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The Flying Bats Project
Using Coroplast Material

Flying Bat Clip Art

We wanted to have a couple of flying bats in the Halloween display, so the first step is finding a good piece of clip art to use when fabricating them to use as a pattern. After a little bit of searching, we found something really great! The perfect outline of a bat.

Tracing Pattern on Butcher Paper

Like many of our Coroplast projects, we start by projecting the basic clip art on a piece of butcher paper. Then we trace the pattern in the paper, and add a second set of wings so we can animate them or "flap them" during the display.

Closeup Detail of Wings

Here's a closeup view of the wings that shows the two separate wings that are drawn for animation.

Taping Pattern to Coro & Measuring for Holes

Once the pattern gets traced, then we tape the paper to the Coroplast material and draw the marks for holes to be punched.

Punching Holes in Pattern and Coro

Now that we have the patterns drawn and taped down on the Coro, next up is to use a Sears scratch awl tool to punch the holes through the Coroplast for the lights. These holes on the bat are about 1" apart.

Closeup of Holes in Coro

Here's a closeup of the holes that are punched in the bat, ready for the lights to be installed.

Lit Bat with Red LEDs

We used red LED lights to light the bats. It takes 5 strings of 50ct LED lights. One string for the center portion of the "body", and one string for each half of the wings, both in the upper and lower positions.

Finished Project in Wooden Frame

Here's a final shot of a Flying Bat that shows it complete with lights and also in a nice wooden frame suitable for hanging or mounting in the display. Come on by Belardo Lights - Halloween Edition this year and see the pair of Flying Bats. They flap their wings to the music!