Imperial Guard Mannequin - Halloween Prop

We're doing a Star Wars-themed Halloween even this year. I wanted to have some ominous characters in the background of the Endor Base and thought the Imperial Guard from Return of the Jedi would be an easy build. Once the event is over, he'll retire to the movie room along with the other props.

Here's a rapid-fire, low-cost effort -

After looking online at the helmet - it's a cool $300 if you can even find one... Well that's why I bought my 3D printer - and look! Thingiverse.com has one of these helmets posted for free! (Thanks Geoffro)


http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:349643


I'll make the body out of PVC and cardboard like I did for Darth Vader and will make is Pike (spear) out of PVC and more 3D printed parts.

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These helmets take some time on the 3D printer - but they're totally worth it! For about $25 in plastic, my printer cranked through all the parts (albeit took about 1 week to print all the pieces - nearly 30 of them. Again - totally worth it however!



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Simple super glue gel (CA Glue) adheres the pieces together -








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A little bit of bondo to seal any slight gaps and then running over the "grain" of the plastic with 220 sandpaper. This helps knock down the ridges that the printer leaves behind.



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Using a some 2-part epoxy with filler added to thicken it up, a quick coating helps seal the helmet, make it rock hard and smooth it out. It sure looks like a mess at this point, but it's getting there.



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While the epoxy dries - let's make the body!


I recycle most of prop materials from the previous year's projects - in this case, I'm using a wooden disc as the base.

I lightly spray painted the edges red and secured my PVC parts with screws (same as my Darth Vader base).



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The body begins in a PVC frame with a cardboard "body frame". Some simple hot glue adhesion works for this process.





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DUCT TAPE, DUCT TAPE, and yes - a maker's best friend - more Duct Tape!


For this one, I didn't even finish the back of the body - just coated the front in Duct Tape.





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I love this character - no arms or legs to build - YEAH!! For the robes, I picked up a set of 2 Tablecloths (60"x102" each) for $8.98 with prime shipping!


https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1


I simply draped one tablecloth over the back and one over the front - punched a hole in each so it slips over the neck pole.





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Let's finish this helmet!


More sanding down that epoxy - 220 grit, down to 400 grit





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Just a bit more spot filler - this time I use a plastic-wood filler (Elmer's brand). I find bondo too noxious and dries to quick for small, quick voids like this.





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Paint - woo hoo! My favorite!


I love this Rustoleum 2X paint and primer ultracover. I find it adheres very well to PLA and ABS plastics and all of my fiberglass and epoxy bases. In this case, Gloss Apple Red for the helmet...







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Time to make the Pike! But before I make the Pike, this guy needs a hand. Okay - so I said earlier, no arms and legs, but I guess I'll have to fashion a quickie hand for this guy.


I thought about buying a set of gloves from the Goodwill and painting them Red, but that's another $5 and a trip to the... err... Goodwill. Let's use our trusted prop hand method. Tape and plastic wrap!



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Lots of little clear packing tape pieces to separate the fingers, and then some red duct tape (GO DUCT TAPE!)





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To make the arm - I use a tube from a paper towel roll and wrap it in plastic bags from the grocery store. I'll insert a piece of PVC (not shown) to stiffen it up as well. Finally, more red duct tape!



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Let's take this to our new buddy and see how it fits. The PVC "forearm" gets screwed into the PVC waist piece to make sure it stays nice and stiff.





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Let's finish the visor for the helmet -


You can use clear plastic (spray painted black on the inside) or a replacement grinding shield.



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Next, use blue painters tape to shape out the outline of the visor. In this case, it fits on the inside. The tape will create a nice pattern to trim from.


Place the tape pattern on the visor material and trim it out.



You can use 5-minute epoxy or 2-sided velcro to adhere it inside the helmet.



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Let's make the parts for the pike - again the 3D printer comes in handy in creating these unique shapes.



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I used a 4-ft section of PVC and wrapped it in aluminum tape. To minimize time, I didn't coat these plastic parts in epoxy for smoothing. Instead I jumped right into spray paint.



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Here he is - in all his glory!







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The two most important mannequins are completed!


My wife just looked at me and asked, "Aren't there supposed to be TWO guards?" Sheesh!! Only if there's free time before Halloween...

Nice. I think I missed in the post, what 3d printer so you have? Do you like it?

cjchiu said:

Nice. I think I missed in the post, what 3d printer so you have? Do you like it?

Click to expand...

Hey cjchiu - I have a Wanhao Duplicator I3 printer. Totally love it and have had a blast. Just finished making my daughter a 3D printed electric viola too. It's really easy to dial in and use.