Right, so I decided I needed a human cannonball outfit. Don’t ask why, sometimes these ideas just pop into my head. Seemed like a fun project, you know?
Getting Started
First step was figuring out what I actually needed. Didn’t want anything too complicated, just something that looked the part. I rummaged through my old costume box and the garage.
- Found an old silver jumpsuit, the shiny kind. Bit worn, but workable.
- Needed a helmet. Had an old motorcycle helmet gathering dust. Perfect.
- Some padding. Used foam scraps I had leftover from another job.
- Paint. Definitely needed some bright paint. Red and white seemed classic.
Putting It Together
Okay, the jumpsuit was the base. It was a bit plain, so I decided to add some flair. Got some red fabric strips and planned to sew them on like stripes. My sewing skills are basic, let’s be honest. Broke a needle almost immediately. Ended up using fabric glue for some parts. Looked okay from a distance.
Next, the padding. Cut up the foam scraps. Tried stuffing them inside the suit around the shoulders and chest. Made me look bulky, which was the point, I guess. Had to secure them inside so they wouldn’t shift around. More fabric glue and some rough hand-stitching did the trick.
The helmet needed work. It was black, needed to be flashy. Taped off the visor carefully. Took it outside and gave it a couple of coats of white spray paint. Let that dry properly. Then I added some red details, trying to make it look like those old-school daredevil helmets. The paint fumes were pretty strong, should’ve worn a better mask.
Problems and Fixes
Fitting was a nightmare. The jumpsuit was tighter than I remembered, especially with the padding stuffed in. Had to let out a seam in the back, very carefully. Looked a bit messy up close, but who’s gonna look that close?
The paint on the helmet dripped a bit on one side. Had to sand it down gently once it was dry and repaint that section. Took extra time I didn’t plan for. Patience isn’t my strong suit when I get an idea like this.
The Final Look
After all the messing about, gluing, painting, and dodgy stitching, I put the whole thing on. The shiny suit, the bulky padding, the bright helmet… yeah, it looked pretty ridiculous, but in a good way. Stood in front of the mirror. Definitely felt like I was ready to be shot out of a cannon, even though the closest I’ll get is maybe tripping over the rug.
It’s not perfect, lots of rough edges if you look closely. But for a weekend project cooked up on a whim? I’m calling it a success. Now, what to do with it…
