Flying Captain America Shield by seamster
Contest WinnerFeatured
capshield4 030 (1024x768).jpg
capshield4 003 (1024x768).jpg
capshield4 010 (1024x768).jpg
This is a flying Captain America shield that you can make out of duct tape and cardboard. Make a couple of these and you can battle it out with your friends Captain America-style!

I had two goals in mind with this project: 1) that the finished shield could be tossed around safely and actually fly stable like a giant Frisbee, and 2) that it could be replicated by almost anyone, independent of their current crafting skills.

For this project I made a couple of different flying shield prototypes. After some experimenting, I eventually reached a design that flew really well . . . and now I'm excited to share it!

I've included a PDF with all the pattern pieces that are required to make this. I worked directly from these finalized pattern pieces to build the finished version of the flying Captain America shield you will see in the following steps and in the video below.

The finished shield is 22.5" in diameter, and weighs 27.5 ounces (780 g). It's hefty, but it flies great. Still, you wouldn't want to knock a little kid in the back of the head with it, but it's certainly a lot safer for throwing around than this version (also made by me).

Here is a video of my flying shield in action:


 
Remove these adsRemove these ads by Signing Up

Step 1: Things you will need

capshield2a 001.JPG
Here is what you will need to make your own Flying Captain America Shield:
  • Print-out of the attached PDF
  • Flat pieces of cardboard, at least 12" wide across the grain. I used thick double-ply cardboard.
  • Duct tape, one roll of each: red, white, blue, and regular
  • 24" of webbing or other suitable material for handles
  • 74" of 3/4" polypropylene rope
  • Cutting mat
  • Utility knife with extra blades (and/or heavy-duty hobby knife with extra blades)
  • Hot glue gun
  • Sharp scissors
  • Marking pen, like a Sharpie
In each step I will go into more detail about the materials and tools used.
1-40 of 194Next »
Kurohitsujii says: Oct 4, 2012. 1:52 PM
when i try to open the pdf it wont, can you help?
seamster (author) says: Oct 4, 2012. 2:17 PM
Here's the file right here. If still you can't open it, it's a problem on your end. Make sure you have the latest adobe reader.
jkyle dragneel says: Feb 9, 2013. 3:01 AM
umm... where did you buy colored duct tapes?
btw, nice work
seamster (author) says: Feb 9, 2013. 8:44 AM
I bought mine at a walmart store. I've seen it at grocery stores, home improvement stores, and many other places as well.
SamuraiSpirit says: Jan 21, 2013. 6:00 AM
Do you know if it would work with 1/8 inch thick steel sheet hammered into shape, or would that be too heavy to fly?
seamster (author) says: Jan 21, 2013. 9:38 AM
You could definitely make one out of metal if you have the tools and the know-how, but I think it would be way too heavy to actually fly.
gpod says: Jan 4, 2013. 9:39 AM
Sweet! Nicely done.
nikolits says: Jul 1, 2012. 2:11 AM
can you please do a youtube video how to do this?
seamster (author) says: Jul 1, 2012. 8:37 AM
Nope, sorry. I don't personally like how-to videos, so I don't make them. If done correctly, I think the step-by-step format on this site is superior to any how-to video.
tech dawg says: Oct 11, 2012. 1:13 PM
i also dont belive in how to videos.I think this site is amazing!
dogs990 says: Oct 8, 2012. 7:11 PM
I just got done making my shield and i am very satisfied!! Great instuctions! i also added a stap so i can put it on my back
IMG_2589[1].JPGIMG_2588[1].JPG
seamster (author) says: Oct 8, 2012. 7:18 PM
Looks great! Thanks for posting the photo. Hope you have a lot of fun with your new shield!
Kurohitsujii says: Oct 5, 2012. 3:55 PM
thank you i got to download :) i didnt have the current adobe reader XD
seamster (author) says: Oct 5, 2012. 7:10 PM
No problem!
Duct Crossing says: Sep 25, 2012. 4:41 PM
I brought this and 4 other of my duct tape creations in to school for a speech bout my hobbies. My teacher was so impressed with the shield that she's willing to buy one from me! How much do you think a shield like this would cost? (keep in mind that mine isn't as good as yours lol)
seamster (author) says: Sep 26, 2012. 6:42 AM
I'd show her where you got the pattern and just tell her to make her own. And make sure you don't take credit for the design of the shield for a graded project . . . that's got to be some sort of physical plagiarism! :)

