A novel way to stand up props

We build a lot of bodies/creatures, and many of them need to stand up. Most of our bodies are built with PVC frames (almost always 3/4" PVC since it's more sturdy and fits nicely over rebar stakes). Creeps and ghosts and the like can pretty much just be held up by vertical PVC pipes standing on rebar we pound into the ground; but zombies and other well-dressed monsters sometimes need shoes.

While it's simple enough to drill a 1" hole through the heels of old shoes and run the PVC through them, it doesn't give them any additional stability; and for the times when we'd like to have the props free-standing on concrete or other floored areas it doesn't really give enough support.

So; I came up with a simple PVC pipe combination that I assembled in the shoes/boots and then spray-foamed the inside of the shoes to hold the assembly in place and add some volume and stiffness to the shoes.

First, I drill the 1" hole through the heels of the shoes/boots. WORD OF CAUTION: boots with hard inserts can easily bind on a drill bit and spin dangerously. Yes, I know this from experience.

Next I assembled a simple PVC pipe layout using a T, a 90 degree corner, and two short pieces of 3/4" PVC. The short vertical piece is 2.5" long and the horizontal piece is 4" long. I found these lengths worked well in the adult (mens) shoes and work boots I was working with. Assemble them as below.

Insert the assembly into the show/boot so that the 2.5" long segment sticks down into the hole in the heel of the shoe/boot; it should be flush with the bottom; and the 90 degree end goes toward the front of the shoe/boot, with the bottom of the 90 resting on the inside bottom of the shoe.

Finally fill the shoes with spray foam. You may want to stick a longer vertical pipe down into the shoes until the foam dries to keep an opening for when you have to insert a pipe later; try not to let the foam set onto the vertical pipe though or you may have a tough time getting it back out.