it. Meaning you can make the lantern float to almost any point in the enclosure.

[@AIM54A]

Great video.. I have a long line floating lantern that people always love. Even with a ton of other special effects the simple ones always work great.

[@horses2by]

Great Halloween (updated) prop idea, thank you so much for sharing 💀🎃🪦

[@VanOaksProps]

Glad you liked it!!

[@scottlymbery7948]

love the idea. Was wondering if where your fishing line passes into the posts if you actually extended the tubing slightly further out and then bent to the direction the fishing line is going it might give it a smoother transition and maybe avoid the cutting in. cheers again for another great video

[@PCommerford_animatedledlighing]

Looks good, I like the debug process too.

[@susanowen1709]

You really had to put on your thinking cap for this one! The finished movement looks great.

[@markhelms8950]

The washers that are on the pitman arms of your motor are most likely getting in a bind and locking up momentarily thus causing the line(s) to get tangled. They need a more positive free movement such as a bearing. Also, really good fishermen are very particular about how they tie fishing line to things such as hooks to prevent breakage. There are several ways they do their knots and even use lubricant to tie them so as not to jeopardize the strength of the line when pulled tight.

[@VanOaksProps]

Thanks for the tips, I’ll have to look into those upgrades.

[@QCS_AdamCole]

7:03 to cover the motor, perhaps make it a tombstone. And have it be the grave of a groundskeeper or something. Like on the ground maybe a false grave that has maybe lights & a shake to it... perhaps a small fogger tube blowing a light fog over the immediate area of the "grave".....

[@jasperjanderson]

I love a good problem solving video!

[@capnskustomworks]

That’s looking awesome, still!!! I would wonder, also unscientifically, if flywheels instead of crank arms at the motors would help?

[@rhysnybo3420]

I would probably add in some pullies, and rollers to guild it along with the line on the roller wheels and 2 weights on one side and the other left and right as weight bobbins to keep it up to add some stableness for balance fluid motion overall I do like the Floating Lamp its definitely pretty Hallowistic and haunted like, I do like the progress upgrade made on the prop also love the prop definitely brought the Hallows Magic in this one

[@SummersideDiver]

Our haunt has a floating candlestick and a hovering ghost that both use very similar designs and I’ve gone through several of the trials and tribulations that you just described. I really like the counterweight, that’s a technique I have not tried before but will keep in mind. As always, great video

[@VanOaksProps]

Thank you!

[@kurtkyre]

I'd be tempted to try this one with a scotch yoke mechanism, but I'd probably try to conceal it and have all the movement handled vertically. Stiltbeast Studio has a video of a mechanism using one motor that provides three separate movements.

[@VanOaksProps]

Interesting. I’ll have to investigate.

[@allenmcdonald1064]

Hi Derek, thank you for your tutelage! I will add this to my “Must make” list. Can you tell me more about the fencing? I really like the decorative “pickets” that fill in the frames. Thanks again!

[@VanOaksProps]

Sure thing! They’re resin cast based on some iron pieces I purchased at KingMetals.com. I made a silicone mold and then reproduced them specifically for this build.

[@allenmcdonald1064]

@@VanOaksProps Thank you! Must be karma, as there is a King Metals near-ish to me in Baltimore. We’re also looking for a railing solution for our new deck, besides the basic wood rails. I found the form you used, the one(s) that I’m going to use, and some ideas for the deck. Bonus! 😁 Now to rewatch your EASY mold making and casting video. You rock!

[@erikaamerica4546]

Good job🌟

[@PropGuru702]

Bearings on the pivot points would help immensely. Also for any holes the line is passing through, those brass compression fittings have a perfectly flanged brass tube that can be glued into place and creates a smooth rounded edge for the line to ride on. Also, look into abrasion resistant line like dyneema or spectra. It is the strongest line you'll find. It even has a higher tensile strength than steel braided cable

[@NOYFB982]

Pro tip on levitations. Use Berkley Fireline.

[@VanOaksProps]

Thanks for the tip!

[@paulpardee]

It may not be any better, but I wonder if 3d printer bowden tubes could work for the path through the post. They're PTFE, so they'd be low friction and they should be able to handle the line running through them... maybe :D

[@VanOaksProps]

That’s actually what was in there but the fishing line wore channels in it.

[@tzkelley]

I've always had problems with FCG mechanisms--they rarely survive one night. A problem you didn't mention but I've seen is the fishing line wearing out and breaking from rubbing against various parts of the mechanism. I'd be interested to hear if yours does the same after a few days of running.

[@HauntCollective365]

Awesome!!

[@VanOaksProps]

Thanks!

[@allen3776]

Derek, do you start with a new-ish lamp.and then age it for the final piece? Have couple old ones from estate sales that i want to convert to electric.

[@VanOaksProps]

Sometimes yes, sometimes no. If I can find an old lamp that’ll save a ton of time.

[@stalker42]

Do you have a means to elevate the motor above the fence panels? It may be easier to get a floating motion if it's already sort of floating.

[@VanOaksProps]

I don’t.

[@courtneynesta6589]

I find this happens with all my cup turner / rotating things… have burnt through ten or so motors 😮

[@glennharris5043]

I had a prop similar to this for 6 years and the answer is swap to braid line and stop using mono fishing line.

[@bossfrog9561]

Read this comment, gave it a try. I ran it over night and no tangles or twists. Works perfect now.

[@lawrencekoprowski6480]

👍

[@alank8562]

Where did you get that gorgeous fencing for the grave site?

[@VanOaksProps]

I purchased one of the vertical decorative pieces and made a silicone mold of it to create the others out of resin to keep the weight down. The top and bottom rails are just 1x2" of pine with a decorative routed edge.

[@alank8562]

@@VanOaksProps Brilliant!

[@AbuMaia01]

How much weight would that $10 lantern prop you made out of a coffee creamer bottle be, compared to this lantern?

[@VanOaksProps]

Quite a bit less.

[@chrisavery3289]

Question: Wat if it was suspended from a "hangman's tree" instead? Too much work?

[@VanOaksProps]

It wouldn’t work thematically.

[@mikepeace6694]

It's too close to the ground.

[@VanOaksProps]

What makes you say that?

[@mikepeace6694]

@@VanOaksProps because it's barely floating off the ground. Would look better if it was floating atleast waist high.

[@VanOaksProps]

@@mikepeace6694 my thinking was that if someone was holding a lantern to their side by its handle it would be roughly a few feet off the ground.

[@pennywalker8910]

It looks a lot more floaty and not jerky. I wish my brain worked like yours it flabbergastes me how people can execute things like this. My brain is like how the heck did you understand how to even go about making this. I would never know where to even start. I love Halloween and I love your props,and watching you make things. Thank you for the time spent in enjoyment of Halloween and prop making you’ve upped my tombstone game by millions 🧡🖤🧡🖤🪦🪦🪦🪦🪦🪦🪦🪦🪦🪦🪦🪦🪦