I sold the first one I made to a kid in my neighborhood for $5. That was a good deal for the kid. For your teacher? Maybe $20.
Duct Crossing says: Sep 26, 2012. 8:13 PM
I don't mean to be plagiaristic! Haha
Wow! Twenty dollars! I was thinking more like 50!
samaside says: Sep 16, 2012. 7:34 PM
Instead of using rope - since mine is for display and not necessarily for throwing - I went ahead and make a lip out of some of the cardboard I had left over. It juts out just over an inch but it works to hang things on nails, etc. My shield also does fly but it's not done yet (I ran out of red duct tape) so I haven't tried it outside yet.
seamster (author) says: Sep 16, 2012. 8:09 PM
Nice! When you get it done, would you post a photo up here? I'd love to see it!
samaside says: Sep 18, 2012. 11:31 PM
Here's a picture of the completed outer design. I need to still work on the inside since I still haven't found the nylon straps I intended to use. They'll turn up. I still haven't unpacked since I moved back here for school. I also included a picture that sort of shows the edge I put on it. Initially it was just meant so I could hang it on a nail but it actually does fly all right. We toss it around the living room at least. I'll take it on campus at some point and really give it a go at some point.
IMG_20120917_234709.jpgIMG_20120918_232243.jpg
Duct Crossing says: Aug 29, 2012. 3:16 PM
Finished it this afternoon! It's a lot bigger than I thought itd be! :D
mikeasaurus says: Jul 14, 2011. 11:17 PM
Capt.America's also uses his shield as a thrown weapon; is it extra funny when someone gets it in the face (by accident)?
seamster (author) says: Jul 14, 2011. 11:40 PM
Well, yeah. Secretly, we all know that nailing somebody in the head with this thing is the ultimate goal.

But, you shouldn't go around smacking unsuspecting little kids with it.... Your annoying friends? They're fair game.
vmorais alves says: Aug 14, 2012. 6:42 PM
Hello, it seems that I was not the only one with problems. I also could not form a circle with 20 pieces. What is your opinion about that? It will still fly if I use 21 pieces? Here two pictures comparing the fittings.

2012-08-14 22.21.00.jpg2012-08-14 22.22.52.jpg
seamster (author) says: Aug 14, 2012. 9:27 PM
Nope, 20 is right. Force the pieces together when you glue them up. This will pull the disc into a slight dome-shape. You do not want a flat disc, which is what you would end up with if you used 21 pieces.
Dillon McCrea says: Aug 15, 2012. 7:52 PM
i made that mistake on the first shield i made and its flat like a pizza and is very flimsy
Dillon McCrea says: Aug 15, 2012. 7:50 PM
i made two because the old one got busted. on the second one i doubled the cardboard and its extra strong
Dillon McCrea says: Aug 7, 2012. 1:37 PM
how do you keep the straps from coming out?
seamster (author) says: Aug 7, 2012. 3:18 PM
They're just glued and held in place with a few layers of duct tape. Mine actually came off after a while... they couldn't hold up to four rowdy boys, what can I say?
Dillon McCrea says: Aug 10, 2012. 1:29 PM
thx that helps alot! :)
SnappleNpop says: Dec 19, 2011. 11:58 AM
This was by far the best part of my costume, I love it so much. Thanks again for the wonderful tutorial! I also but to set of straps inside, one for sliding it on my arm, the other to sling around my back. I can post pics if anyone wants to see that.
297414_2415679078869_1458110386_32630294_254458817_n.jpg
fratstar says: Jul 31, 2012. 12:38 PM
Can you post the back strap? i would like to see that...
SnappleNpop says: Jul 31, 2012. 1:28 PM
Yeah sure.... I think it still looks pretty good for this being almost a year old, awesome creation for sure. The inside straps, i'm sure makes it heavier, I have not tested it to see if it can be thrown like a Frisbee, but I wanted the options to either strap it to my arm, or around my back so I created two sets of straps.
For the strap I sling around my back it has a clasp, and I made some excess strap so it can be easily adjusted. I duck taped the end so that it would not slide all the way off.

Hope this helps!

Cheers!



e.jpgc.jpgd.jpga.jpgb.jpg
seamster (author) says: Dec 19, 2011. 2:13 PM
Looks pretty good!

Thanks for the photo!
cyap3 says: Nov 1, 2011. 12:14 AM
This instructible defined my Halloween experience. I would like to thank you for posting this & helping so many Captain Americas all over the world. I am from the Philippines. My friends & I dressed up as The Avengers last Halloween. My shield flew through the air w/ perfection just as you instructed. Now, I want to have this shield framed. I'll see if I can upload the video here. Again, all the way from East Asia - THANK YOU!
IMG_8993.JPGIMG_9175.JPG
fratstar says: Jul 31, 2012. 12:40 PM
how did you make the rest of your costume?
seamster (author) says: Nov 1, 2011. 7:45 AM
Awesome! Glad I could help. All those costumes look great.

Thanks for the photos!
cfairbanks1 says: Jun 14, 2012. 10:16 PM
This is a great tutorial, and thank you so much for posting it, I just was wondering if you knew of a place to get cheap cardboard. I'm modifying the shield's design for a different costume, but I can't seem to find a good amount of cardboard for a decent price. (Am I making sense?)
Any help would be much appreciated, thank you!
seamster (author) says: Jun 15, 2012. 12:04 AM
I get my cardboard for free out of dumpsters behind local businesses where I live. They say, "oh, it's just that seamster guy digging through the trash again."

Furniture stores are golden if you have one near where you live.
cfairbanks1 says: Jun 16, 2012. 8:42 AM
Gotcha! Thank you so much :)
1-40 of 194Next »
Pro

Get More Out of Instructables

Already have an Account?

close

PDF Downloads
As a Pro member, you will gain access to download any Instructable in the PDF format. You also have the ability to customize your PDF download.

Upgrade to Pro today!