Meet the dad who builds giant Halloween installations every year in his front yard - with some measuring more than six meters. <br /><br />Tom Saltsman, 60, has kept up with the tradition for the last eight years. <br /><br />So far he has built an enormous dragon on his roof, a spindly skeleton spirit, a spaceship and a moving rendition of King Kong.<br /><br />Tom, who works as an architect, spends up to two months every year preparing the installations ahead of the spooky season. <br /><br />His most recent project, which he built in 2022, was a 22-foot-high Egyptian god in his front yard. <br /><br />Last year, he also turned his garage into an Egyptian tomb.<br /><br />To complete his pieces, Tom often receives help from friends and family.<br /><br />Last year, he recruited four painters - three friends and his wife, Brooke Saltsman, also an architect, who painted the hieroglyphics on the piece.<br /><br />The tradition started eight years ago after an 80's horror-themed piece for a party went down well with his friends and neighbours.<br /><br />Tom, who lives in Marblehead, Massachusetts, was so thrilled that he pledged to repeat his projects yearly.<br /><br />Tom is self-sufficient with his installations, scavenging scraps from his workplace and building most pieces for less than £165 (200 USD).<br /><br />The materials he uses are mostly plywood, bin bags and various types of foam.<br /><br />The installations have garnered Tom the status of a local legend in Marblehead.<br /><br />He has become so well-known that his daughter Parker Saltsman, 25, is recognised for her dad's projects.<br /><br />She said: "I'm definitely known for my dad's sculptures. I feel like I'm desensitised to it now.<br /><br />"It started when I was born. He used to make these really elaborate cakes for my birthday so I actually wasn't surprised [by the sculptures]"<br /><br />Tom is humble about his pieces and considers them more of a hobby or a way to connect with people than a claim to fame.<br /><br />He said: "It's just kind of a fun outlet for artistic purposes. It's mainly for the community to come and enjoy it."<br /><br />"I appreciate the curiosity. People really get a kick out of it. I've got very patient neighbours.<br /><br />"For the installations, there's always a portion that has to do with things that just appear. it's not a playset. it needs to look like it just appeared.<br /><br />"The dragon looked like it just landed on my house, the spaceship too."
