thehoghunter
11-27-2007, 09:53 AM
Here's a quick 'how-to' to build this easy project - larger sized pics and video can be seen at Penguins-on-ice (http://s215.photobucket.com/albums/cc162/hunters-moon/Christmas/2007/penguins-on-ice/)
You may find a better way to do some of the things - post your ideas. As you can tell, I still haven't finished - note Great Stuff overflow still has to be removed and the pvc pipe on the edge of the 'ice' in some spots (hiding mistakes) - I may do the whole edge and glue 'snow' to it.
http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/cc162/hunters-moon/Christmas/2007/penguins-on-ice.jpg
1. 1 each 32 X 44 Acrylic clear sheet (plexi-glass) - leave protective plastic on sheet while drilling holes and cutting circle. You can use any light material that is stiff enough to stay straight, won't be ruined by rain/water sprinklers/ice/snow. I just wanted plexi-glass to light it from underneath with blue/white lights.
2. 1 each Animated Deer motor - animated deers can be found anywhere - cheapest I've found is at Walgreens - $14.99 with $5.00 rebate (rebate is per household so you can only get one at $9.99) - a link to replacement motors was offered up by LovingtheHolidays in
Animated deer motor (http://christmasfanclub.com/showthread.php?t=220) - not the same as I used but may be useful - see the comments in that thread.
3. 2 each spare chunks of 2X4 for base
4. 2 each spare pieces of L brace (don't know the official name of it).
5. 2 each spare aluminum stock - each approx 5 inches long
6. 4 each Dollar Store stuffed penguins
7. 2 cans of window/door Great Stuff (ok, so you don't need 2 cans if you have used it before...my first time and the stuff when all over after filling the penguins. You probably won't even need 1 can! Make sure to Follow SAFETY guidelines on the can!!!)
8. 1/2" pvc pipe - enough to shove up at least halfway inside each penguin leaving some out for mounting penguin to 'ice'. It matters how big YOUR skaters are as how much pvc you need.
9. 4 each 1/2" pvc end caps and connectors/elbows.
10. 4 each 3/4" length 1/4 screw, washers, and nuts (to mount penguins via pvc end caps)
11. 2 each 1" length 1/4 screw, washers, and nuts - and 2 each 1/2" length 1/4 screw and nuts - for mounting 'ice' and braces
12. 2 each steel brace - I think it's steel...maybe not - see pics. approx 32" long.
First - Get out your gloves, goggles, Great Stuff, pvc pipe, and penguins. Oh, and a bag. Open the penguins up - I cut a hole behind the one leg large enough for the pvc pipe to go up into the body. From that hole, I removed all the poly-filler and put it into a bag (for later use as SNOW...waste nothing - that's not in the pics ... yet). Shove a piece of pvc up into the penguin - measure to bottom of foot - cut pipe. Do the same for all the penguins.
Put on goggles and gloves. Shake Great Stuff. Get out of the living room and go outside with the GS, measured/cut pvc pipe, and penguins. Fill them up via the hole behind the leg. Don't overfill (like I did).
Let them sit for a day and work on the rest of the stuff.
Remove motor from deer - save mounting 'bolts'/nuts to mount on base. Save the crank for another project (although I used the nut from it on this).
Use spare chunks of 2X4 and L brace to build base - see pics (I left room to mount another longer L brace on the ends for stability when I put it in the front yard). Drill holes for motor hardware by putting motor in base and marking where holes will be - two bolts holding motor together will fit right into holes in L brace so motor "should" be stable and easily mounted. After messing around with attempts at pulleys, cranks, and other stuff - mounting straight to the motor was SO much easier.
Take your two aluminum stock pieces - bend to 90 degrees at 2 1/2 inches (or lower or higher - up to you as long as each is the same AND covers the shaft + ... again, see pics). Drill hole for small bolt (which I forgot to mention in list of stuff you need) - I just used one I had laying around that fit the nut from the old crank from the deer motor. This is the only connection from the flat braces to the motor - make sure you aren't using some cheap bolt here that will snap. (Note - this may be one place where a better idea may come from someone else on mounting these pieces to the motor)
http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/cc162/hunters-moon/Christmas/2007/penguins-on-ice/small-pics-linked2christmasfanclub/motor-sideview.jpg
Drill 2 1/4" holes in the other end of the aluminum bent stock pieces - this is where it mounts to the flat braces (which help hold up the plexiglass). Mount aluminum bent stock pieces to motor shaft (see pics).
Mount one of the flat braces to aluminum bent stock pieces. Mount other flat brace as seen in pics (you'll need to cut a couple of extra little braces...) Use 2 each 1/2" length 1/4" bolts/nuts and 2 each 1" length 1/4" bolts/nuts. Screws go up to be the turning points for the 'ice'.
http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/cc162/hunters-moon/Christmas/2007/penguins-on-ice/small-pics-linked2christmasfanclub/base-done.jpg
Cut out 'ice' - I used the only blade I had for plex-glass. Unfortunately, it's on my skill (circular) saw, not my jigsaw. So, I had some 'fun' making a circle. But, it will do. I did take a marker and string to draw the circle to have a line to follow - since you leave the protective plastic on, you don't have to worry about the line being there later if you cut wrong. The plexi-glass would not hold up by itself which is why you need to use flat braces. Using a thin wood painted white would probably work as well (without the need of long braces).
