I have just started this project . . . a fortune teller which was used as a prop in an upcoming episode of Prank Patrol on ABC3.
Thanks to Joe at Kids Just Wanna Have Fun Amusements - I scored it!
The cab is really an old skilly crane with a custom made mannequin complete with an articulated jaw.
Fortunately the unit also came with curtains, wallcloth & tasselled trim plus extra purple crushed velvet.
First task is to totally refurbish the cab to give it an old worldy look. The Mannequin head will be reworked/sculpted to give it some (cranky) attitude.
Also I'll need to design the mechanics/electrics to operate the mannequin's mouth and to animate the arm/hand(s) one of which will randomly pause over a spread of Tarot cards.
Then I will need to lean on some technically gifted friends to sort out the speech/music & synchronise it with the mechatronics. Building in a LED light show should be relatively easy & lots of fun too (like blazing eyeballs &c)
I'm toying with calling him Nostramo but nothing is settled yet. Anyway, he will be a nice little diversion from working on pinnys.
I expect the project to take quite some time to complete. And then there's the question; what to do with it in the finish? I reckon I could set it up to scare the shit out of little kids - which is what I suspect Prank Patrol used it for in the first place.
Hope to post more pics of progress down the track.
PP
