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 Costume and clothing designs, ongoing

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soothsayer
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soothsayer


Posts : 1516
Join date : 2011-06-30
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PostSubject: Costume and clothing designs, ongoing   Costume and clothing designs, ongoing EmptyWed Sep 24, 2014 9:37 am

Unlike the cosplay thread, this thread should deal with the stuff we make.  Whether it be for cosplay, for every day use, or for our own pleasure, this thread should collect and showcase our costume or clothing making talents.

The outfits can be of any material; paper, cloth, plastic, whatever.  It can incorporate things that were store bought, but there has to be enough cosmetic changes to truly make it yours.  Simply shooting a denim jacket with a shotgun to give it the 80's look does not count, you actually have to put some work and thought into it.  That's it, that's the key: thought.  Use of the imagination to take something and make something else!

Okay, this is the opening post.  Coming up will be my contribution to the thread, pictures and descriptions of a costume that I started working on last year, put away for quite a few months, and just dug it out a couple weeks ago.  Unlike most of my other projects, this is actually near completion.

...

Know what, why make a second post?  I'm already here, aren't I?

...

Soothsayer's Halloween 2014 costume

I bought a brown Snuggie a few years back from the We Store, just to mock my wife (she actually likes those).  And, since it was brown, I thought it'd be fun to dress up as Jesus for Halloween.  That never came to fruition, but at least you know where my mindset was.  I eventually sewed up the Snuggie so that it could be worn as an open style robe, and there it sat.  $2.50 spent on robe.

Last year while roaming through Goodwill, I came across a Lizard mask, from the Amazing Spider-Man reboot.  Believing I could modify it some and make it better, I bought it.  Couple days later, again in Goodwill, I saw a Halloween hood, and suddenly things began to click.  I knew what I wanted to do; and bought that hood (although, having taken it apart, I can see how easy it would be to make).  $0.99 on mask, $3.99 on hood.

With the mask, I cut off the lower jaw, and super glued some teeth from an old rubber Halloween skull mask we had lying around.  Punched some holes through it and inserted some plastic dry wall studs to give it an appearance of spikes.  Lastly, I glued some nylon to the mask and jaw so that the jaw would move when I opened and closed my mouth... yes, the jaw actually works.  Painted the dry wall studs with some model paints, and the mask was done.  I may do some touching up on the mask to give it move of a realistic appearance, but that's just cosmetic, the mask itself is done in my opinion.  Dry wall studs cost, oh, I'd say I spent no more than a couple bucks on them.  The nylons were a pair that the wife had bought a while back for a wedding or something, but never got around to using.

Costume and clothing designs, ongoing Mask10

Worked on aging a book, to make a mystical tome.  Took one of my larger books, a student's medical book, and did some changes to it, including removal and adjustment of covers, soaking paper in colored water, wood burned a design on the cover, and glued an emblem (part of a belt buckle from Goodwill).  Book was free, was something I already had.  Belt cost, I don't know, $1.99?  Oh, I also aged / faded the cover with some corn starch, gave it a dusty look.

Costume and clothing designs, ongoing Book10

Rummaging around, I found an old black-out curtain I used to use when I worked nights.  I sewed a couple spots of that curtain to the robe to hold it in place, and began to spot sew area to best fit me.  It's pretty much at that point where I decided to stop, I was, in my opinion, way over my head, and needed to give it a rest.  Jump ahead about a year.

Seeing that Halloween is on a Friday this year, and having some friends that own a bar, I realized that I could actually do an adult Halloween thing, instead of having to deal with kids.  Note to the Lady and 'crunch... don't worry, your turns will come in a few years!  Anyway, I've been wanting to do something like this for a while, an adult Halloween party (but not an adult party, if you know what I mean).  I could have dressed up as my gas mask character (to be posted later), but I wanted something new, something that hasn't been seen before.  So, I went downstairs, and dug out my lizard outfit.  Literally, I had to dig it out: the robes were in the bottom of a bin.

