Pumpkins Questions!!!

[Rocky Mountain Terror]

Wow, this is my fifth post and second question of the day! As you may be able to tell, Sunday is my main "work on the haunt" day.

Anyway, I am trying to use pumpkins in my final scene of my haunt (Picture that one front yard from "Trick R' Treat"). I would like to use all real pumpkins, however real pumpkins rot, and I could have to spend a fair amount of time and money buying and carving new ones all season.

My alternative is to use fake pumpkins and carve them to my standard. The drawback to this is I will not get that pumpkin smell you get when you have a lit candle inside, which I believe is paramount to making the scene work.

I believe I am going to try a combination of both. real pumpkins with great detail in front to provide realism and the "pumpkin smell" and fake ones in the back to provide some ease to my wallet.

So.... Here are the questions:

1. Where can you go to find foam pumpkins that can be carved like a real pumpkin?

2. Is there anything you can suggest as a "pumpkin preservative" to keep the pumpkins from rotting longer while not taking away from the pumpkin scent i'm looking for?

3. Does anyone know if there is a company that makes this smell in the form of a fog juice, etc.?

[Jim Warfield]

If you hire the right helper to work in your haunt, sometimes they smell like pumpkins.
(Too much pumpin kin? No shower.)

[VSneader2]

well I'm a pretty sure you can get the fake pumpkins and Michaels and other craft stores like Hobby Lobby. You may also check with sinister scents to see if they carry pumpkin scent.

The only why I know to make a pumpkin last longer is to cover it with saran wrap (cover all the holes) and place it in a fridge or something with similar temperature at night. The air is what dries them out.

[Mike Bizub]

For carveable fake pumpkins try this http://www.funkins.com/TheFunkinPatch/

[Allen H]

I did a pumpkin patch as a scarezone at SCREAMS this past season.
the thread on it is here. They are full of foam and could easily be carved, I did a big one like this for a jack o lantern head, worked great. Feel free to contact if you want more info. Final cost was about $1/ pumpkin. I made about 200 of them.
http://www.hauntworld.com/haunted_ho...light=pumpkins

[elowther]

Brilliant idea Allen! What is your method of actually getting the foam in the balloon? Do you put measured amouts in the balloon and let it react in there or mix it first? It looks like it reacts very quickly. Thanks for posting that!

Eric

[Allen H]

Buy the insulation foam that comes in two boxes then simply put the balloon over the gun nozzle. I tried this several ways and of the readily available methods that was the best.
Pass it to someone who can hold it for a few seconds while the foam sets.
Later on I used my sealed air foam gun....nothing short of beautiful. Every haunter should have one. If I were using liquids then the best way is to get two big syringes and shoot A into the balloon first then B hold it closed and shake it a bit to mix them. Dont mix up the syringes dedicate one to A and one to B.
Allen H

[Rocky Mountain Terror]

I checked with sinister scents. They have been trying to get that scent down for a while, but the best they have been able to come up with is pumpkin pie. NOT a viable substitute! Lol.

My new idea is to use pumpkin guts, on a metal tray, with a burner set on low underneath. Then point a small fan in the direction of the customers. I'm sure it will be trial and error. Has anyone tried this before?

Allen, I love your idea. I will probably contact you to learn a little more. The funkins website has some good ones too. They look pretty realistic from what I can tell on the computer. Might try a combo of real pumpkins, Allen's pumpkins, and "funkins."

[SomeThingInTheIce]

I have not tried this but use a crock pot, fill with pumpkin guts, put fan on top.

I checked with sinister scents. They have been trying to get that scent down for a while, but the best they have been able to come up with is pumpkin pie. NOT a viable substitute! Lol.

My new idea is to use pumpkin guts, on a metal tray, with a burner set on low underneath. Then point a small fan in the direction of the customers. I'm sure it will be trial and error. Has anyone tried this before?

Allen, I love your idea. I will probably contact you to learn a little more. The funkins website has some good ones too. They look pretty realistic from what I can tell on the computer. Might try a combo of real pumpkins, Allen's pumpkins, and "funkins."

[Allen H]

This is a "fresh Pumpkin" Scent that is normally added to candle wax. Im sure most scent distribution systems would carry the scent for you. Its not very expensive so givee it a try.
http://www.candlescience.com/fragran...fragrance-oil/

[Jim Warfield]

I always wanted to make a really BIG Jack-o-Lantern for infront of my house.
It would have to be made of concrete though. This should slow down the October vandals.
I could enjoy listening to their hernia trusses pop!