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Whether you're engineering a windproof frame, looking for summer costume ideas, or just sharing hilarious neighbor reactions, this is your community workshop.

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@skellymod•Sep 15

📌Pinned

🛒Deals, Restocks & Sourcing 💀Model

Official Tracker: Home Depot 2026 Skelly Drops, Restocks & Clearance

Welcome to the official 2026 Skelly inventory and restock discussion thread! Use this thread to post: - Regional store sightings (include city/state in your comment) - Online restock wave announcements - Replacement parts availability (LifeEyes power adapters, base plates, pin sets) - End-of-season clearance sightings **Current Inventory Status (Fall 2026):** - 12-ft Giant Skeleton: Periodic online restocks on Thursday mornings ~6:00 AM ET. - 12-ft Inferno Skelly: Limited regional availability in Northeast and Midwest stores. - 5-ft Skelly Dog: In stock at most Home Depot distribution hubs. Keep comments friendly and verify links before posting!

#restock #deals #home-depot #official

12 replies

1420 views•Active Sep 28

@macabre_dan•Sep 25

✅Completed

🔧Setup, Rigging & Repairs 💀Model

Field Guide: How we safely reinforced our 12ft Skelly against 40mph coastal gusts

Every October we see heartbreaking photos of 12ft skeletons folded in half after the first cold front storm. After 5 seasons living two miles off Lake Erie, here is the battle-tested anchoring protocol that has kept our Skelly standing through 40+ mph gale warnings. ### 1. Ditch the stock metal ground stakes The stakes included in the box are only 8 inches long and pull out of saturated mud instantly. Replace them with: - 18-inch heavy-duty steel rebar stakes with welded hook loops. - Spiral auger earth anchors (16-inch minimum) placed at a 45-degree angle opposite the prevailing wind. ### 2. Dual-point internal Guy Lines Do NOT just tie a rope around Skelly's waist — the lateral stress will shear the pelvis joint. Instead, attach stainless steel aircraft wire (1/8") directly to the internal steel spine bracket just below the ribcage connector, and tension them downward to ground augers behind the display. ### 3. Foot Plate Ballast We place two 50-lb sandbags directly on the rear and front feet brackets, covered with faux moss or leaf bags so they blend into the lawn. Drop your questions below if you need advice for your specific soil type or patio setup!

#wind-proofing #anchoring #safety #tutorial #guide

8 replies

980 views•Active Sep 28

@propsmith•Sep 27

⚡In Progress

🛠️DIY Project Feedback 💀Model

Need Feedback: DIY Smoke-Breathing Witch Cauldron built with fog chiller & amber LEDs

Hey everyone! I've been prototyping a giant 45-gallon cauldron prop that sits between my 12ft Skelly's feet to look like he's stirring a witches' brew. **Materials Used So Far:** - 45-gallon plastic drum cut in half with rolled foam lip - 800W low-lying fog machine routed through an inline PVC ice chiller - WS2812B addressable LED strip pulsing fire embers (orange/magenta hue) - High-density upholstery foam carved with heat knife for bubbling skull stew **Questions for the group:** 1. Does the mist dissipate too fast in open air? Would adding a low-RPM inline computer fan help force the smoke down to ground level? 2. Has anyone waterproofed WS2812B strips for damp foggy environments? What silicone sealant holds up best against condensation? 3. Should I add a motorized stirring stick anchored to Skelly's right hand, or would wind gusts snap a 6-foot PVC staff? Would love any thoughts, critiques, or safety tips from folks who have rigged fog near their skeletons!

#diy #fog-machine #lighting #witch #props

5 replies

520 views•Active Sep 28

@skellyqueen•Sep 26

💡Planning

💡Ideas & Brainstorming 💀Model

Brainstorming: What should 12-ft Skelly wear for 4th of July & Summer Solstice?

Skelly isn't just for October! Who else keeps their giant bone friend out all 365 days? I'm starting preparations for summer and looking for fun outfit ideas. Previous years we did: - Giant Hawaiian floral shirt (made from two beach blankets sewn together) - Inflatable pink flamingo pool ring around the waist - Oversized sunglasses bent out of pool noodles and tinted cellophane I'm torn between: 1. **Uncle Sam patriotic setup**: Giant red/white/blue top hat and a DIY cardboard sparkler. 2. **Lifeguard Skelly**: Giant whistle, red shorts, and a zinc-oxide white nose. 3. **Surfer Dude**: Full floral boardshorts and a carved foam surfboard. What do you think? Vote or suggest funny accessory props that won't blow away in summer thunderstorms!

#summer #costume #brainstorming #year-round #diy

6 replies

410 views•Active Sep 28

@bonecollector•Sep 27

💬Community & Chat

What's the funniest reaction you've seen from delivery drivers or neighbors?

Had my Amazon driver literally stop his van, take out his phone, and take a selfie posing under our Skelly's hand today. He gave our front porch camera two thumbs up on the way back. Last year the mail carrier gave him a high five every single morning on her route! What are your favorite interactions, neighbor double-takes, or funny doorbell camera footage moments with your oversized skeleton? Share your stories!

#stories #neighbors #humor #community

4 replies

310 views•Active Sep 28

@propsmith•Sep 28

🚨Help Needed

🔧Setup, Rigging & Repairs 💀Model

Help Needed: Motorized head mechanism squeaking and catching at 45 degrees

I added a 12V high-torque DC wiper motor to rotate my Skelly's skull left and right with an Arduino microcontroller. It ran fine for the first 3 days on the workbench, but now that it's mounted inside the neck column, every time it turns past 45 degrees to the left it makes a sharp plastic squeak and stutters. - Motor: 12V 45 RPM wiper motor with nylon gearbox - Neck joint: 3-inch PVC coupler on lazy susan bearing ring - Power: 12V 5A regulated power brick Could this be thermal expansion on the PVC collar, or does the lazy susan bearing need dry PTFE lube instead of standard grease? Anyone ran into this issue?

#animatronics #motors #troubleshooting #repairs #arduino

2 replies

240 views•Active Sep 28