Evan, IN Giant Robot Advice

I'm currently in the design phase for a giant robot costume. It's for a superhero convention. My basic idea is from "Superman VS The Mechanical Monster".
[image=http://www.filmbuffonline.com/Features/AnimatedSuperman/images/SkyCaptainRobot1.jpg]
I don't want to look like a transformer. I'm taking ideas from various other mechs like the ABC Warrior from Judge Dredd,
[image=http://www.myprops.co.uk/ABC.JPG]
The ATM-09-ST Scopedog,
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Sky Captain
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and the power loader from Aliens.
[image=http://www.teamdelta.com/i2000/pwl.jpg]
My question to you is this; Should I include some sort of BFG in place of a left hand like on the Scopedog? The fingers will flex on the right hand.

 

Sure. What's not to like about a BFG?

But then - if you've got a BFG that you can carry in a flexible hand, you can always put it down if you need to and have two hands for more options.

 

Oh man PLEASE do the Aliens powerloader! I'm sure everybody in our club agrees that Chuck can be the Ripley. Come on Chuck be the Ripley! Build that powerloader. Wrestle with xenomorph queens and call them 'female dogs'. Do NOT go so far as to taking Nestea plunges into molten metal, but build that powerloader and be the Ripley!

 

The power loader was the next project. I jess wanna borrow some elements from it for my killer robot design.

Anybody have access to the closed-cell foam packing for electronics? Styrofoam packing has a lot of interesting shapes but the closed-cell stuff would take more of a beating.

 

This is all the input I'm going to get?

I'm serious about the foam stuff. Do any of you guys run across it when unpacking merch?

 

I'll ask our tech guy to keep a look-out and save me any he gets.

Budgets are tight though - might not be much in-coming.

You're talking the darkish gray foam stuff, right? Like electronics are sometimes packed in, or like the insides of a hard-case with the shaped cut-outs for holding specific items?

 

The dark stuff is open cell kinda like a pillow. The closed-cell stuff is what camping mats are made out of.

 

I kinda invision a sort of shoulder mounted rocket launcher thing.... like this only smaller:


[image=http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/images/h98000/h98463.jpg]


You will have tons of room for batteries and stuff, so maybe get some small aircraft servos and hook them up to different joints to add some "moving parts." For example, have a see through panel on your back with some servos and lights to make it look like a powerplant or something. A couple dowel rods and some pvc pipe and you have moving pistons!

Random lights are make easy with a PIC flasher like thisthis

Maybe have one of those pic flashers going on random in a hidden location, and then have fiber optic cable run throughout the suit to different spots.

Another cool effect you could do is have fake "smoke" come out. Hook a servo up to a can of keyboard duster that has been turned upside down. It lets out white "smoke". See this video herehere

 

Wiseman say, "thou shalt not go wrong with BFG".

 

I have been scrounging the flashing LED's from P.o.P. displays for years. I have also got some chasers for the "christmas village movie house". If you put those in out of order they appear to be flashing at random. I like the launcher idea.

 

Progress pics.
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Lookin' a lot more like a Scopedog than I care for. The head swivels from side to side as I look around. I see through the round port in the front. Tryin' to use as many hardware parts as I can.

 

What is that silver "bubble" material on the top light thing on the left?

It looks like the same stuff that goes around the bottom of R5 droid domes.

 

It is cut from the cover of a Sharkboy and Lavagirl Dream Journal Happy Meal prize. I've had it for a couple of years waiting for something cool to use it on.

 

Thats great find!

How did you make the head swivel? Some kind of bearing or something?

 

When I have it on my head fits into a cut-down batting helmet. The helmet is riveted to a piece of PVC that is in turn, riveted to the dome. When I look from side to side, so does the robot.

 

The arms are ready to prime and paint.
[image=http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f247/navarre1095/IMG_2160Medium.jpg]
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Sweet. Wears the BFG?

 

Decide to have the guns stick out of the chest so that I can take some of the weight of the costume off of my neck. 50 caliber nipples as it were.

 

I love 'em! When can I come over and help weather it?!

 

That's what she said

 

" I turned around and she had two 38's and a gun pointed right at me."

 

I found this yesterday and had a total geekgasm
[image=http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f247/navarre1095/IMG_2162Medium.jpg]
Aren't you glad I've got clothes on?
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Sweet! That could be used for other applications like weapons too.

 

Control panel is done.
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A little more trim work is needed.
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Machine guns & grenade launchers! What more does a giant robot need! That panel is lookin good.

The eye is wicked.