Duct Tape Space Marine

A few years ago we made a duct tape space marine costume on our friend, Michael.

Here is the how to and the finished product.

Start with cardboard and of course Duct Tape. I used Fall Foliage Pattern Camou duct tape purchased from General Surplus

I bent the cardboard to allow a closer fit to the chest

Continue to refine the fit periodically. I used darts in this chest piece.

Time to refine the fit

Final fit and taping. Adjust the length as needed and remember to finish the edges with duct tape to cover the cardboard completely.

The finished front plate

And onto the back. Use the same method for shaping the cardboard

Connect the front and back piece at the shoulders. When Michael wears this he will be taped in around the waist. Zippers and Duct tape are a bad combination.

The completed back plate.

Ah, the cod piece!

Notice the contined use of cardboard for stiffness...uh, right!

Using Aluminum foil to pad out the shape of the cod piece

After refining the fit and shape, I covered the cod piece with more Duct tape.

(watch those scissors!)

Onto the leg greaves

These were also duct tape covered cardboard and molded to Michael's calf. I duct taped elastic to the grives to secure them to his legs.

The helmet starts as do all my headpieces. Cover the head in aluminum foil. Mold to fit the shape of the head exactly.

Secure the aluminum foil using duct tape to make a sturdy skull cap.

Once the cap is sturdy, remove it from the model's head and place it on a styrofoam wig stand. Use Aluminum foil to build up the basic shape desired.

Cover the shape with Duct Tape.

I also fashioned the mouthpiece from aluminum foil for this job.

Duct Tape Space Marine!