#cardboard armor tutorial
When you were younger, you made spaceships, suits, houses, clothes, all out of a cardboard box. You can still do that today! It’s just a matter of proper planning, precise cutting, and patience.
Armor
That’s not one but threewearable, true-to-life Iron Man suits made out of cardboard. Because of how stiff and boxy cardboard is, it makes a great material to use for plated armor. As long as you’re careful you can recreate smooth bends and stiff folds to build shape. There are a few different ways you can do this.
Layering and molding: http://thegadgetfish.deviantart.com/art/Basic-Cardboard-Armor-Tutorial-325580032
Layering alone:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7z51JVYqphQ
And pepakura:http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-make-a-Halo-Helmet-using-Pepakura/?ALLSTEPS
Weapons
You’ll need to be a little careful with them, but you can make very convincing weapons out of cardboard.
Here’s an example of how to make a shot gun: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pZzpfqFHVuA#t=126
Entire outfits
viaDestructoid
Those aren’t sprites lifted from Metroid–they’re cardboard costumes made by Dan Cattell. If you’re going for an 8-bit look, cardboard is probably the single best medium you could use. The way you do it is really simple and straightforward:
Part 1: http://wonkyfacecrafts.blogspot.com/2010/10/tutorial-how-to-make-8-bit-video-game.html
Part 2: http://wonkyfacecrafts.blogspot.com/2010/10/tutorial-how-to-make-8-bit-video-game_30.html
There you go! And just as a reminder of what’s possible…watch this cardboard gun fight, complete with cardboard pistols, grenade launchers, and tank.
This guide was made under the wing of Costume Discounters (www.costumediscounters.com). Please go check out their site!! They sell wigs, shoes, shirts, essentials…all sorts of goodies.
You have to make sure you can use your prop without having it buckle and crack. Reinforcing cardboard is an essential step if you’re planning on using it for your costume! There are a couple different materials that will do the trick; here are some of them, listed from least hard to hardest:
Stiff fabric: Good for tight corners inside of props.
Fiberglass Tape: Not as stiff as craft foam, but easier to manipulate and layer.
Craft Foam: Good for the insides of worn props and those without steep curves.
Paper Mache Clay: Great for carving in intricate details, but not waterproof. It must be covered with a sealant after painting.
Gesso: Once sanded, it will leave your prop with a clean finish for painting. Must be covered with a sealant to make it waterproof.
Resin:The most common choice for cardboard and paper. Will make your prop smooth, strong, and waterproof, but it can be difficult to sand and has toxic fumes.
Bondo:Very, very strong, but isn’t waterproof. It must get a sealant top coat or be mixed with resin.
Just to prove how sturdy you can make these guys:
viaThorssoli
He’s standing on the helmet he just made. No supports, no hidden wires, no tricks–just good crafting. And it’s made out of paper(that link actually shows an excellent way to craft, reinforce, and paint if you want to check it out). Your prop will be able to stand up to most hard use as long as you reinforce it properly.
This guide was made under the wing of Costume Discounters (www.costumediscounters.com). Please go check out their site!! They sell wigs, shoes, shirts, essentials…all sorts of goodies.