Place 'ice' on mounting screws - mark where holes will be on 'ice'. Drill holes - let the drill do the work - don't force it as that may lead to cracks. The plexi-glass is too expensive to be having to buy another piece.
Mount 'ice' on base. Note that I did not use the nuts to mount the 'ice' - the holes I drilled were bigger to allow it to slip down around the nuts or onto the nuts - the only time I actually tighten down bolts/nuts with the 'ice' is on the outside with the pvc end-caps. If you tighten down to much, you will crack the 'ice'. You may also note I have a few 'extra' holes - measure your 'ice' to find the center so you know where you should drill through the first time (yea, I'm impatient).
With 'ice' on base, mark where you want to drill through to mount your ice-skaters. Remove 'ice' and drill holes (let the drill do the work). Drill a hole through each end of the pvc end-caps to put 3/4" length 1/4" screw through to go through end-cap, into 'ice', and through flat brace. Put nut (oops, and washer - forgot about them!) on and tighten down. You can test that the 'ice' isn't wobbly and that it's level (as much as possible)
http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/cc162/hunters-moon/Christmas/2007/penguins-on-ice/small-pics-linked2christmasfanclub/end-cap-1.jpg
Go get your penguins if they are dry/hard. Hopefully, none of them have GS all over the outside (or you have more work to do - remove it as much as possible, then use permanent markers to color the GS to that appropriate color OR just leave it as yellow snow!). Place connector onto pvc pipe - place penguin on end-cap. Do all 4. The 'ice' should be stable - no wobbling (I actually had to put a tie-wrap under one part of my motor to keep it steady). Plug it in and see if it works. If it doesn't - try moving your penguin mounting points in/out and double check that one bolt that holds all this on the motor shaft.
I also still need to put 'skates' on these guys - my wife came up with tea light candles - take the metal bottoms off, squish them at the edges into 'skates'. Still not sure I'll use that, or just change out my 'skaters' for my backup plan of Penguin Family (http://www.collectionsetc.com/Item81163.aspx?alias=NRK7281163)(although they also still need skates) (added 1 Dec 07 - wife saw my backup plan - mumbled something like "My precious!", gathered them up and I'm not allowed to touch them.)
You may find a better way to do some of the things - post your ideas. As you can tell, I still haven't finished - note Great Stuff overflow still has to be removed and the pvc pipe on the edge of the 'ice' in some spots (hiding mistakes) - I may do the whole edge and glue 'snow' to it.
http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/cc162/hunters-moon/Christmas/2007/penguins-on-ice.jpg
1. 1 each 32 X 44 Acrylic clear sheet (plexi-glass) - leave protective plastic on sheet while drilling holes and cutting circle. You can use any light material that is stiff enough to stay straight, won't be ruined by rain/water sprinklers/ice/snow. I just wanted plexi-glass to light it from underneath with blue/white lights.
2. 1 each Animated Deer motor - animated deers can be found anywhere - cheapest I've found is at Walgreens - $14.99 with $5.00 rebate (rebate is per household so you can only get one at $9.99) - a link to replacement motors was offered up by LovingtheHolidays in
Animated deer motor (http://christmasfanclub.com/showthread.php?t=220) - not the same as I used but may be useful - see the comments in that thread.
3. 2 each spare chunks of 2X4 for base
4. 2 each spare pieces of L brace (don't know the official name of it).
5. 2 each spare aluminum stock - each approx 5 inches long
6. 4 each Dollar Store stuffed penguins
7. 2 cans of window/door Great Stuff (ok, so you don't need 2 cans if you have used it before...my first time and the stuff when all over after filling the penguins. You probably won't even need 1 can! Make sure to Follow SAFETY guidelines on the can!!!)
8. 1/2" pvc pipe - enough to shove up at least halfway inside each penguin leaving some out for mounting penguin to 'ice'. It matters how big YOUR skaters are as how much pvc you need.
9. 4 each 1/2" pvc end caps and connectors/elbows.
10. 4 each 3/4" length 1/4 screw, washers, and nuts (to mount penguins via pvc end caps)
11. 2 each 1" length 1/4 screw, washers, and nuts - and 2 each 1/2" length 1/4 screw and nuts - for mounting 'ice' and braces
12. 2 each steel brace - I think it's steel...maybe not - see pics. approx 32" long.
