Nutcracker Owl Clock

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=90 BGCOLOR="#006699" TEXT="#080000" background="04bfd5a3.jpg"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><B>Rusty's Page</B></FONT><B>    </B><B> |    </B><B> </B><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Rustys Page"><U><B>HOME</B></U></A></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <I><B>                           </B></I><I><B>Nutcracker Owl Clock</B></I></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=210 BGCOLOR="#FFCC66" TEXT="#080000" background="04cd2b03.jpg"> <bR> <bR> <div> <A HREF="paintball.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Paintball"><U>Paintball</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="laws.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Paintball LAWs Launcher"><U>Paintball LAWs Launcher</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="pnuematic.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Pneumatic Spud Launcher"><U>Pneumatic Spud Launcher</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="combustion.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Combustion Spud Launcher "><U>Combustion Spud Launcher </U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="rockhorse.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Allys Rocking Horse "><U>Ally's Rocking Horse </U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="bcb.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Projects for Buffas Dance Studio Burke "><U>Projects for Buffa's Dance Studio & Burke Civic Ballet</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="nutcracker_cannon.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Nutcracker SmokeRing Cannon"><U>Nutcracker Smoke-Ring Cannon</U></A></div> <div> <B>Nutcracker Owl Clock</B></div> <div> <A HREF="id102.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Believe It or Not!!!"><U>Believe It or Not!!!</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="photos.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Galleries"><U>Galleries</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="videos.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Videos"><U>Videos</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="contact.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Contact Me"><U>Contact Me</U></A></div> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" height=390 BGCOLOR="#C0C0C0" TEXT="#080000"> <bR> <div> <I><B><IMG SRC="1fe02580.jpg" border=0 width="258" height="344" ALIGN="LEFT" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">This is the clock I made for my daughter's dance studio's Nutcracker show (2006). They needed a new owl clock that would not only be easy to maneuver, but able to be controlled offstage.  Also, since a dancer comes out of it during the show, they wanted to make sure that the doors would be able to easily be closed and not slam.  Furthermore, there is a 60 second set change, in which this clock, the Christmas tree and all the presents must be removed from the stage.  In order to make the clock easy to move, I built in hidden casters under the base, and the entire top of the clock (the owl) can be quickly folded down for a more compact prop.  The clock is also balanced for a low center of gravity, so that it isn't easily tipped, which was a major problem with the old clock. The wings, eyes and hour hand are all controlled by a BasicStamp, via a 5 function keyfob remote control.  I added a serial connector on the back of the control box, so that, at any time the clock can be reprogrammed simply with a laptop computer.  I have three Futoba servos controlling the movements.  Two for the wings and one for the hour hand.  You will see in the </B></I><A HREF="http://www.thelloydsonline.com/Clock/" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.thelloydsonline.com/Clock/"><U><I><B>gallery</B></I></U></A><I><B> all the workings and explanations.  Enjoy!!! </B></I></div> <bR> <div> <I><B>Video:</B></I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <A HREF="http://www.thelloydsonline.com/Clock/Clock_1.AVI" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.thelloydsonline.com/Clock/Clo"><U><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Wings and time change</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="http://www.thelloydsonline.com/Clock/Clock_2.AVI" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.thelloydsonline.com/Clock/Clo"><U><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Win</U></A><A HREF="http://www.thelloydsonline.com/Clock/Clock_2.AVI" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.thelloydsonline.com/Clock/Clo"><U>g movements</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="http://www.thelloydsonline.com/Clock/TimeChange.avi" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.thelloydsonline.com/Clock/Tim"><U><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Time changing...</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="http://www.thelloydsonline.com/Clock/" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.thelloydsonline.com/Clock/"><U><I><B>Nutcracker Haunted Owl Clock Gallery</B></I></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="2" CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="443" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" BGCOLOR=#FFFFFF > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#FFFFFF HEIGHT= 134 WIDTH="433"><div> <I><B>Stills:</B></I> <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >(click for full size)</FONT><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <A HREF="headup.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Head Up!!!"><U><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Head Up (from behind)</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="electronics.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Electronics"><U><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Electronics casing</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="mechanics.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Mechanics"><U><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Head mechanics</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="back.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Back"><U><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Shot from behind the clock</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="headdown.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="HeadDown"><U><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Head down position</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="down.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Down"><U><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Another head down position</U></A></div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <I><B><U>Old Clock:</U></B></I></div> <div> <I><B><IMG SRC="200f3440.jpg" border=0 width="243" height="324" ALIGN="LEFT" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></I></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <I><B>This is the original clock.  It was controlled from inside by pulling strings.  The time was changed by spinning a wheel (it was usually not set right, anyhow).  The doors had simple hinges and the clock had to be counterbalanced by a stage sandbag.  It was very flimsy and was difficult to move offstage as it was tall and cumbersome...</B></I></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>