In an effort to keep things simple, I decided to screw the sewing.  Hand sewing is a pain in the arse, and since I don't have a sewing dummy (or a feasible way to sew something while I am wearing it), I went to the next best thing.  I took the guy approach and brought out my hot glue gun!  BAM... in a matter of hours, the robes were completed, adjusted and matched to my size and shape.  Went to Walmart, saw they had some ribbon for sale, bought a couple rolls, and BAM... the robes were decked out in trim.  Went to Goodwill, and almost as if it were a sign, there was a bag full of curtain rod rings that were of a color that just drew my attention, and one of those decorative braided robe things for drapes; my mind knew exactly what I could use them for, and so I bought them.  Ribbon: $1.00 a roll (bought four rolls), $0.99 for rings, $1.99 for rope.

The rings landed up being decorations on the robes; there are three hanging from each sleeve, three along both sides of my chest, and three dangling from the hood.  I also incorporated two rings on the rope, which is going to act as a belt for the robes.  I glued some dark fish bowl gems to the book, the belt, and the robe to tie everything together.  I may glue one to the forehead of the mask, but I'll have to see how that looks first.  The gems cost nothing.  For some reason, I had a bowl of them which is odd because I don't even know when or where I got them.

Deciding I needed to somehow cover my hands, I acquired a pair of black chemical resistant gloves.  Knowing spray paint and model paint would crack on the gloves, I decided to take one of our place mats and spray painted it forest green, and then cut out some large blobs, to which I would rubber glue to the gloves.  The blobs would act as scales, and the rubber glue would allow for some flexibility.  The scales, it turned out, were too dark and too glossy, so I took a paint marker and drew smaller scales on the larger ones.  This turned out much nicer, and the darker green helps to break things up between the lighter green and the black.  All I have to do with the gloves now is to make some talons, and figure out how to remove some of the sheen.  This part was essentially free; got the gloves from work, used one of our place mats, and had all the paint already.  I did have to buy the rubber glue, but I'm not counting the price of glue in this project, seeing as how I didn't use all of it.  Landed up buying a large sheet of green poster paper, figure I can make talons out of that (paper cost $0.75).

Glued the other portion of the belt buckle (used on book) to the costume, to tie them together.  There you go, the costume is done.  I have some old Halloween face paint from last year (or year before, who knows), and I'll be painting around my eyes and other visible skin green to match with the mask.  All things considered, this costume is done; there's a couple minor things here or there, but yeah, it's done.  And, all told, this costume cost about $15.20.  That's damn good considering how much you have to pay for a cheap costume from Walmart... and, in my opinion, this looks a hell of a lot better!  **The first image below is where I stopped last year, the second was taken last night.

Costume and clothing designs, ongoing Costum10

Ahh, I see something I didn't notice before... the black ribbon going up along the shoulders, I should bring it all the way up, then have them connect horizontally across the shoulder blades. That'll be easy enough to take care of.
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soothsayer
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soothsayer


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PostSubject: Re: Costume and clothing designs, ongoing   Costume and clothing designs, ongoing EmptyMon Sep 29, 2014 8:20 am

Gauntlets for the above lizard man priest costume are near completion.  They are both assembled, I just have to detail one of the glove's fingernails first, and then perhaps spray them both with Aquanet or something to seal them; I tested that on some scrap foam and the colors don't run, and the black marker (used on the foam) is harder to rub off.

A photographer friend and I have already set up a date for a photo shoot with this character.  We were originally going to do it in a setting like my back yard, someplace with a field surrounded by trees, but then a mutual friend told us of an actual outdoor chapel near Goodman...

Anyway, until then, here's what the gloves look like.  Note that the one in the foreground has better nails than the other; the one in back I have to detail.  I was thinking about adding more, but I had to stop myself.  This is a Halloween costume, it isn't something for a movie production.  Even if it were, there isn't a real need for detail... too much, and it'd all get lost and blurred together; with this, there is a hint of detail, and so hopefully the mind will fill in the rest.  The only thing I may do is touch up the scales on the fingers, to add some sort of variety.

Costume and clothing designs, ongoing Img_0810

As far as how these are made: one chemical resistant pair of gloves; spray-painted place mat used for the scales on the hand (rubber glued in place); foam cut out like finger armor, colored in with marker (super glued in place), with knuckles cut out to maintain flexibility.
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soothsayer
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soothsayer


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PostSubject: Re: Costume and clothing designs, ongoing   Costume and clothing designs, ongoing EmptyWed Oct 29, 2014 9:48 pm

Our photographer friend and I were finally able to get together for a quick photo shot with my Halloween 2014 costume.  There were a few pictures worth keeping, and in time I will get them, but for now I leave you with this image.  The spear was purchased years ago through the Bud K catalog; doesn't affect the overall price of the costume as I already had it on hand.

