For this year's costume I was going to do the new Takara R35 GTR Transformer Toy as a costume, but i wanted to change it up a bit this year... plus all my friends were like.. do something else.. i was watching Return of the Jedi on DVD during a recent business trip, and i'm like. whoa... bipedal vehicles.. i totally forgot about the Chicken walker.
i started doing some drawings.. and then bought a Lego AT-ST to get a scale model in front of me..
i intend on doing it semi puppet like. my feet/legs will be all in black, then 'slip' into the feet (or harnesses to the side of the feet) of the AT-ST so when i move my own legs it will move the legs of the AT-ST. the legs/torso of the AT-st will be mounted in a suspender like rigging so it will stay on my hips while i move. Rubber bands inside the legs near the hinges will return it to the neutral state and prevent it from sagging due to the multiple links in the ostrich legs... then my upper torso will be in the 'head' and i'll be able to move the cannons and lasers with my hands.. to mount the head to my body, i was thinking of using a backpack rigging similar to that of a hiking pack with a skeleton structure, and strapping the head to this rig so that i can move the head of the at-st to one side but still have my feet facing forward as i walk.. for the entry port at the top of the AT-st. i'll cut a hole, and have Chewbacca stick out at the top, which will be stuck to a hat that i'll be wearing so when i move my head, it'll look like Chewy will be moving around up there.
materials used (& planned to use): alot of cardboard, corrugated plastic, foam board, pop rivets, super duct tape, velcro, Kilz wood sealer, Rustoleum primer and paint, wooden dowels, pvc pipe, plastic water bottles, pop rivets, bolts, old backpack straps, big rubber bands.
Tools: uber sharp razor blade/box cutter, tape measure, straight edge, calculator, circle cutter, protractor, drill and bit set, saw,
here's what i have so far.. i'll update as i get closer to competition..
Sketches (somewhat to scale)
the dope Lego Set (10174)
and here we go:
Leg template
Torso
Face front
Head Side
Back
Relative Scale
i used the cardboard templates and transferred it on top of these large sheets of corrugated plastic that i bought from a local plastics store.. a huge 4'x8' sheet is only $13 each...
be sure to add extra tabs on the edges of each face as for easier mounting of the pieces to each other..
so far this is what i have, using only duct tape to secure it.. once i have all the dimensions down, i will pop rivet in place..
need to get some large round foam discs for the side cannons... and top hatch.
next will be to get the feet attached to the legs, and try to put a small piston apparatus on the lowest leg portion.
suggestions / comments greatly appreciated so maybe i can make some changes before its done...
i plan on painting it grey and adding blaster damage, and or ewok stuck to one of the legs.
Update 10/14
Mock up Rigging
Update 10/15
Got more plastic today. Converted all the cardboard pieces into plastic, and did a more indepth mock up.. i.e. me holding it up and inside the AT-ST...
what a mess!
HIPS!
Legs
Trying on the legs.
and with the top
almost there...
just need feet. and rigging for backpack and suspenders.. and paint!
update 10/23
feet
harness to attach head to body..
update 10/24
ugh. im tired.
finally got all the legs hinged and moving properly.
the waist/center portion fully collapses and is easy to get in and out of.. haven't build the suspender/harness for that yet..
i finally got the waist to free stand on my body w/o tape and holding it up...
and together with the head harness on, the head sits nicely and the weight is distributed evenly onto my back.. i can actually dance around in this.
when i squat the knee joints go with me..still need to do the shoe attachment to the feet..
also having trouble finding round foam.. i dont want the styrofoam crap at michael's.. they're $6 a pop.. i might need to make the round disks out of cardboard and make it dish in somehow..