Christmas project to raise money for charity - Can anyone help?!

wmrcomputers

wmrcomputers

Stafford PC & laptop repair specialist
Anyone got any thoughts on what kind of level of sound I might use??

Obviously it doesn't need to be disco volume or anything (might P the neighbours off), but we live on a crossroads and i imagine people will stand to watch from a fair distance back (at least the opposite side of the junction) to get a full view of the lights.

PC speakers aint quite going to cut it, so I was thinking of something like a pair of 30W per channel powered speakers from Maplin?
 
Andreas Rex

Andreas Rex

Banned for smiling
wmrcomputers said:
2. Not 100% sure on how to go about it, but I need to create a big (8 to 10ft ish) tree to the side of the house. A tree would be the obvious choice but I'd have nowhere to put it away throughout the year, so I'm thinking more along the lines of a pole (scaffold or something?) which would have strings of lights coming down to the ground in a tree shape. By day it wouldn't resemble a tree but in the dark it would still give the desired effect.
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Hi Wayne...

My mate has a tower scaffold unit which is about 4ft wide, 5ft long and about 5 metres high which would fit the bill. It's a bit rusty, but that wouldn't matter when it's dark and covered in lighting. I'm pretty sure he'd be happy to lend it to you, especially for such a good cause. PM me if interested.

edit: I know it's much higher than you wanted, but you wouldn't have to make the tree go all the way up.
 
wmrcomputers

wmrcomputers

Stafford PC & laptop repair specialist
PROGRESS UPDATE FOR JUNE...

Now sourced an adequate ( i hope ) laptop to run my programming from.

STILL IN NEED OF (so please keep eyes & ears open for me)....

# amplified speakers (just basic stereo, not a 5.1 surround or anything) - Needs to be adequate enough to be heard clearly on opposite side of the street. I'm thinking something around 30watts RMS. Any sound experts want to advise me on that please??

# A drum of black 2 or 3 core mains cable (just for extending cables to individual lights etc)

# Waterproof cable connectors (mains) - Several needed!

# A big tree to go at the side of the house on our spare land (still not quite sure what I want, it just needs to fill the gap and be able to have lighting of some decription placed on it). Anyone know of a tree that would grow RAPIDLY that I can plant there? lol ;)

This list isn't endless, so if anyone stumbles across something they think i could use in some way, please let me know so that I can consider it.

Thanks muchly!
 
wmrcomputers

wmrcomputers

Stafford PC & laptop repair specialist
Gramaisc said:
The nights are drawing in now. Any progress? Are they up yet for a trial run?
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lol - People took the piss when i put my lights up Mid November last year... i darent do bugger all until December now.
 
wmrcomputers

wmrcomputers

Stafford PC & laptop repair specialist
Sound system now ordered, just the "big tree" at the side to sort out, plus a huge drum of mains cable and I should be set to go.
Installation throughout November me thinks with a quiet trial on headphones before the launch night. lol.
Can anyone recommend a nice big rocket with a huge burst effect that's not too costly?? Could do with one for the finale just on launch night. It would either add to the effect (thats the plan) or give spectators something to see if my lighting blows the trip and all goes tits up on the big night :)
 
ToriRat

ToriRat

Is that a Moomin?
dont forget to remind us all on launch night so we can come and ooooh at your huge erection........


Ill bring mulled wine and mince pies
 
wmrcomputers

wmrcomputers

Stafford PC & laptop repair specialist
OK I'M STUCK!!

Sorted ALMOST everything.... except for donation box.

The ideal plan would be a strong metal box with a pad-lockable lid (with a coin slot in), which I could drill through the base of and firmly secure to the garden wall. Only problem there is that I don't have a strong metal box with a pad-lockable lid (with a coin slot in), which I could drill through the base of and firmly secure to the garden wall!! (lol) ;)

If anyone is handy with steelwork or has something they think could be used, or any other suggestions of a safe way of taking donations (obviously I'll empy it daily anyway) then please let me know.

I'm totally stuck on this one.

Thanks for any help guys
 
wmrcomputers

wmrcomputers

Stafford PC & laptop repair specialist
Gramaisc said:
There was a selection of mail boxes at the boot sale this weekend. Would they be suitable?
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Quite possibly. Good suggestion, thanks Gramaisc.
Still open to other suggestions if anyone comes up with anything better.
:)
 
Gramaisc

Gramaisc

Forum O. G.
I notice that the High Street lights are up already - and they look like new ones to me. I presume you're not far behind....
 
wmrcomputers

wmrcomputers

Stafford PC & laptop repair specialist
Well on the way now yes. I don't have any where near as many lights as many, but I hope that the animated side of things attracts interest.
Hoping to get everything wired up for a 3am test run in a week or two's time (with headphones of course), otherwise I'd look silly doing the test run at any "usual" time of the night. ;)
 
Rikki

Rikki

Well-Known Forumite
I'm going to cut the pole down to size later. If I can fit it in my van I'll drop it off, if not I'll let you know.
 
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