Costume and clothing designs, ongoing Liz110
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soothsayer
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PostSubject: Re: Costume and clothing designs, ongoing   Costume and clothing designs, ongoing EmptySat Nov 01, 2014 12:09 pm

Couple days ago I started thinking about what my next costume should be.  Oh, let me back up a moment... my Halloween 2013 costume was this:

Costume and clothing designs, ongoing 97658910



Okay, now that that is out of the way, please note the scope of things.  2013's costume was simple, easy, and pretty much purchased.  Old wool coat bought years ago, tie bought strictly for this, gas mask bought just to have a gas mask, top hat bought just to have the hat, red ribbon for hat, gloves for the costume.  Not an original idea, no imagination involved, just something that was pieced together.  Looks nice, yes, but it's one of those things that has been seen before.

2014's costume is much better.  Didn't really know what I was going to make until one piece fit in with something else, or seeing an item sparked an idea.  There was no direction with this, but rather a massive chaotic flux that developed a mind of its own.  Creative?  Yes.  Imaginative?  Yes.  Definitely a keeper!  There are numerous improvements that could be done to this, but for something that created itself, I can't really complain.

If you'll note, the costuming got more complicated, more involved.  This year's was much better over last, so does this mean I have to do better for next year?  And does going better necessarily mean I have to spend more?  Or would it be better if I go in with a plan?

I like how I was able to make this year's costume for under $20.  Last year's was easily double that, with the hat and gas mask purchase; sure, they weren't bought for the costume, but they were used for it.  I think that that should be my goal, to see what I can make as an outfit for under $20.  Items that I already have, items that are being recycled or reused (re-utilized?) will not be counted towards the final cost.

One idea that immediately came to mind was the making of a demon or dragon type costume.  Wings were to be made with really thing PVC, and attached to my forearms: they would open as I bent my elbows.  I've been picturing how to make the mechanism and it really isn't that complicated; however, the cost would definitely put me higher than where I want to be, plus the fact that I would be needing to sew.  I could use hot glue as I did with the 2014's outfit, but there would need to be some sort of give or sliding effect of the wing membrane over the PVC, and that wouldn't be able to happen should I glue it in place.  I have a sewing machine, but have no idea how to thread it, plus my sewing skills are lacking since I haven't machine sewed since 7th?  8th? grade.

The next idea is... well...  let's just say it is going to be quite involving.  I have a lot of the required items already on hand, and most of the items I don't I can either get for really cheap or for free.  As of right now, there's only two things I have to buy: a three foot length of PVC that can fit over one forearm and some material so I can make a shirt.  If I break the costume up into four parts... maybe five... it won't be too bad and won't seem as daunting.  If I do that, piece this on section at a time, then maybe perhaps I won't notice just how complicated this really is.

The costume idea for 2015?  A steampunk Quasimodo.  Quasimodo, for any future readers who just don't know, was a fictional character, a monstrously deformed hunchback.  He escaped the persecution of simple townsfolk by hiding and claiming sanctuary within a church, becoming the bell ringer, and eventually falling in love.  Steampunk, again for the uninitiated, is, well, think of Jules Verne and Wild Wild West, if technology had evolved to its present form utilizing steam power.  Combine the two, and I think it makes for an interesting build.

The parts, broken down.

Hump - Couch cushion foam to make and build-up the hump and general body shape.  Steam pipes coming out of the hump, a la Alien, and perhaps a bellows or rather tubes with the lung / breathing thing sliding up and down inside it.  Gears and tubes and pistons coming out of the hump, to give the appearance that it is an artificial breathing apparatus, a portable iron lung if you will.  There may be power involved in the hump, enough to turn the clockwork or maybe even some lighting.  This section really won't be that complicated, it's just a matter of making things look as if they belong.

Left arm - This is the arm that will have the PVC extension.  The majority of the natural hump will be on the right side.  To give a visual, the shoulders will appear as if the left shoulder was fused to the left hip, a birth defect which twisted the body, which in turn pushed the right shoulder further out.  I will be strapping my left upper arm to my side, so that my elbow is against my hip (or side).  This will give the impression that my forearm is actually the upper arm... the PVC extension will be going over my hand so that the wrist is now the elbow.  There will be some bracing involved so that the weight of the device will be on my actual forearm.  I have one of those gloves, those robotic toy gloves, that you slip on your hand and has the really long fake fingers.  I'll be attaching that to the PVC and running length of string through the tube so I can still have a "working" hand.