First - Get out your gloves, goggles, Great Stuff, pvc pipe, and penguins. Oh, and a bag. Open the penguins up - I cut a hole behind the one leg large enough for the pvc pipe to go up into the body. From that hole, I removed all the poly-filler and put it into a bag (for later use as SNOW...waste nothing - that's not in the pics ... yet). Shove a piece of pvc up into the penguin - measure to bottom of foot - cut pipe. Do the same for all the penguins.
Put on goggles and gloves. Shake Great Stuff. Get out of the living room and go outside with the GS, measured/cut pvc pipe, and penguins. Fill them up via the hole behind the leg. Don't overfill (like I did).
Let them sit for a day and work on the rest of the stuff.
Remove motor from deer - save mounting 'bolts'/nuts to mount on base. Save the crank for another project (although I used the nut from it on this).
Use spare chunks of 2X4 and L brace to build base - see pics (I left room to mount another longer L brace on the ends for stability when I put it in the front yard). Drill holes for motor hardware by putting motor in base and marking where holes will be - two bolts holding motor together will fit right into holes in L brace so motor "should" be stable and easily mounted. After messing around with attempts at pulleys, cranks, and other stuff - mounting straight to the motor was SO much easier.
Take your two aluminum stock pieces - bend to 90 degrees at 2 1/2 inches (or lower or higher - up to you as long as each is the same AND covers the shaft + ... again, see pics). Drill hole for small bolt (which I forgot to mention in list of stuff you need) - I just used one I had laying around that fit the nut from the old crank from the deer motor. This is the only connection from the flat braces to the motor - make sure you aren't using some cheap bolt here that will snap. (Note - this may be one place where a better idea may come from someone else on mounting these pieces to the motor)
http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/cc162/hunters-moon/Christmas/2007/penguins-on-ice/small-pics-linked2christmasfanclub/motor-sideview.jpg
Drill 2 1/4" holes in the other end of the aluminum bent stock pieces - this is where it mounts to the flat braces (which help hold up the plexiglass). Mount aluminum bent stock pieces to motor shaft (see pics).
Mount one of the flat braces to aluminum bent stock pieces. Mount other flat brace as seen in pics (you'll need to cut a couple of extra little braces...) Use 2 each 1/2" length 1/4" bolts/nuts and 2 each 1" length 1/4" bolts/nuts. Screws go up to be the turning points for the 'ice'.
http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/cc162/hunters-moon/Christmas/2007/penguins-on-ice/small-pics-linked2christmasfanclub/base-done.jpg
Cut out 'ice' - I used the only blade I had for plex-glass. Unfortunately, it's on my skill (circular) saw, not my jigsaw. So, I had some 'fun' making a circle. But, it will do. I did take a marker and string to draw the circle to have a line to follow - since you leave the protective plastic on, you don't have to worry about the line being there later if you cut wrong. The plexi-glass would not hold up by itself which is why you need to use flat braces. Using a thin wood painted white would probably work as well (without the need of long braces).
Place 'ice' on mounting screws - mark where holes will be on 'ice'. Drill holes - let the drill do the work - don't force it as that may lead to cracks. The plexi-glass is too expensive to be having to buy another piece.
Mount 'ice' on base. Note that I did not use the nuts to mount the 'ice' - the holes I drilled were bigger to allow it to slip down around the nuts or onto the nuts - the only time I actually tighten down bolts/nuts with the 'ice' is on the outside with the pvc end-caps. If you tighten down to much, you will crack the 'ice'. You may also note I have a few 'extra' holes - measure your 'ice' to find the center so you know where you should drill through the first time (yea, I'm impatient).
With 'ice' on base, mark where you want to drill through to mount your ice-skaters. Remove 'ice' and drill holes (let the drill do the work). Drill a hole through each end of the pvc end-caps to put 3/4" length 1/4" screw through to go through end-cap, into 'ice', and through flat brace. Put nut (oops, and washer - forgot about them!) on and tighten down. You can test that the 'ice' isn't wobbly and that it's level (as much as possible)
http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/cc162/hunters-moon/Christmas/2007/penguins-on-ice/small-pics-linked2christmasfanclub/end-cap-1.jpg
Go get your penguins if they are dry/hard. Hopefully, none of them have GS all over the outside (or you have more work to do - remove it as much as possible, then use permanent markers to color the GS to that appropriate color OR just leave it as yellow snow!). Place connector onto pvc pipe - place penguin on end-cap. Do all 4. The 'ice' should be stable - no wobbling (I actually had to put a tie-wrap under one part of my motor to keep it steady). Plug it in and see if it works. If it doesn't - try moving your penguin mounting points in/out and double check that one bolt that holds all this on the motor shaft.
I also still need to put 'skates' on these guys - my wife came up with tea light candles - take the metal bottoms off, squish them at the edges into 'skates'. Still not sure I'll use that, or just change out my 'skaters' for my backup plan of Penguin Family (http://www.collectionsetc.com/Item81163.aspx?alias=NRK7281163)(although they also still need skates) (added 1 Dec 07 - wife saw my backup plan - mumbled something like "My precious!", gathered them up and I'm not allowed to touch them.)