This Homemade Optimus Prime Halloween Costume Idea is based on the “Masterpiece” Optimus Prime Action Figure. There are a few other Prime costumes online, but to my knowledge (based on a number of internet searches), it is the only fully functioning Optimus Prime costume built on drywall stilts.
With my original height of 6’3″ plus the drywall stilts, the helmet, and shoulder exhausts, Prime Stands just over 8 feet tall.
The only pieces not 100% fabricated by me are the helmet (I liked that it came with a voice changer), the stilts (bought at a pawn shop), the gloves (Hockey gloves from a second-hand sporting goods store spray painted metallic blue), and the tires (commandeered from my wife’s gardener cart).
All other pieces are made of cardboard cut to shape with a razor blade and covered with adhesive vinyl (the kind they use to plot vinyl lettering). Some items were spray-painted. Each piece is kept together with either duct tape, vinyl, hot glue, or Velcro.
Rough itemized cost for the whole costume:
Drywall Stilts: $85. They’re a very pawnable item and not hard to find.
Optimus Prime Voice Changer Helmet: $30 on eBay.
Cardboard: Free-ninety-free from neighbors and a local warehouse.
Colored Vinyl: $40 (roughly 20 yards @ $2/yard).
Hockey Gloves: $20 from second-hand sporting goods store.
Spray paint: $6. (Two cans, Yellow and Blue, @ $3 each).
And that’s about all I paid for. All other items were spare parts laying around my garage or stuff I found in junk piles.
Grand total: Roughly $181.00 US (You can cut costs SIGNIFICANTLY just by making the stilts, helmet, and gloves yourself)
I probably spent about 30 hours working on it over the course of the last 6 weeks.
Halloween night was Prime’s maiden voyage. He needs a few adjustments for comfort and maneuverability, but overall I was the hit of the neighborhood. Kids even forgot to ask for candy when they came to our porch. Many parents circled the block and came back to get pictures.
I hope you like it. I’m happy to answer any questions or provide pointers. It was a fun project.
I made my 3-year-old son a much smaller “Bumblebee” costume. I didn’t pay as much attention to detail for him as he’ll outgrow it by Christmas.
This has got to be the most amazing homemade costume yet. The height alone is awesome, and the details are incredible. I feel guilty that my kids have to suffer with a much less creative parent than this guy must be.
Unbelievable!! You have got to be dedicated to Halloween to attempt this. Great!!
This is by far the greatest homemade costume I’ve ever seen! :) Impressive detail and I love the stilts!
I want one. Great work! How long does it take to put it on?
Hello.
Thanks for all the comments. It’s encouraging to hear your thoughts after locking myself in the basement for the last two months with only an exacto knife and cardboard as company.
For reference, the guy in the grey hoodie (my brother-in-law) is 6’3″.
It really doesn’t take too long to put on. Once the boots/stilts are in place (I need to sit on my kitchen counter to do it) the rest of the costume just pulls over my head.
The silver cod-piece is velcroed to the radiator-belly piece (really just a used air filter from my car). I have duct tape “suspenders” to keep those from falling. Then the shoulder piece goes on top of that.
After that’s done, it’s just a matter of putting on the helmet and gloves.
I had to take it off a few times during the night. The costume didn’t allow for much movement to crouch down, so I had to take it off to fit through doors (one of the adjustments yet to be made).
Another adjustment: the boots were SOO heavy. I got about halfway down the street before realizing I can’t walk too well. I’ll need to replace the awesome tires with a more lightweight cardboard, or foam lookalike.
Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Thanks again for your words.
I’ve got a lot of plans for these drywall stilts. This costume was the first.
Your costume is Optomisprimorific. Hell of a job. Loved every piece of it.
for the tires i would find a old power wheels ride on car/truck and use them. :)