pandatrooper[TK] Posted August 14, 2010 Report Posted August 14, 2010 I'm kind of shocked I didn't make one of these before, these are so awesome! I would love to make one for every costume I own! A duct tape mannequin is a great way to: - create a form that is a very close replication of your body shape - awesome way to display your armor - a great way to test sizing for parts, armor mods, etc. This is nothing super new, people have made duct tape mannequins for years. They started off in the seamstress / dress making hobby (people would use duct tape to create a torso dress form for tailoring their own outfits), and there's been many Legion members who have made these for their costumes. It's not that hard, it just takes time and some simple materials. Materials: 2 large rolls of duct tape (don't get the foil kind, just the regular silver kind PVC pipe (I used 3/4" pipe) 1 PVC cross connector 4 PVC "T" junctions 4 PVC 90 degree elbows PVC cement fiberfill / foam / pillow stuffing Scissors with round tips Old long sleeve top, pants (sweats will do) and socks A friend to help you 1. Get dressed in your old clothes. They should be somewhat thin / not too bulky 2. Go to the bathroom before proceeding (important!) 3. Stand in whatever pose you want. I chose to keep it neutral. If you want to bend the elbows for shooting / blaster poses, it's possible - just keep in mind it may be harder to dress the mannequin. Also, you (as the model) will get hot. Try not to move too much, and don't do this outside / in the sun. 4. Have your friend / helper start wrapping you in duct tape! Star from the bottom and work up. Avoid wrapping the tape "off the roll" if you do this, the tape will be very tight / uncomfortable and the mannequin will be smaller than you. Tear off sections of tape about 12" long and make sure to overlap half the previous strip as you work up. I chose to wrap the bottoms of my heels so that I can insert the mannequins legs into the boots. This is why you need to wear socks. Don't bother making the feet, it won't likely stand on it's own anyways. You can add a post / stand for it later, or simply lean it against a wall. 5. Continue wrapping the upper body. I found that I was slouching / leaning forward, so try to stand straight. Make sure to press the tape down evenly and smooth it out. 6. Make sure that the tape overlaps all the way around the back. I'm bringing sexy back! Yeah! 7. After you have wrapped one layer of tape, it should be good to cut the tape and extract your self. If you're bigger / taller, I would recommend 2 layers of tape - again, overlap the seams. Use scissors with round tips, or if you have some - medical safety scissors also work great (the ones for cutting bandages off patients). Cut a vertical seam down the back, across the back of both arms, and down the back of the legs. You should be able to step out easily. Here's my "body wrap" laid out on the floor. I have laid the skeleton / support frame on it. 8. Go get a drink of water to rehydrate. 9. Make your skeleton support. I used 3/4" PVC pipe. Copy the joints here or make your own. Use your own body as a guide for how long each should be. Notice that I bent the legs of the skeleton outwards to match the pose I was in. I didn't bother making bones / supports for the arms, as I wanted my arms to lay at the sides anyways, and it's just extra weight. Use PVC glue to attach each section of pipe. 10. Tape over the seams starting at the feet, and do about 12"-16" at a time. Tape one section, then stuff it with the fiberfill / foam, etc. You can buy it at fabric stores and even Walmart, it's used for stuffing pillows and such (my wife and I joked about how we should walk into one of those "Build a Bear" shops with my empty mannequin and say "I need this stuffed". Here's mine after stuffing. I threw some old worn out bike shorts on it since I want the under suit areas to show through as black (*TIP: simply cover the elbow, armpit, and knee areas with black gaffer tape or hockey tape! It will look like an undersuit without the cost! 11. Dress your new action figure! Many thanks to my wife for helping me out for a few hours. She thought this was pretty funny, but said it was very cool and turned out great! 7 Quote
Rich330[TK] Posted August 14, 2010 Report Posted August 14, 2010 Brilliant! I'm seriously tempted to give that a go ... Quote
tigger68[501st] Posted August 14, 2010 Report Posted August 14, 2010 Once again Terry, you amaze me with your creativity. Definitely something I'm going to recommend to members of my garrison. Quote
