The Greyhound Strikes Back as artist creates Star Wars AT-AT suit for her pet

By LEE MORAN

All dressed up: Bones is the pooch with enough power to blast you into outer space in his new disguise as an All Terrain Armoured Transport (animal) walker

Beware of the dog - for Bones is the pooch with enough power to blast you into outer space, with his new disguise as an All Terrain Armoured Transport (animal) walker.

Katie Mello decided to give her cute canine a menacing makeover in time for Halloween - complete with mechanical legs and laser shooting helmet.

Using foam for the top body armour, and light fabric for the limbs, Bones was converted into a barking version of the Imperial Walker, made famous in The Empire Strikes Back.


Makeover: Bones was given the menacing makeover in time for Halloween

Mello, who works at the Oregon animation studio Laika which produced the critically acclaimed film Coraline, is now the proud owner of an Italian greyhound which has become known as 'the AT-AT dog'.

Describing how she created the costume, she wrote detailed descriptions of each stage of the production process on Bones' very own Facebook page.



Foam memory: The casts of Bones' body were used to help create his costume

She started by making a foam form of the three-year-old's body, which she then used as a guide to create the machine's armour.

'It was made to minimise the fittings on Bones the actual dog. He is patient, but there are limits,' she said.


Follower of fashion: Bones seen posing his two-piece speed suit


Armoured animal: Bones' tries out his body armour (left) and his speed suit (right) ready for fitting


Shoe fitting: Bones tests out his new fancy footwear for size

She then placed him in a two-piece speed suit, which was completely open underneath, and held the body of the vehicle on him to check the fit.

'I made the body all out of foam sheet, which was 1/4 inch thick with 'fun foam' sheets on top. It hardly weighs anything.'

The body suit was then painted. 'The round disks at the joints snap on to the suit so it is more comfortable and easier to get on and off,' she added. The AT-AT walker was a major part of the Galactic Empire's army.


Behemoth of a war beast: The AT-AT as made famous in The Empire Strikes Back


Under cover: Using foam for the top body armour, and light fabric for the limbs, Bones was converted into a barking version of the Imperial Walker made famous in The Empire Strikes Back


source: dailymail