Today I want to share with you a really cool and unique cardboard build! This is kind of like an Iron Man mask except it isn't Iron Man...but it is still really cool nonetheless!

This transformers mask can be used as part of a costume or just a simple toy lying around for someone to appreciate and enjoy.

I was able to use cardboard from old amazon packages, some hot glue, syringes, and some simple paints to create this project. It uses the syringes and tubing to help open and close the mask with just a push. I hope you like and enjoy this cardboard build!

Supplies

Needed:

Corrugated Cardboard (Shipping Boxes)

Hot Glue and Hot Glue Gun

Super Glue

Paper and Printed Templates

Scissors/X-Acto Knife

Tape

3, 5 mL syringes

1 Large Volume Syringe

Syringe Tubing

1, 4-way cross tubing

2 rubber bands

Wooden Skewers or Toothpicks

Foam

Optional:

Paint and Paintbrush

Water

Step 1: Cutting Out the Parts

Using the attached files below, print the templates and then align and cut them out on your cardboard. I used tape to secure the templates for a better cut, and afterward I painted the different parts of my mask (optional). At the end, make sure you have the pieces shown above in the final photo. (I had some extra in case I messed up)

*Note - some small pieces are not included in the template, but they will be mentioned and are not major in the build

Step 2: Assembling the Top

Find the two pieces shown in the photo. Make sure to crease these pieces, you can also use your scissors or knife to help cut out bend marks in the cardboard. Afterward, you should be able to fit the 3 pieces together. Proceed to hot glue these pieces together.

Step 3: Assembling the Top

Moving on, locate the two pieces you see above. For this step, you may have to bend and shape the top in order to fit the side piece. After everything is lined up, hot glue the pieces together.

Afterwards, locate the long trapezoid shaped piece. From here, glue this piece to the back of the mask.

Step 4: Assembling the Sides

Now let's start with the sides of the mask. Grab the 4 large circular cutouts and glue them together to get 2 circles. Afterwards, line up the first edge of the circle and glue it to the circular edge of the side piece of the mask. You should have one thickness of cardboard sticking out from the sides. Repeat on the other side.

Then, locate the cutout shown in the photo and glue the circle on the circular edging of the cutout and repeat on both sides.

Next, locate the second, smaller trapezoid and glue it to the back of the mask like the picture shows.

Step 5: Assembling the Sides

Now, grab the two smaller circles and glue them together to form two circles. Afterwards, glue them on both sides of the mask in the center of the large circle.

Locate the two long strips and glue them on the front, inside of the mask. Get your foam and glue them inside the mask for a nice head rest in the mask.

Step 6: Assembling the Sides

Now the mask seems to be coming together!

Grab the shapes you see in the photo above. Hot glue the large circles with holes to the mask piece. Afterwards, you should be able to place these two pieces on the sides of the mask without gluing. If not, make sure your holes are wide enough, you don't want your hole to be too small or too wide, it should be a perfect fit where the piece can move around with some force applied to it while not falling off. ***Do NOT glue these pieces to the sides

Next, locate the pieces shown in the next photos. The order/shape that the cutouts have been organized are how the will fit to connect the two side pieces to form the jaw of the mask. Glue these pieces until the bottom of the mask has been completed.

Step 7: Assembling the Mask

We are already halfway there!

Locate the pieces in the photo above, they are in the shape of how they will fit on the jaw of the mask. Glue them on accordingly as shown in the photo.

Next, locate the long rectangle with three bends. Glue this to the back of the mask on the jaw pieces.

Now, grab two long pieces of cardboard (not in the template) and glue them together. Afterward, test the length of how long it needs to be in order for the jaw to hit it when the jaw is closed where enough rooms are left for the eyes. Once you find a desirable length, cut off the excess and glue it on the back of the mask.

Step 8: Assembling the Hydraulics

Grab one syringe and glue it to the back of the mask. Make sure that it is extended when glued and secured on the mask. Afterward, use your syringe tubing and large syringe to test if it works. When you push, the mask should close, and when you pull, it should open.

Let's move on, we are almost there!

Step 9: Assembling the Sides

From the photo above, gather the materials needed for this step.

Use the paper and roll it around the wooden skewer/toothpick. Then, use the super glue to harden and make it stick. Repeat this 4 times.

Now, grab the thin, rectangle piece (not included in template, need to cutout according to your syringe) and match it to your syringe to make sure it fits in the cutout when it is bent. Afterward, use the super glue to harden the folds in the cardboard.

Next, use the two rolled up papers and insert them in two wooden skewers. Then, super glue the wooden skewers to the cardboard cutouts. Cut two cardboard pieces that fit between the two skewers and glue them on the cylinder, then glue the other piece on top of that piece.

Finally, grab a syringe and extend it. Then, glue the tip of the syringe on the cardboard piece and glue the base of the syringe on the bent cardboard piece. Repeat this twice to get two of these systems.

Step 10: Assembling the Eyes

Now, grab the eye cutouts. Get a sheet of colored film and cut it out accordingly and glue it on the eye. Next, you want to take a small strip of cardboard and make a hooked shape and insert it to the sides of the eye cutout. Once you have it in place, super glue the hook so it becomes hardened and stuck to the cutout. Locate the other cutouts in the photo and glue it on the eye cutout.

Similar to the previous step, take a sheet of paper, roll it up on the wooden skewer/toothpick, then super glue it. Then, glue this cylinder to the edges of the eye cutout.

Locate the cutouts shown in the photo above. Line the cutout with the cylinder, then take a skewer/toothpick and insert it through the cutout so that the cutout and eye connect together. Make sure the eye can freely rotate and repeat on the other eye.

Step 11: Assembling the Mask

We are almost done!

Grab the system we made in step 9 and glue it to the sides of the mask on both sides. Now, get the eye piece we just made and glue it to the moving platform as shown above.

Next, get a rubber band and loop it through the eye piece and place on end on the hook and one end on the back of the moving platform(use the photo above for reference)

Step 12: Assembling the Hydraulics

This is the last step!!!

For this, the colored water is optional, but it makes the mask look cooler (you could also use neon paint and use it as the liquid in the tubing for glow in the dark)

I mixed red acrylic paint with water and pumped it into my large syringe. Afterward, I pumped the liquid into each of my syringes until they were full.

Next, I grabbed my 4 way cross connector tubing and cut up my syringe tubing. I connected all my tubing to the connector and then connected each tubing to the corresponding syringe on my mask. Afterward, I glued my tubing on the mask to secure it.