by John P. Jeffries

So, you have just built a great looking, box, crate, casket or whatever, but it just does not look finished yet. Well, this is what I do!

Purchase some inexpensive padlocks and two pieces of steel chain per lock, (Don't use the chrome chain, it's too shiny). Each chain should be long enough to wrap halfway around your prop. Open up the padlock and have the chain welded to the lock so that it appears that the lock has been forced open, and is just barely hanging on.

Age the chain and the lock with a coat of flat black and then a highlight of flat rust red. Wrap the joined sections of chain around the prop and use a "clip-type" connector out of site on the back or bottom to secure the chain around the item.

Now all you need is SOMETHING violently banging and thrashing the lid from the inside. "LOOK, something is in there trying to get out and the locks are open and the chain is -ALMOST- slipping off! EEEK!

Remember, it is the details that count.

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John Jeffries is the owner of Mr. Scary ® Productions in Bloomington IN, and can be reached at: mrscary@kiva.net Or check out his web page at: http://www.mrscary.com