So my daughter, Indigo, decided that she would like to be a robot for Halloween a couple weeks ago. Since I like the idea of MAKING a costume rather than buying a plastic bag full of prefab
costume, I told her I'd gladly help her out with the construction.
Thinking about her diminutive frame and the scale of the average cardboard box, I inquired whether she wanted to make a giant robot. She loved the idea and drew a photo of a robot with her head appearing in the middle of the body in a television like opening. Perfect! I thought we'd have enough room to make a second set of arms that could protrude above her own. She gave that design touch the official approval.
We collected a bunch of scrap material - including a number of boxes and odds and ends, and turned our living room into a workshop.
For the main body to be the right size and shape, I combined three similar smaller boxes. The double layered interior was good for providing structure for the rest of it.
A used dryer vent hose that was being discarded at her grandma's complex would serve as the basis for a second set of arms - with the added touch of a stuffed set of motorcycle rain gloves taped to the end. The plan was taking shape Muahahahaha!
Note: evil presence lurking inside the robot carcass! Are you ready to lose a finger?
Indigo began outfitting her Dodee monkeys with space hats and decorations - someone had to live in the cake-tray brain, after all.
We were able to use some bumper paint I had on the shelf to transform our cardboard into fine robot alloy. Copper spray paint turned bottle and jar lids into robot control buttons. The back was our spiky heat sink and official New Mexico license plate. (Isn't that where there are a ton of UFO sightings?)
I used a couple of suitcase straps to form an internal backpack that we tailored to Indigo's height and did some test fitting. Underneath the space boots, she wears Heeleys, which allow her to glide along the floor - just like a simian controlled piece of machinery!
We took the whole rig out to Suburban Swing's costume party and contest. Indigo was very excited about her prospects. The cuteness factor did not hurt.
She was a big hit in the costume contest lineup - rolling around the floor in a circle.
Some close competition from the Dogfish-Flipper.
Costume contest finalists.
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