By day, Doug Marr crunches numbers as a general manager for a construction firm. But after hours, the former electrician retreats to his Newcastle shed to build oversized helmets, armour plating, and seven-foot-tall wearable exoskeletons inspired by video games and pop culture.
Marr's creations have helped raise nearly $300,000 for charity. He started cosplaying with his children a decade ago, but wasn't satisfied with store-bought costumes. Drawing on his trade background, he engineered heel-and-toe mechanisms into boots and combined foam, metal, 3D-printed parts, and custom electronics.
Three years ago, Marr suffered a massive stroke and had to relearn how to walk and talk. The experience motivated him to give back, turning his hobby into a fundraising machine. He founded the Wasteland Collective, uniting makers from Australia and New Zealand for charity builds.
Marr's attention to detail caught the attention of the Fallout franchise, which commissioned him to build a T-60 power armour suit for the Australian premiere of its TV series. He completed the build with his son, a full-circle moment from when he started making costumes for his kids.
Marr will showcase his creations at Newy-Con, Newcastle's first major pop culture convention, from February 27 to March 1. He hopes to leave a legacy for his children, showing that it's better to give than to take.