TK bondservnt[501st] Posted August 14, 2010 Report Posted August 14, 2010 this is the way to go! great way to have it exactly resemble your own body type! all we have to do is get the stuffing right? do we add apples and celery to the stuffing and cook at 350d until tender? Quote
crypto Posted August 14, 2010 Report Posted August 14, 2010 I have seen a lot of duct tape mannies, yours is the best by far. Very professional finish and the pose is perfect. Well done. Quote
tkrestonva[TK] Posted August 15, 2010 Report Posted August 15, 2010 Perfect! Now I know what to do with the Ep3 501st clone I have sitting in a cardboard box and that I'll probably never wear - thanks! Quote
TK5144[TK] Posted August 15, 2010 Report Posted August 15, 2010 get the black duct tape to start with, then no undersuit needed. Quote
Aid Posted October 27, 2010 Report Posted October 27, 2010 (edited) This was the best idea ever. Heres how mine turned out. -------------- Edited December 8, 2020 by gmrhodes13 link not working, removed gmrhodes13 2020 Quote
Sarathe Posted January 17, 2011 Report Posted January 17, 2011 I know this is an older thread, but just wanted to say how cool it is! I've gotten all the materials to get started on one, can't wait to get it done Quote
wampadude[TK] Posted February 19, 2011 Report Posted February 19, 2011 Another alternative to Duct Tape is using the brown packaging tape with the water activated glue. I used it when making mine and I found it much easier to work with than duct tape. First of all it is half the price and can be found at Staples or any shipping store. Second it is more forgiving. When using duct tape it is pretty much one and done. Once you have it down you are stuck there especially when the tape folds over on itself. With the paper tape you can lift it up and reset it. Once I was done with mine I ran a layer of clear packing tape over it just to protect it and it has held up just as strong as previous duct tape dummys that I have made. I found this method in a threadless video And here is my project (mind you I have lost 20 lbs since then!) Wampa Project Body double 1 Quote
senna1rossi[TK] Posted December 1, 2011 Report Posted December 1, 2011 thanks panda! i wanna do this with cheap black duct tape. or any color duct tape, i suppose if you're gonna dress the mannequin in your own under armour... cool Quote
Dizzydevil105 Posted October 28, 2012 Report Posted October 28, 2012 just came across this and I must say that this is genius or as they say in the Guinness Commercials "BRILLIANT" Quote
brokenskateboards Posted October 29, 2012 Report Posted October 29, 2012 That Wampa is CRAZY!!!!! Think you could do a duct tape manequin in a different pose? Like standing guard with gun in hand? Does the duct tape form matter or does the PVC matter more? Quote
Houston Posted November 25, 2012 Report Posted November 25, 2012 Terry is without a doubt a genius. Quote
kpresseault Posted January 6, 2013 Report Posted January 6, 2013 Great idea! Just used your post to build one myself! Thanks Quote
TurboPunk Posted May 16, 2013 Report Posted May 16, 2013 I've been making these for years. I started doing them for the haunted house we used to run to raise money for United Way back in the 90's- early 2000's. My wife and i made one this past weekend with the intention of making a tutorial as well as having a form to use for my armor assembly. Its funny, while i was taped up I was walking around the living room telling my wife we need to find gold duct tapr and make a C3P0 costume. 1 Quote
TK-78947[TK] Posted June 1, 2013 Report Posted June 1, 2013 I just started making mine. GOD, that's hot!!! Wish me luck! Quote
TK 10872[TK] Posted August 16, 2013 Report Posted August 16, 2013 I was lucky enough to end up with Blueys ESB centurion TM armor and thanks to this - I now get to admire it everyday! 1 Quote
cl6rkee Posted October 30, 2013 Report Posted October 30, 2013 This thread was a huge help to me as i was struggling to find a mannequin to buy. Started mine last night, but ran out of tape, so still have my left arm to do (i didn't sleep in it, i took it off) I was ambitious for my first attempt, as i posed holding an E-11 blaster! ill post a pic when its done. Quote
Valtrexx Posted March 14, 2014 Report Posted March 14, 2014 I agree, a great idea..but i think the Wife would freak seeing a standing figure at night in the house! Thanks, great stuff! Quote
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