FCG Intro Step-by-step guide (more or less) to building a FCG

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How does a flying crank ghost work?
At first inspection, the FCG contraption appears to run on carefully controlled chaos, ready to spin out of control at any moment.  If SpookyBlue engineers had built your FCG in 2002, I wouldn't disagree with that description.   However we've figured it out, and it's really a clever and simple mechanism.

A central 6RPM motor turns the crank arm.  At the end of the arm is a vertical pin that suspends a free-spinning disk.  Attached to holes in the disk are three strings (4 if using a counterweight) that attach to the marionette's arms and head.  Notice how the disk always faces the same direction regardless of where it is in its rotation.

As demonstrated by the lovely and talented Flying Crank Theresa, the movement of the crank alternately lifts each string as it moves along the course of its rotation.  You can control the timing of your spook's rises and falls by adjusting the distance between the pulleys.

Move the arm pulleys far away from each other and you get a very exaggerated motion.

Note:  No blondes were harmed during this demonstration. 

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