Right Arm - Bulky, with cybernetic (oops, I mean steampunk) implants.  Hump carries over to the shoulder / upper arm.  Being a bell ringer, and having a useless left arm (can't reach around to pull rope with both hands), he had to develop his working arm.  Muscular, strong, with clockwork and hydraulics to help with the pulling of ropes attached to heavy bells.  Couch foam for upper arm, tubes and what-not for the hydraulics.  Pressure gauges and steam vents.  Just a massive arm of tissue and muscle and tubes.

The Head - Here is where the fun is.  I'll need to craft a face so that I have a pronounced brow and cheek bones, deform an eye, stuff like that.  This is going to be difficult, but I have time to figure it out...  I'm thinking couch foam for the shape, covered with leather.  Anyway, to continue.  A reinforced lower jaw because there will be tubes and pipes coming out from it, leading over the left shoulder and plugging into the hump.  These would be tubes to help Quasimodo breath, with some pistons in place to help support his head so the weight of the hump doesn't cut off his airway.  The head is also going to be surrounded by a metal sleeve... think flex pipe, but cone shaped, which will cover the torso and end with the face protruding. That might change, but that's the idea right now.

Most of the stuff crafted will be from cardboard boxes.  Not the ribbed or corrugated type, but rather from cereal boxes and crackers, the thin-but-study cardboard.  I'll be crafting items as I would for a papercraft model, but only on a larger scale.  This type of cardboard will not be counted towards the cost as everyone buys something housed in that material; I've a shelf dedicated to cereal boxes, crackers, pop tarts, hamburger helper, you name it (ie, shelf for boxed goods).  Likewise, I also have various tubes or tube related items for some steampunk projects that never came to fruition, such as those flexible metal hoses for sink spray attachments, removable shower heads, stuff like that; also, Goodwill usually has a nice supply of related items, so this cost will either be free or really really low.

Acquiring couch foam might be interesting, but then again, the furniture store right by Walmart tends to have couches and chairs outside for anyone to grab.  Nothing says I just can't take the cushions, right?    Just have to worry about stink / water damage / or bodily stains.  Pipes coming out of the hump should be fairly easy, just need to make some cardboard tubes.  Or find some.  Or use the tin that I have sitting in my garage.  Moving parts are neither here nor there, but there's enough toys lying around the house that I can strip for motors and lighting.

Now that I spelled and laid everything out, this doesn't look as complicated as I had thought! Even looks to be highly feasible and an interesting concept... just time consuming. Luckily, I have a year!

Oh, the possible fifth part? Just the crafting of a large bell. Or bells. Drag them around with the right arm, pick them up and swing them around like a weapon. Large flower pots from the dollar store would work, would just need to paint them.
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LadyLiterature
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PostSubject: Re: Costume and clothing designs, ongoing   Costume and clothing designs, ongoing EmptySun Nov 02, 2014 9:30 am

Just an idea for the cardboard tubes, ask people to save the tubes from wrapping paper. With the holidays upon us most people will have some. Like I said just an idea.
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soothsayer
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PostSubject: Re: Costume and clothing designs, ongoing   Costume and clothing designs, ongoing EmptyMon Apr 13, 2015 10:27 am

I've begun work on my next costume.  Initially, I was working on one of those rubber werewolf masks, trying to get the snout to stay in place, and not flop about, but nothing I tried worked.  A few hours later, I started this; I apologize, as I don't have any 'before' pictures.

Costume and clothing designs, ongoing Img_0910


The mask itself was purchased at a dollar store last year, just a simply black and grey colored hard plastic lower half of a skull with jaw.  Using a combination of super glue and two ton epoxy, I attached some: furniture pins, cardboard tube, PVC vent cover, window screen, two water supply lines, a hose from a foot operated air pump, and a pants button.

