Cosplayers are eager to return to in-person video game events and Comic-Con. This is a fun and easy costume that my son Reed came up with based on a video game. control: Agent of the Federal Bureau of Management. This costume has a “waist-up” design, making it perfect for Zoom meetings!
Even if you’re creating a completely different costume, here are some basic crafting tips and techniques that I helped him use.
reference
This costume had a lot of great reference images straight from games and websites. This basic design looks very simple. Web straps and buckles that hold the breastplate and modules attached to the shoulder straps.
Hint: Find the front, side, and top views to determine the size of the object.
procurement
Buy and Build: While many parts can simply be purchased, some elements must be custom manufactured to get the look right.
Hint: When purchasing components, you may find it easiest to buy them online, but there are some things that are best purchased in person. Like the straps and buckles you collect at a fabric store, you can immediately feel the material, see the actual color, and check size compatibility.
production
Weight, durability, and comfort are important in any costume. The two housings are hollow and made of lightweight plastic with a thick 1/4-inch acrylic back panel for added strength.
Hint: You can also cut and drill slots for the backing shape and straps, but it requires a lot of hand work to finish all the edges. Laser cutting with Glowforge gave the acrylic parts a perfect “flame burnished” edge to complete the piece.
dry fitting
These straps fit snugly, but the flat back panel could use improvement.
Hint: Always check your work by trying it on for fit and function first before painting or finishing.
thermoforming
Both ends of the acrylic shoulder section are slightly bent to improve the fit. Peel off the backing paper from both sides and clamp the acrylic around the bend. Warm the plastic carefully. outside Use a heat gun to turn the corner. Once softened, bend and hold the plastic until it cools to create a new shape.
Hint: Use clamps to protect the edges of the acrylic from bending or warping. I made a hollow shoulder housing by vacuum forming styrene. To create the foam, I cut and shaped the rigid foam, milled corner recesses for the screws, and drilled holes for the LEDs and screws. The screws are for appearance only and do no function. It is glued after the shell is painted.
Hint: Vacuum forming is perfect for making costumes. Ideal for creating masks as you can create multiples quickly. For more information on vacuum forming and bending plastics, check out my book. Makeup: Fun! and Easy to assemble kitchen floor vacuum cleaner.
To make the housing for the bib, I created an octagonal shape from glued styrene sheets. It has a triangular gusset on the inside, making it durable and lightweight.
The “lens” of the bib is a screw-on plastic jar lid with a styrene disk glued to the bottom.
Hint: Use your wits to find household items and trash that can be used for parts.
Details and finishes
The housing is painted with a “hammered” finish and the backing plate is painted silver. The green LED, battery, and switch are located inside the shoulder housing and have Velcro on the back for easy access. The cosmetic screw heads are glued in place. The yellow knob is a dummy made from solid plastic parts, molded, painted, and glued in place. The red cord and black stress reliever came from a junk parts bin and luckily they were a perfect match.
Loop the strap and sew it into the slot in the lining. All that’s left is assembly and final graphics to add lenses and badges.
Add your own shirt, pants and black tie. The end result is picture perfect. Agent K is ready for fraud.
Photo: Bob Netzger. This article was published in make: Volume 79. Subscribe now!
