Difference between revisions of "Big Coroplast Pumpkin"

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(Created page with "This big coro pumpkin has been a Halloween favorite of our visitors for many, many years. '''Materials''' :* Large coro pumpkin (originally purchased from HolidayCoro.com) :...")
 
(Improved wording and readability, clarified construction details, updated terminology, and preserved the original project design and assembly instructions.)
 
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This big coro pumpkin has been a Halloween favorite of our visitors for many, many years.
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This large Coroplast pumpkin has been a Halloween favorite of our visitors for many years. This article documents one method of constructing the prop using a wooden frame, mini-lights, and a Renard lighting controller.
  
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[[File:0-bigpumpkin.JPG|center|600px]]
  
 
'''Materials'''
 
'''Materials'''
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:* 2x4's for framing
 
:* 2x4's for framing
 
:* Assorted washers, sheetrock screws
 
:* Assorted washers, sheetrock screws
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:* Wireless Renard controller & AC SSRs, short cat5 cables.
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:* Wireless Renard controller (wireless in this example)
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:* AC SSR's
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:* Short CAT5 cables.
 
:* 8 strings of mini-lights
 
:* 8 strings of mini-lights
 
:* Suitable AC SSRs to control the lights
 
:* Suitable AC SSRs to control the lights
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:* Misc. extension cords
 
:* Misc. extension cords
  
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Assembly
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'''Assembly'''
 
:* A box frame was made out of 2x4s and the coro face mounted on it.
 
:* A box frame was made out of 2x4s and the coro face mounted on it.
 
:* Lights were inserted from the back through the pre-punched holes in the coro.
 
:* Lights were inserted from the back through the pre-punched holes in the coro.
 
:* Controller and SSRs were mounted inside the box.
 
:* Controller and SSRs were mounted inside the box.
 
:* A multi-outlet terminal strip was included for the electronics.
 
:* A multi-outlet terminal strip was included for the electronics.
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:* After testing, the back was mounted and painted.
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:* After the wiring and lighting were tested, the plywood back was installed and painted flat black.
 
:* To protect the mini-light bulbs, four 1" standoffs were mounted on the four front corners of the face. This allows the whole box to rest against a wall without fear that the bulbs will be crushed or pushed back into the inside.
 
:* To protect the mini-light bulbs, four 1" standoffs were mounted on the four front corners of the face. This allows the whole box to rest against a wall without fear that the bulbs will be crushed or pushed back into the inside.
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[[File:1-front.JPG|400px]]  [[File:2-back.JPG|400px]]  [[File:3-controller side.JPG|300px]] 
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[[File:4-power.JPG|400px]]  [[File:5-finished back.JPG|400px]]  [[File:6-handle.JPG|300px]] 
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Since all the visitors were on-foot, we needed outdoor sound. We put a clock radio inside a marine battery box for protection and put the speakers on either side of the display. An FM transmitter was used to broadcast the audio to the radio.
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[[File:7-radio.JPG|300px]]

Latest revision as of 15:22, 23 July 2026

This large Coroplast pumpkin has been a Halloween favorite of our visitors for many years. This article documents one method of constructing the prop using a wooden frame, mini-lights, and a Renard lighting controller.

0-bigpumpkin.JPG

Materials

  • Large coro pumpkin (originally purchased from HolidayCoro.com)
  • 2x4's for framing
  • Assorted washers, sheetrock screws
  • Wireless Renard controller (wireless in this example)
  • AC SSR's
  • Short CAT5 cables.
  • 8 strings of mini-lights
  • Suitable AC SSRs to control the lights
  • 1/4" plywood sheet for back
  • Flat black paint
  • 4 1"-long piece of PVC pipe for standoffs (to protect the mini-lights)
  • Metal door handle
  • Misc. extension cords

Assembly

  • A box frame was made out of 2x4s and the coro face mounted on it.
  • Lights were inserted from the back through the pre-punched holes in the coro.
  • Controller and SSRs were mounted inside the box.
  • A multi-outlet terminal strip was included for the electronics.
  • After the wiring and lighting were tested, the plywood back was installed and painted flat black.
  • To protect the mini-light bulbs, four 1" standoffs were mounted on the four front corners of the face. This allows the whole box to rest against a wall without fear that the bulbs will be crushed or pushed back into the inside.

1-front.JPG 2-back.JPG 3-controller side.JPG

4-power.JPG 5-finished back.JPG 6-handle.JPG

Since all the visitors were on-foot, we needed outdoor sound. We put a clock radio inside a marine battery box for protection and put the speakers on either side of the display. An FM transmitter was used to broadcast the audio to the radio.


7-radio.JPG