How to Make a Cylon Costume

Cylons played different roles in each "Battlestar Galactica" series.

Impress everyone at the the next Battlestar Galactica convention with a realistic Cylon costume. Cylons were man-made robots designed for battle in the television show "Battlestar Galactica." However, they later rebelled and enslaved the humans. Construct a costume to look like a Cylon Centurion by using paper mache to create the chrome mask. It's the most distinctive part of the costume, and once you wear it with black or gray clothing, you look exactly like a Cylon.

Things You'll Need

• Welding goggles with 2-inch by 4 1/4-inch rectangular eyepiece
• Clear red plastic sheet
• Pencil
• Plastic glue
• Large latex balloon
• Masking tape
• Thin cardboard
• Ruler
• 10 sheets of newspaper
• Flour
• Large mixing bowl
• Scissors
• Silver spray paint
• Black acrylic paint
• 5/8-inch craft paintbrush
• Black long-sleeve shirt
• Black tight-fitting pants
• Silver boots

Instructions

Mask Structure

1. Trace the rectangular lens of welding goggles with a 2-inch by 4 1/4-inch eyepiece on clear red plastic sheeting using a pencil. Cut out the tracing using a craft knife. The goggles serve as the rectangular eye piece for the mask.

2. Squeeze plastic glue all along the edges of the cut piece of clear red plastic sheeting. Press it onto the rectangular lens of the welding goggles. Allow it to dry completely.

3. Blow up a large latex balloon until it has a diameter of about 24 inches. The balloon serves as the structure for the mask, creating the round shape. Tie the opening of the balloon to secure.

4. Remove the goggle's elastic band. Place the goggles onto the thickest circumference on the middle of the balloon. Secure the edges of the goggles onto the balloon with masking tape.

5. Mark two pieces on thin cardboard that are 2 inches by 4 1/2-inches for the bands above and below the eyepiece using a ruler. Thin cardboard can be acquired from a cereal box. Cut them out with the craft knife. Mark and cut two pieces that are 1 inch by 2 inches for the sides of the eyepiece.

6. Tape the two 2-inch by 4 1/2-inch cardboard pieces at the top and the bottom of the eyepiece using masking tape. Lay the 1-inch by 2-inch pieces at the sides of the eyepiece and secure with masking tape. You will cover the cardboard and tape with papier-mache, so it's fine if the masking tape shows right now.

7. Mark and cut out two pieces of thin cardboard that are 1 inch by 4 inches. Draw a 2-inch line in the center of the bottom of the eyepiece using a pencil. Lay one of the 1-inch by 4-inch cardboard pieces on the right side of the drawn line at a diagonal so that the bottom of the diagonal cardboard piece is more toward the right and at a 45-degree angle from the top.

8. Lay the other 1-inch by 4-inch cardboard piece on the left side of the drawn line at a diagonal. The bottom of the cardboard piece is further to the left of the top and at a 45-degree angle.

9. Mark and cut out on thin cardboard a piece that is 1 1/2 inches by 20 inches for the mohawk-like top of the mask. Fold it in half lengthwise. Tape one end of this long piece onto the top center of the eyepiece. Tape the other end to the top of the balloon.

Papier-Mache

1. Tear up 10 sheets of newspaper into 1-inch by 6-inch strips. These are the strips for the papier-mache part of the project. Mix together one cup of flour and one cup of water in a large mixing bowl for the paste. It needs to be a porridge-like consistency. Add more flour or water if needed.

2. Saturate one strip of newspaper in the paste. Lay it over the thin cardboard at the top of the eyepiece. Dip another strip of newspaper into the paste and cover the bottom of the eyepiece. Continue adding newspaper strips dipped into the paste over the cardboard that you taped down onto the balloon.

3. Lay one layer of newspaper saturated in the paste over the top, back and sides of the balloon. Continue laying papier-mache so that everything is covered except the eyepiece and the bottom of the balloon. Allow it to dry for 24 hours.

4. Add another layer of papier-mache saturated newspaper strips. Carefully mold all the areas with cardboard and cover the balloon. Areas between the cardboard and balloon must also be covered with papier-mache. Allow it to dry. Add one last layer of papier-mache. Let it dry for 24 hours.

5. Pop the balloon with the tip of your scissors. Separate the balloon from the papier-mache and discard. Cover the eyepiece area with masking tape. Spray paint the entire mask with silver paint. Allow it to dry for one hour.

6. Spray the entire mask again with the silver paint. Paint the mouth area below the eyepiece and between the taped diagonal cardboard pieces with black acrylic paint using a 5/8-inch craft paintbrush. Remove the masking tape. Let it dry overnight.

7. Trim the bottom of the mask so that it's even and easy to fit your head into it with scissors. Wear the mask with a black long-sleeve shirt, black tight-fitting pants and silver boots.

Tips & Warnings

• Form cuffs with thin cardboard, then paint them silver.

• Use a medium-sized box as a chest piece. Cut a hole for your head and two sides holes for the arms. Paint it silver.

• Papier-mache paste can be saved in the refrigerator for up to seven days. Stir before using again.

• Spray paint the mask outdoors or in a well-ventilated room.

• Lay the mask on newspapers to prevent staining your table.

References

• Galactica.TV; The History of the Cylon Centurion Costume; Marcel Damen