Optimus Prime Costume

Step 17

Two things you'll need to plan on are:

1.) Your home is going to be an absolute mess. If your wife has problems with little messes, then she's going to freak out and problably going to want a divorce before this is over. Try and clean up as you go along. It will definitely get knee deep in trash. Also cover any important wood you'll be working on with layers of extra cardboard. You'll be digging into it with your Xacto knife if you're not careful.

2.) Set an area aside in your home where you can place the completed pieces. Preferably out of foot traffic or where the dog will pee on it. This costume takes up a lot of space so make sure you don't damage your hard work. Also pre-plan how and where you intend to store the costume once completed. Luckily I have a garage and lots of packing material. If your single it could become permanent art in your room, but if you have a girlfriend or spouse these things are not possible, as they will clash with the Pottery Barn theme she is working toward.

All in all I have to say it's been one of the most rewarding expiriences. Lot's of time and love went into it. I hope you can find or commit the same amount when creating yours. I leave you with 3 bits of advice:

1.) Learn the interior fold for cleaner lines.
2.) Duct tape all bends for reinforcement
3.) Learn to work on 3 to 4 hours of sleep a night.

Godspeed and good luck

Comments

[bbkrillin]

If I had the whole of October to attempt this i would of, sadly there are only four days till Halloween so i doubt i have enough time and resources for such an amazing project.

But NEXT YEAR it's on!

(btw, i signed up to instructables just to see the full guide to this piece, you sir are a genius)

[lockycharmzzz]

i was looking around on youtube and instructables to get some ideas on how to construct an 80's Jazz Autobot costume when I stumbled upon yours. I have to say, your costume is among the best Transformers costume I've seen.

[hpfreak21]

 You, sir, are a genius. I wouldn't have thought to put suspenders in the costume to hold it up. I'm going to be making a Blitzwing costume, not quite as popular as Optimus and not quite the same either, but your instructions will be the basis for my costume! Thank you soo much. This costume is so fantastic! I haven't looked around yet, but I do hope you've posted more of your costume instructions on here as well (I totally want a Mr. T one, lol)

[Rustvaar]

Oh - my - goodness. Now I wanted to go as Dr .Evil, which would have meant shaving my head, but I was cool with that. Then I wanted to go as Mr. T and, it'd have meant tanning my entire body to look the part. But I was okay with that. Then I thought "Optimus Prime will hit the right chord with everyone at our Halloween party" - They're all the right age to appreciate it, but the problem is. I'M SCARED! There is no way I'm gonna be able to make a costume even remotely on par with this!! How did you do it?! And .. I know how you done it, I've read the entire thing twice but MAN!! There's no way I'll be able to do this. I have about 30 days and even that doesn't seem enough time. Wow. I'm gobsmacked, I'd pay for something like this.

[dannyeurena]

Well Rustvaar, have no fear. I started right about this time last year and I finished it all by halloween. You have an advantage because I've already laid out the plan here at instructables. I had to throw darts at the wall while blindfolded! Don't worry so much about making it perfect. Just do it, and it will find it own audience. Even the cheesiest homemade Optimus Prime is 10 times better than a store bought one! At least, that's my humble opinion! I also have to confess that i laughed at Dr. Evil and MR. T, becuase I Actually dressed up as both of those before! Good luck and god speed.

[marijun]

You are a legend! My son has a super hero costume party next week, and I've been searching the net for the past 3 days for ideas on making an optimus prime costume and stumbled upon your instructions.. love it! love it! So, me gonna give it a try, (won't be as pro looking as yours) but it'll give me a base start! As for 3 - 4 hours sleep a night, I have a 5month old that's teething at the moment, so I'm used to not getting much sleep period!! Thanks a bunch!!

[dannyeurena]

Hope it all turned out well. Your son is a very lucky little dude to have a dad so willing to give him a great party. Hopefully you were able to complete most of it in time. Godspeed.

[saramit]

oh my gosh!!!! I love this. i want to try and do this for holloween. you did i great job!

[dannyeurena]

Thanks Saramit... I say "Go for it!"

