Create an Apple Shot Special Effect (Addams Family Musical)

Project Overview:

This project involves creating a special effect where an arrow emerges from a piece of scenery and goes through an apple, as if the arrow has struck the apple. The mechanism consists of a hidden connection of two different-sized PVC pipes. A larger PVC pipe is placed on the backside of the connection, concealing the majority of the arrow and the smaller PVC pipe will be hidden in the facing of the scenery. The arrow will be placed in the PVC mechanism, with a stopper added to the back of the arrow to allow it to go through the large PVC pipe but prevent it from going into the smaller PVC pipe, allowing it to emerge from the scenery but not exit through the scenery.

A pressure cap will be attached to the larger PVC pipe with a hole for a dowel to go through. The dowel will push the arrow forward, causing it to emerge through the scenery. The apple will have a PVC pipe running through its middle, sized to match the smaller PVC pipe in the mechanism. A piece of felt will be placed at the top of the apple to allow the apple to be used as a hand prop throughout the scene before being pierced. On the bottom of the apple, rare earth magnets will be placed, which align with magnets on the scenery that will line the hole in the apple with the hole in the scenery. When the dowel pushes the arrow forward, it will emerge from the scenery and pass through the apple, creating the illusion of the arrow hitting the apple.

General Build Overview:

Build Time - 6 hours including dry time

Budget - $40 for all materials (Note: The majority of this material can be found in a scenic shop or theatre stock, when building I was able to find all of the materials in our scenic shop and stock)

Skill Level - Beginner

Material List

1. ¾“ PVC - 24in
2. ½” PVC - 24in
3. ¾” x ½” PVC S x S Reducer Coupling
4. ¾” PVC Pressure Cap
5. ¼” Wooden Dowel - 24in
6. Epoxy Glue
7. Artificial Apple
8. Great Stuff Insulation Foam
9. Masking Tape
10. Red Felt Sheet
11. Red Spray Paint

Tool List

1. Drill
2. ⅞” Spade Bit
3. ⅜” Drill Bit
4. Hot Glue Gun
5. Hand Saw

*Optional Tools:

1. A Ratcheting PVC Pipe Cutter
2. Miter shears

1. Start by taking an artificial apple and cutting a ½” hole in the center. I used a ½” drill bit, twisting it by hand (avoid using a power drill as it could damage the apple).
2. Note: Many artificial apples contain concrete inside to add weight. When selecting an apple, look for one that doesn't feel heavy.
3. If the apple has a stem, remove it before proceeding.
4. Next, cut a ½” PVC pipe to the length of the apple using either a miter saw or a ratcheting PVC cutter.
5. Spray paint the PVC pipe red.
6. Insert the PVC pipe into the apple.
7. Fill any gaps around the PVC with Great Stuff insulation foam to secure it in place.
8. Once the foam has dried, sand off any excess foam that extends past the apple, making it flush with the apple surface.
9. Take two rare earth magnets and use epoxy glue to attach them to the bottom of the apple.
10. Place the magnets slightly offset from each other, I recommend putting one at 3 o'clock and the other at 6 o'clock.
11. Note: Rare earth magnets are polarized, so make sure the magnets are oriented in the same direction.
12. Paint the foam and magnets red to match the apple.
13. Cut a piece of felt to roughly fit the top of the apple.
14. If your apple had a stem that you were able to keep, glue it to the center of the felt.
15. To better match the apple's color, I added a light spray of yellow paint to the top of the felt.
16. Glue one corner of the felt to the top hole of the apple.
17. Do not glue the felt to the bottom of the apple, as it will interfere with the mechanism.

1. Start by measuring the width of the space where you'll place the mechanism, then add ¾” to this measurement to account for the coupling (PVC pipe connector).
2. Cut the ½” PVC pipe to the length from the measurement above.
3. Next, decide how much of the arrow you want to emerge from the apple. Add the length of the ½” PVC pipe from above to this length and an addition ¾” to accommodate the tape
4. Cut the arrow to size.
5. Take the measurement of your arrow and subtract half the length of the ½” PVC Pipe.
6. Cut the ¾” PVC pipe to the length from the measurement above.
7. Use a ¾” x ½” PVC S x S reducer coupling to connect the ½” and ¾” PVC pipes.
8. Take a ⅞” spade drill bit and drill a hole in your scenery where you want the apple to be placed.
9. Apply epoxy to the hole and insert the ½” PVC side of the connected PVC pipe into the hole.
10. While the epoxy is drying, take the arrow and wrap masking tape around the back of the arrow so the back of the arrow is ½” tall, then insert it into the connected PVC pipe.
11. Guide the arrow so the tip sits inside the ½” PVC pipe.
12. Once the arrow is positioned within the connected PVC pipes, take the ¾” PVC pressure cap and drill a ½” hole in the center.
13. Attach the pressure cap to the end of the ¾” PVC pipe.
14. Insert a ¼” dowel into the hole in the pressure cap and use it to push the arrow forward.
15. Next, take two rare earth magnets and place them on top of the magnets on the artificial apple.
16. Push the arrow out of the PVC pipes by about 6”.
17. Place the apple on the arrow.
18. Apply epoxy to the backside of two new rare earth magnets (the side not facing the apple magnets) and position the apple on the scenery. Ensure the PVC pipe in the scenery aligns with the PVC pipe in the apple.
19. If possible, lean the scenery on its side during this step, as it will make it easier. Otherwise, you will need to hold the apple in place while the epoxy dries.
20. Once the epoxy has dried, you should be able to easily remove the apple, and the new rare earth magnets will stick to the scenery.

Now your mechanism is ready!

Note: Due to the thinness of our scenery piece, I had to add support to hold the ¾” PVC pipe. I did this by taking a 1” x 4” board, drilling a hole in the center with a 1 ⅛” spade drill bit, and then screwing the 1” x 4” to the back of the scenery. I also added a holder for the dowel on the back of the scenery, but this step is optional.