ekul1978 Posted January 21, 2009 Share Posted January 21, 2009 hi - I was wondering if anyone could help me - im trying to make a frankenstein lab, the actual set isnt much of a problem its just the effects like the tesla coils, electrical arcs etc. does anyone know of any easy way of creating these effects without actually having the live electricity. we have lots of dancers twirling round near the set so it has to be safe but effective. any pictures would also be helpful if anyone has any. cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
back_ache Posted January 21, 2009 Share Posted January 21, 2009 effects like the tesla coils, electrical arcs etc..... without actually having the live electricity you could emulate arcing effects on a hidden video monitor and use an appropriately placed reflective surface to make it appear that it is happening inside the actual prop in a peppers-ghost type style. or if you have the $$$$$$$ hire in a musion system! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jivemaster Posted January 21, 2009 Share Posted January 21, 2009 Search ebay for lab glassware there is someone selling boxes of flasks etc get some clear hose and pass bubbles of air through a coloured liquid. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slipstream Posted January 21, 2009 Share Posted January 21, 2009 Air duct pipework with either smoke or dry ice slowly trickling from them - cheap and easy to scrounge and return to the owner, liked the peppers ghost for voltage coils idea, fish tank with coloured liquid and body parts - or prop ones - depends how well the dress rehearsal. Egg strobes can help sell the power impression as well Sam Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GridGirl Posted January 21, 2009 Share Posted January 21, 2009 I've had Jacob's Ladders on stage (appropriately enclosed of course!) but that was with some fairly heavy safety precautions in place - did look cool though. Carefully timed robotics (kept away from the dancers) could also work well for you if you have a suitably competent pyro operator. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ekul1978 Posted January 22, 2009 Author Share Posted January 22, 2009 thanks guys thats a few things for me to look into. anyone got any other ideas of maybe some pics too? cheers luke Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dbuckley Posted January 22, 2009 Share Posted January 22, 2009 Jacobs Ladder - Go visit the pages of Big Clive... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kitlane Posted January 22, 2009 Share Posted January 22, 2009 How about ArcLine?Arcline PDF from Whitelight When we did Frankenstein we built a small jacobs ladder using a Neon transformer. In the end we didn't use it. Instead we made a similar looking effect with Electro Luminescent 'string' Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stutwo Posted January 22, 2009 Share Posted January 22, 2009 Old wooden table on castors with 12v recessed lighting mounted in the surface, powered by a car battery via a switch, half filled demijohns and lab-type pyrex containers (with some dry ice dropped in before it goes on) sitting directly over the lighting with coloured gels underneath. Lots of spare wiring made into coils and draped around, over and underneath, fake terminals etc. Looked fantastic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bob_watts Posted January 22, 2009 Share Posted January 22, 2009 Search ebay for lab glassware there is someone selling boxes of flasks etc get some clear hose and pass bubbles of air through a coloured liquid Make the liquid tonic water and it will glow in UV light, used this for Jekyll and Hyde a few years ago looked great. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GridGirl Posted January 22, 2009 Share Posted January 22, 2009 Search ebay for lab glassware there is someone selling boxes of flasks etc get some clear hose and pass bubbles of air through a coloured liquid Make the liquid tonic water and it will glow in UV light, used this for Jekyll and Hyde a few years ago looked great. Or just dissolve washing powder in water and it'll glow under UV....probably cheaper! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jivemaster Posted January 23, 2009 Share Posted January 23, 2009 Arcy sparky things like Jacobs Ladders are huge broadband RF emitters and best avoided! Could play hell with PA and radio mics etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tlc Posted January 26, 2009 Share Posted January 26, 2009 Arcy sparky things like Jacobs Ladders are huge broadband RF emitters and best avoided! Could play hell with PA and radio mics etc. Why not get some real ones and video them. Projected jacobs ladders (along with the nice crackly noise on cd) work really well without the shocking risks of real ones. Shocking !!! high voltage , get it , oh please yourself. Solves the RF problem too. Shuttered projection of the arcs onto real glass tubes are very convincing. Plenty science museums (and MAGMA when I visited) have running demonstrations of Jacobs ladders that you could perhaps video. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J Pearce Posted January 31, 2009 Share Posted January 31, 2009 Those spheres with bluey lightningish type effect inside them look good for this. The el cheapo one on my desk is called 'Plasma Light'. Mine is glass, but I'm sure adequately fixed to something strong (they can be bought with ES screw fittings) it wouldn't get knocked off and it could easily be on a deadmans if it did (though I'm sure there are proper safety interlocks built in already). The science museum has (or did years ago) a 1m diameter one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dmills Posted January 31, 2009 Share Posted January 31, 2009 Knife switches, got to have knife switches, also large meters with lots of brass, big hand wheels and leavers are good too! If you know someone who makes neon signs, get them to blow you some with odd spirals and twists rather then letters!The EL string just is not the same, especially if you play with the gas pressure a bit so the cathode dark space travels up the tube (Need DC power for this). Also, you need an Igor. Regards, Dan. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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