After gluing everything onto the mask with the exception of the pants button and window screen, I gave it roughly twelve hours to set before spray painting it with a Rustoleum ultra primer.  For the primer, I chose a neutral grey so that I could see details or errors better.  After the paint had dried, I shaped and glued a section of window screening inside the cardboard tube.  Four hours after that, I began to paint the mask, using Testor paints; paints used were flat bronze, medium copper, and rubber.  Once that was dry (had it baking under a couple regular bulbs), I removed some paint and attached the pants button; the button has a leaf cluster on each side, with a star at the top.

Initially, the cardboard tube section was meant to act as an air filter, but afterwards I decided to modify the concept and use it as a voice box.  I'll be keeping my eyes open for a child's toy or mini bull horn that can be used as a voice modulator, and place it inside the tube.

Also, when I first started this, I didn't realize just how heavy or awkward it was going to be when completed.  As it is, I am now stuck having to make either a neck brace or combine that with a chest plate, something I can attach the water supply lines to in order to support the mask.  These tubes will act as the air intake and release, with the tube on its left acting as conduit or something.  I am not going to paint the tubes beyond the primer until I have the support device figured out and built, to keep the paint from cracking.

Costume and clothing designs, ongoing Img_0911

Costume and clothing designs, ongoing Img_0912

Costume and clothing designs, ongoing Img_0913
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Shadowcrunch
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PostSubject: Re: Costume and clothing designs, ongoing   Costume and clothing designs, ongoing EmptyMon Apr 13, 2015 3:21 pm

Crystal meth? Not even once!
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soothsayer
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soothsayer


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PostSubject: Re: Costume and clothing designs, ongoing   Costume and clothing designs, ongoing EmptyMon Apr 13, 2015 4:13 pm

Well yeah, there was that one time... no wait, that wasn't meth, it was crack. Anyway, back to the subject at hand.

The main thing I want to do with the weathering is to add that green run-off effect around the supply lines on the mask's right, or "patina" as is called in the plumbing business. Going to also break up the uniform coloring of the mask, maybe color the non textured areas a flat black; these would be the areas around the tubes, around the teeth, the nose, and wear the voice box meets the chin area. Should probably scrounge up a hose clamp for the hose on the mask's left.

I'm thinking that, for the bottom of the mask, I'm just going to glue some black material. Gas masks aren't rigid, and some models do have a fabric that drapes over the head and shoulders ("it's tingling!"), so this idea isn't too far off. I could have it go over the head as well, but I still have to figure out what to do for the goggles.

...

Nope, wait, just figured it out. Oh yes, yes I did.

For some reason, in our garage we have a couple black sleds. They aren't normal sleds, they're just a piece of flexible plastic (or foam lined plastic, don't remember). The best visual example I can give right now is the Pelican Snow Flite. It shouldn't be too hard to cut a piece out of that sled, glue it to the top part of the mask, and then trim as needed; I'll have to scrape off the paint at that surface so I can apply some epoxy... give it that welded look. After that, the goggles will be easy.

And then a hood. Do I want a visor? Trying to visualize... ehh, I'll get to that part at some point.
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soothsayer
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PostSubject: Re: Costume and clothing designs, ongoing   Costume and clothing designs, ongoing EmptySun Apr 19, 2015 4:35 pm

I've worked on the mask a bit more this past week.  Added some leather (upholstery leather), toilet paper rolls and shower curtain rings, and some hose clamps.  What I like at this stage is that the mask isn't as heavy as it was, isn't as awkward; seems that because the leather is shaped / adjusted to my head, it's holding the entire mask more securely.  Oh, I've also gotten rid of the head strap and instead laced the back of the mask so it fits more tightly.

You may note that there are a couple seams in the leather portion of the mask.  This isn't that big of a deal as I intend to add a strap for the goggles, which will hide the seam coming off of the eyes.  For the seams on top of the head, this is also of no concern, as I will be making a jesters hat and crown combination: still attempting to make a steampunk Quasimodo, although I still don't know how it'll look at the end.  I'm also planning on adding some hair to this mask, just to give it a more human like appearance, but that's neither here nor there.

One more thing to add before I forget:  lens for the goggles.  For this, I'll be cutting out the bottom of some plastic cups, just under 1 1/2 inch in diameter so they fit inside the toilet paper roll goggles; apply some super glue to the shower curtain rings (inside the tubes), and the lens should stay nicely.

