Transformers Bumblebee and Bulkhead Costume

My 10 year old son is a huge Transformers fan, and he asked me if he could be a Transformer for Halloween....BUT..."I'd really like the costume to transform, dad." I thought that this was a good learning experience for my son....that you can do anything that you put your mind to. So, we collected cardboard boxes, and started experimenting. We wanted the costume to be easy to walk in, easy to transform into a car, and easy to transform back. It had to work like a real transformer!

I used colored duct tape to not only hold the costume together, but also to give the costume a nice shiny look. We used lots of cardboard boxes, and I purchased blocks of lightweight foam to make the leg pieces. The foam acts like an oversized boot (if you only use a box, it's too floppy).

The reaction from people is great. At first, the recognize Bumblebee, and say "What a great costume!". Then my son transforms in front of them, and their jaws drop to the floor.

For fun, I made myself a costume as well, so we can transform together!