‘Iron Man 2′ Fan Takes War Machine Cosplay to the Next Level

Cosplay can be iffy. For every time you see a fantastically done Mojo or Poison Ivy outfit, you get ten mediocre Star Wars stormtroopers walking in packs despite sometimes not knowing each other prior to the convention. However, some costumes set a whole new standard and make you excited to wonder what other fans may do in the future.

Such is the case with Anthony Le's War Machine armor, which won "first place" and "best in show" at the Starfest 2010 Costume Contest. This guy's War Machine outfit, based on the character's "Iron Man 2" suit, allegedly took about one month and more than $4,000 to build (notice I said "allegedly", it's not like we saw this guy's receipts). Now before you all say, "wait, it's nice but it's not THAT impressive," let me explain. The eye slits of the helmet and the arc repulsor generator actually GLOW, the shoulder gun ACTUALLY SPINS and the helmet actually OPENS AND CLOSES with the push of a button just like in the movie. Seriously!
According to Popsci, "[Anthony Le] used thin, high-impact urethane for the armor, cutting it into plates and joining them with some 1,500 rivets and washers. He sculpted a clay helmet mold and then used a liquid resin mix to create the final product. But that was just cosmetic work. He also added a small servo motor that opens the faceplate, as in the movie, and built a gun out of pipes and a motor. LEDs in the eyes and chest-plate further add to the illusion."

Mr. Le, your time and dedication to showcasing obsessive fan love makes you worthy of a salute. If we meet, you shall get a high-five!