My 'Walking with Dinosaurs'-style Utahraptor costume

IMIM2 said:

Sorry to jump ahead of the process:
1. how are you going to do feet?
2. how will you see? Have a handler?

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It's all good! I'm kinda all over the place too with my thinking. It's good to think ahead.

Feet: I don't have all the details worked out yet and tbh I haven't given the feet a whole lot of thought. I suppose I will make the structure out of carbon fiber (just a simple skeleton with hinges in the right spots) and bulk it up with polystyrene. What I use for skin (currently undetermined) decides what I do next. If I need it to be a little stiff I can coat the polystyrene in epoxy to harden it up.

Also, I am most likely going to be compensating for [most of] the weight of the costume in the legs. I'll be using pneumatic cylinders (not sure if that's the right name) at the joints.

Muscles: For other parts of the body that will need bulking up I think I might use a method that they use on the puppets in the live version of 'How to Train Your Dragon'. They need muscular bulk that moves naturally with the skeleton. They used nylon (essentially pantyhose) filled with polystyrene beads (much like a beanie baby) and stretched it from one point to another. (I can post a pic if anyone wants)

Seeing/Handler: Yes, I think I will definitely have a handler. A friend of mine has often been eager to join me for my costumed escapades and I'll most likely be asking her to join me. I think a lot of training is going to be involved.
I haven't figured out what I'm going to use for the skin. I know it's [one of] the most crucial parts to making it lok just right. Nylon (like pantyhose) gives the possibility of one way viewing but doesn't have the right texture. Foam Latex would allow me to get the exact texture and movement I'm looking for but will be expensive and not see through. I may go for a combination of the two somehow. It seems impossible but it's obviously been done. If I did go with the latex (or silicone or whatever) I'd probably have to go through a process like this:

If anyone has any suggestions for 'skin' that will give me a good texture, is see-thru from one side and won't break the bank, PLEASE let me know! Thanks!

man this is awesome! id love to do a project like this! although the suits are amazing, i would love to find a way to hide the human legs into the dinosaur suit just to add a little more realism

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That would be ideal (and possible if I chose a different brand of dinosaur like a T-Rex. Unfortunately, the velociraptor's legs bend the wrong way. One brief and dangerous thought that I did have was to utilize those metal, springy running stilts. They bend forward and give a shape that is close to correct. I'm just not sure I want to be carry an 18ft dino on my shoulders while walking on stilts.

It's all good! I'm kinda all over the place too with my thinking. It's good to think ahead.I don't have all the details worked out yet and tbh I haven't given the feet a whole lot of thought. I suppose I will make the structure out of carbon fiber (just a simple skeleton with hinges in the right spots) and bulk it up with polystyrene. What I use for skin (currently undetermined) decides what I do next. If I need it to be a little stiff I can coat the polystyrene in epoxy to harden it up.Also, I am most likely going to be compensating for [most of] the weight of the costume in the legs. I'll be using pneumatic cylinders (not sure if that's the right name) at the joints.For other parts of the body that will need bulking up I think I might use a method that they use on the puppets in the live version of 'How to Train Your Dragon'. They need muscular bulk that moves naturally with the skeleton. They used nylon (essentially pantyhose) filled with polystyrene beads (much like a beanie baby) and stretched it from one point to another. (I can post a pic if anyone wants)Yes, I think I will definitely have a handler. A friend of mine has often been eager to join me for my costumed escapades and I'll most likely be asking her to join me. I think a lot of training is going to be involved.I haven't figured out what I'm going to use for the skin. I know it's [one of] the most crucial parts to making it lok just right. Nylon (like pantyhose) gives the possibility of one way viewing but doesn't have the right texture. Foam Latex would allow me to get the exact texture and movement I'm looking for but will be expensive and not see through. I may go for a combination of the two somehow. It seems impossible but it's obviously been done. If I did go with the latex (or silicone or whatever) I'd probably have to go through a process like this: Making the Slasher - YouTube which will get a little pricey.If anyone has any suggestions for 'skin' that will give me a good texture, is see-thru from one side and won't break the bank, PLEASE let me know! Thanks!That would be ideal (and possible if I chose a different brand of dinosaur like a T-Rex. Unfortunately, the velociraptor's legs bend the wrong way. One brief and dangerous thought that I did have was to utilize those metal, springy running stilts. They bend forward and give a shape that is close to correct. I'm just not sure I want to be carry an 18ft dino on my shoulders while walking on stilts.