RTFA: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7I9v0EdhwlM&eurl=ht…

it’s time for the annual RTFA Mech Halloween Costume roundup. I scored based on the look of the costume, but also on the appropriateness. Bonus points for mobility, and points taken away for parents who made costumes for kids. If the costume looks like it won’t last more than 5 minutes, that’s going to cost ya.

Without further ado, the entries:

5. Baby Chicken Walker

HAHAHA! This costume is *WAY* beyond the league of that kid – what is he saying while he’s walking? I predict the night ends with the costume destroyed, the kid crying, and a deflated parental unit carrying a heavy load home: the kid under one arm, a sack of candy in the other arm, and the costume wreckage lying in the gutter. This link via boingboing.

Costume Grade: B A – clever components, great look! After review, extra points added
Deployment: D – never going to work with the kid

4. Mech bling, crew included

Vastly over-reaching, deadly serious, and destined to destroy every doorway it meets.

Costume Grade: B – looks great, probably cost a fortune/took forever to make
Deployment: D – needs support crew

3. Cardboard and timelapse

A better Battlemech costume. …too bad this kid didn’t make it for himself. Also, the video is sped up – I suspect mobility is limited, but it will probably last for a few hours. Meh… Looks good!

Costume Grade: B – looks great, good reuse, not made by the kid him/herself
Deployment: B – timelapse, video is painfully long

2. Hipster Mech perfection

Here’s a well-done chicken walker, which is in zen-like balance with its wearer. Simple is great, in this case!

Costume Grade: A – fake legs bonus!
Deployment: A – this guy can walk in the costume. Amazing, but that’s a major point in this contest.

1. Genius working transformers

Working transformer costumes! These aren’t “mech” costumes, but they just blow the others out of the water. These peeps probably made the costumes themselves, they are totally mobile, and the costumes ACTUALLY TRANSFORM.

Costume Grade(s): A+ – these are home-made, they look great, and they totally work
Deployment: A+ – real-time transformation. That is all.

I love 2008!