If you do build, please send pics... one of the best things about these comments is all the comstumes that people have posted.

'"Roll out autobot!"'

[tbarabash]

Wow, just absolutely amazing. Plan on starting this this coming weekend, I'll put up some pictures when it's done :)

[dannyeurena]

Looking forward to them!! Thanks for kind words!

[RcStumpman]

Awesome build! This has to be the best Prime suit I have ever seen. Thanks for sharing!

[dannyeurena]

Thanks... your comment made my day! Hope you stay tuned for Part II later this year!

[holyhubcap]

I cant believed you designed and made this all your self, you are a true master! I googled an optimus prime costume for the premire of Revenge of the Fallen. I know i only have about 7 days but if i cut a few corners and work hard with enough determination, i think i may be able to pull it off. I really apreciate the great instructable, Thanks

[dannyeurena]

Thanks... I guess if we put a man on the moon and Kim Kardashian is considered celebrity then anything is possible right? If you do decide to build it, please post pics so everyone can enjoy. I really think it's awesome when people post pics of their creations... I know a lot of people also come back to sight again and again to see new pics. Thanks again!! Good luck!

[Cam tha ShoKk]

Man that is possibly one of the best costumes I have ever seen. I was thinking of doing something like this for a mate's party but I don't know if I've got the time. Flippin' Awesome though.

[dannyeurena]

Well if you start now and elect not to sleep for the next 3 weeks you should be able to get it done! Hopefully if you do decide to make on you'll be kool enough to send pictures! Good luck and thanks for the kind words!

[zieak]

Guinness should sponsor projects like this. I don't know how many bottles and cans of it have kept me plugging away at something. Very nice work!

[dannyeurena]

Thanks! On the number of drinks consumed, let's just say "Many". All my friends have said that "now I've set the bar for next years costume." I should invest in Guinness stock before I start building it so I can recoup some of my costs.

[Grimlock]

This costume is brilliant, currently im working on an emperor star scream costume and yeah i have had difficulties with it. Some quick questions though i need to ask, 1 is it difficult to walk around in with arching your foot, 2 i noticed you used flaps now where about's are the flaps exactly and how did you stop them from flapping about , 3 how did you get the fore arm parts to stay on because i am finding that to be a big problem and 4 how did you get the gloves and wrist boxes to stay on aswell. My email is [e-mail] if you wish to speak on msn about it if you can.

[dannyeurena]

I'll send this same message to your email address so you won't have to check back for an answer: 1.) Interior comfort priority numero uno, on everything, as I know I'd be out on the town tryining to dance in it (Check out my YouTube: "Optimus Prime Got da funk") The padding on the feet we're sliced at the pivot points. It didn't provide super mobility, but just enough to improve the flex points. Diagram to be added. 2.) As for the Flapless flaps. Since they're essential to the structural integrity I added only a small square of Velcro on the tip of each flap. As for keeping the legs from sliding down or fliping around, I affixed velcro strap the the inside of the legs and used padding around the section of my leg they wrapped around to both prevent chaffing and also center the leg shells. 3.) Finally as for the arms and hands it was hit and miss. My first attempt was to have 4 pieces. a.) Shoulder piece b.) Bicep Piece c.) Forearm d.) Hand/Glove But the instability of all 4 pieces together made it very uncomfortable. I did a total re-design because of the problems and relized I would have to fuse the parts together. a.) I fused the shoulder pieces to the chest piece. This kept them from slumping and putting weight on the elbow joint. b. & C. & D.) I made these all one piece. I opened the top of the bicep piece, knowing the opening would be hidden in the shouler opening. I used a hinge with screw to hold it to the forearm piece. Using duct tape or glue was not strong enough. I changed the gloves from regular gloves to an old pair of hockey gloves that are longer on the wrist and could be inserted into the opening of the forearm. I lost a little in mobility but gained a big advantage in comfort. take a good look at some of the earlier pictures and you can see the changes/revisions made. Send me more questions if any of this doesn't make sense or needs more breaking down.