While describing the steps and options necessary for the construction of your corpse, we segment our discussion into the head, hands and feet, and body. We feel obligated to mention that grave robbing is a crime in all states.
Your first step is to locate the outfit this corpse is going to be laid to rest in. Male or female, most people are buried in more formal attire. This includes dark colored suites, dresses, etc. Accident victims are another story. Just make up your mind, so you can begin construction. You must select the outfit first, because we’re going to custom build the corpse to fit the clothes, like they build a coffin to fit the body.
A quick note before moving ahead. Go to second hand shops, flea markets, garage sales, church bazaars, accident scenes, mortuaries, or your relatives clothes closet on the next family visit to obtain the outfit for your "body-to-be." You can even borrow your buddy's driver's license for ID, and go to a formal wear rental shop. You probably have something tucked in the back of your own closet that you could use that is if you want this layout to be a comedy.
Jerry Chavez, author of , "Haunted House Halloween Handbook" had a web page at members.aol.com/spookyfx/index.html in which he describes how to build a corpse out of a cheap $10 plastic life-size skeleton, and supplies that are inexpensive and easy to find. Write me if you can’t find it. Oh yes, if anyone asks what you're reading, you can inform them that you're reading a book on "Body Building"!
Heads: Your choices here are to buy a prop head, build a prop head as described on the previous page, or use a mask to fabricate a head.
Go to the section: "How to Scare Trick-or-Treaters"
Go to the section: "Haunted House Illusions"