Costume and clothing designs, ongoing Dsc00010

Costume and clothing designs, ongoing Dsc00011

Costume and clothing designs, ongoing Dsc00012

Costume and clothing designs, ongoing Dsc00013
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VaderXanth
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PostSubject: Re: Costume and clothing designs, ongoing   Costume and clothing designs, ongoing EmptyTue Apr 21, 2015 11:45 am

Well that's pretty fucking awesome!!! Thumbs Up
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soothsayer
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PostSubject: Re: Costume and clothing designs, ongoing   Costume and clothing designs, ongoing EmptyTue Apr 21, 2015 12:56 pm

Thanks! I attempted to make my hump (for Quasimodo) this weekend, after having posted these images... it ain't happening. What I was envisioning and trying to do would have cost too much, and would have required more than items I had on hand / lying in the office.

Doesn't mean I'm not going to finish this up though, oh no. I've skinned a stuffed animal so I can have the pelt act as a wig, will be dying it hopefully at some point this week. Might add some eyebrows and color the leather more of a flesh tone, depending on creep factor. And I do have a gambler's hat that I acquired gawd knows when from gawd knows who. I'll just have to try some different things to see what I can come up with, and just see where this project takes me; don't want to force anything, just want to go with the flow.
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soothsayer
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PostSubject: Re: Costume and clothing designs, ongoing   Costume and clothing designs, ongoing EmptyTue Apr 21, 2015 9:25 pm

Just for the heck of it, here's some night vision shots of the mask while wearing the gambler's hat.  The darker image is just using the standard nightshot mode on a Sony camcorder, while the brighter one is using the same camcorder with an IR illuminator.  I'll post a normal daylight image tomorrow.

Costume and clothing designs, ongoing Dsc00014

Costume and clothing designs, ongoing Dsc00016
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soothsayer
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PostSubject: Re: Costume and clothing designs, ongoing   Costume and clothing designs, ongoing EmptyThu Jun 18, 2015 8:56 am

Since my last posting, I've made a few additions and upgrades to the mask, such as the inclusion of lenses and lighting; the wiring for the lights are running through the tube on the left check, and come into a pencil box where I've wired some toggle switches.  I am not posting those pics yet, only because I am still waiting for the final mask component: one of those voice changers that looks like a small megaphone.  The speaker and microphone will be contained within the tube by the chin / neck of the mask, with the other components within the pencil box.  Once that comes in and is wired, I'll prime the box and then I'll take a pic of the entire unit.

Still don't know how I'm going to affix the two breathing tubes.  I've an idea, but it's so far back in my mind that I can't even consciously think about it without my mind drifting.

These past few weeks I've slowly been working on the second component of the costume: an artificial arm.  This was originally to be for the Quasimodo outfit, my reasoning being that he needed a stronger arm for handling the bells... and even right now, I really don't know if the arm I'm making goes with this costume or not.  It could, sure, but I don't know if it's supposed to.  Something for me to think about.

So I've been buying or acquiring pieces for the arm here and there.  PVC pipe and fittings, tubes of various size.  I've bought things, and after fitting them all together, realized it just wasn't quite right, so I tried other things.  Needless to say, I've got some nice leftovers.

In the below picture, you can see what I started with (pvc-wise).  A couple other pieces were bought since then.  For a size comparison, the two tubes are three feet in length; with the green being four inches in diameter, the white three.  The image does not show all the fittings I purchased, just the ones at the time the picture was taken.

Costume and clothing designs, ongoing Img_0910


After a couple days of head scratching and piecing together and reassembling, I finally settled on a design I liked.  When pieced all together, it looked like a combination of a Tau fusion cannon and pulse rifle, from the 40K gaming system (I make mention of that in case Games Workshop decides to sue us for improper use of their material).  For those that don't know what those look like, here you go.  With that being said, and with my documenting everything, I could easily modify the arm for a future project, with no qualms.

Costume and clothing designs, ongoing Tau10


Add one of those giant hands, the kind with an attached glove so you can still manipulate the fingers, and you have this.  Two pictures follow to show both the top and side view.

