| 2003 was a very ambitious year. Not only did I want to build a cemetery fence to keep the Trick or Treaters out of the display, but I fell in love with Dreadnight's beautiful pillars. I wanted them to be the entranceway to Shallow Grave Cemetery. I liked that name because it gave the impression that something just might reach out and grab you from below the ground. I used Dreadnight's plans from his site. The picture on the left is initial measurement for a Bucky. The center picture is of the framework finished and another measurement to make sure everything is just right. The sides were 2 1/2 inch foam sheets. The first one was glued to the framework, after those set up I glued another 1/2 sheet over the first. Then Monster Mud was used for the front. I used a Dremel to cut the grout lines and then took my propane torch and warped the sides to look like stone. Then painted using my airbrush. The finished pillars on the right. |
| The picture on the left is of the finished pillar. Since the pillars were to go in the front of the dark yard I put small flood lights with blue gel in the top fronts to illuminate Boris and Vinnie. The shackles were made from aluminium flashing and the chains are black plastic. Boris and Vinnie are the narrators of the back story for Shallow Grave Cemetery. I used a Talking Boris skull for Boris. For Vinnie I wanted a different look. I used a regular Bucky skull but took off the jaw. Vinnie's eyes were Haunt Master's Audio Eyes so they would light up when he talked. Since I wanted my skeletons to be different I aged Boris with Min Wax Gel Stain, Aged Oak. I left Vinnie white because I knew I would corpse him out over the following year. To finish off the fronts I used demon door knockers at the top and the wall hanging flame pots came from Brent Ross and DC Concoctions. |
| Here is a shot of the fencing and the backs of the pillars. I ordered the Shallow Grave Cemetery signs from the internet and decided to leave them gray to contrast against the tan of the pillar. The fencing is 1/2 inch pvc pipes, 3 inch abs pipes and the fence toppers are really Wrought Iron fence toppers from Decorative Iron. They were only 28 cents each if I ordered 100, I needed 99. I love it when a plan comes together. |
| I ripped the sign out of 1/2 plywood with my Roto Zip because the wind can be a factor and I didn't want the sign too heavy. And here they are Halloween night. I love the moon peaking from behind the clouds. |
| The Reaper bids you Happy Halloween |
