These I didn't bond with PVC weld, but screwed them in place. 4 more straight cross members were made, two as axles and two to grip to front and back of the wearer. Using pipe fittings would have been easier and neater, but more expensive, and I think this worked just fine. I used a halfmoon file to put a curve in the end of the pipe so it could be bonded with PVC weld to a straight cross bar at the back. The ends can be easily cut with almost any kind of saw (I used a crosscut saw). Make sure you lay the chassis flat while each bend cools so the chassis ends up straight (other wise the kart would handle like Bowser's!). Be careful that the bend occurs where you want it as it can soften quite a length if you are not careful. I then carefully bent it around the corner of a cardboard box for the 90 degree bends, and made the 45 degree bends by eye. I then set up my heat gun, standing on its end, turned to about 20% on its temperature dial (gradually turn up from cold until it softens the PVC), and rotated the bend marks over the heat until the pipe softened. I worked out the rough shape and size I was looking for, measured and marked where I wanted the bends. It is lightweight, tough and flexible enough to squeeze to grip the tummy when wearing it.

White gloves, a suitable red cap (Mine had a Mario M on but this would be easy to add)įor the chassis, I used PVC overflow pipe.A blue sleeveless top and a red T-shirt.A pack of coloured sheets of craft foam (Yellow for buttons, red for M badge, blue for trousers).A steering wheel (I 3D printed this but it could be taken from toy or be made from a lid for true hand tools only build).

Red and silver spray paint (gold would have been useful for the wheels if I had some).

2 matching red cocktail shakers (also from Poundland).

An old bike brake cable (or throttle cable).

The head from a small engine (could be made from cardboard).

Thick gauge modelling wire (or 2-3 wire coat hangers).

Two blue U-shaped travel pillows (I got these for £1 each in Poundland).

I got to work building a wearable kart costume, but not before dusting off my N64 for some 'research'! My hockey club was taking part in a hockey festival with a 90s theme, so our team settled on Mario Kart. This instructable documents the build of one of my favourite costumes ever.

Super mario kart costume