Costume and clothing designs, ongoing 11221410


Costume and clothing designs, ongoing 10982710


I'll be running some tubes from the hand to the arm, and then a couple additional tubes or line from one section of the arm to another.  Within the Y I'll be putting in some lighting so it shines out from the green screen (toggle switch and batteries to be located at that location).  Also, with the green pipe, I'll be making a hatch so that I can put my hand into a glove, which will be wired to the giant hand, so that I can still manipulate the fingers.  And see that shiny gray pipe between the hand and the arm, the wrist?  The gray pipe is just slightly bigger than the pipe attached to the arm, allowing it to freely rotate; I don't know if I'll be crafting this so I can rotate the hand or not (a T shaped piece, where the cross goes over the back of my hand), but the option is there.  I'll also be making a sleeve to go inside the arm to better fit my arm, as well as a sleeve of sorts to go around my arm in order to keep this unit in place (both will be made from the leather I acquired from Goodwill).

I originally saw this as having a series of tubes going to a backpack, with the backpack acting as the generator.  I seriously doubt that that is going to happen... the costume is starting to develop a mind of its own, and I have to draw the line somewhere.

The one bad thing about this arm project is that I was a little zealous with the build.  I should have run the wiring and interior components before gluing everything together.  It's not going to make things impossible, just a little more difficult than needed.
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PostSubject: Re: Costume and clothing designs, ongoing   Costume and clothing designs, ongoing EmptyWed Aug 26, 2015 7:48 am

For next year's costume, I was going to see if I could make something on demand; was going to have people put a comment as to what I should make, and whichever one got the most likes would have been the project; this would have been done on Facebook. But, after talking over some ideas this weekend, after a few "oh yeah, that'd work" moments, I think I've already got a project in mind. Luckily I've already got most of the stuff at home: sheets of tin, some plastic siding, and plastic strips from some broken Venetian blinds... all I really need is a few sheets of foamboard.

I won't go into the specifics of the costume just yet, as I want to finish the current one first. I don't have much left, just need to paint / decorate the battery box and figure out what the hell to do with the two tubes on the mask's right cheek.

OH, that reminds me. The artificial arm is not going to be part of this build. It just doesn't match up. And I have a couple pictures to post as well. Ehh, might as well do that now...

Costume and clothing designs, ongoing 110


Costume and clothing designs, ongoing 310

I know LL saw these already, I'm just putting them here for the sake of completion. Judging by the first picture, it would seem that the youngest can't hold a camera steady enough to take something decent; the second was taken mainly to show off the eyes. The microphone for the voice changer is in place, but I'm having to relocate the speaker from the chin piece to the battery box, as there is too much feedback.

Okay, going back to next year's costume, all I can say is that it is going to be big. All encompassing. I won't be able to drive while wearing it. And even though it isn't expected to be heavy, this is going to be a great motivator to finally get into shape. I mean, I've already been working on it, but now I have a deadline.

Also, this costume isn't going to be scary or creepy or anything like that. It isn't going to be light and fluffy though either.
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PostSubject: Re: Costume and clothing designs, ongoing   Costume and clothing designs, ongoing EmptyFri Aug 28, 2015 8:39 am

Proof of Concept, 2016

If I can lose the weight, the image below shows what I'm going to be doing for the Halloween 2016 costume.  I still don't know if I'm going for a traditional look, something sci fi / fantasy, or if it'll be full-blown mecha.

The costume itself is going to be easy to do.  Seriously.  I mean, look at these images!  There isn't a piece of armor here that cannot be crafted out of 1/4 or 1/2 inch thick foam board (house insulation) or those yoga mats (again, foam).  The only difficult piece is going to be the helmet and mask, but I'm already mentally working on that.

If there was ever a motivation for losing weight, this is it.  I mean, I've already got the drive to lose weight, just not the ambition.  Here ya go, right here.

Costume and clothing designs, ongoing Poc20110
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PostSubject: Re: Costume and clothing designs, ongoing   Costume and clothing designs, ongoing EmptyFri Oct 30, 2015 1:25 pm

Woo hoo! Just picked up three rolls of rubber cargo matting from Walmart's clearance aisle. Each roll is roughly 3" by 4" (two black and one dark gray roll). I don't think they're sturdy enough to be used as rigid armor pieces, but they are flexible and would make good material for some of the pieces in the above samurai images.

Very Happy

Just need to lose roughly 80 more pounds...
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PostSubject: Re: Costume and clothing designs, ongoing   Costume and clothing designs, ongoing EmptyThu Jan 26, 2017 11:23 am

I'm not going into specifics here or anything, but I wanted to make a post so that, should I ever lose this, I know where I can go to find it again.  The picture below is simply the cover page for a PDF I recently downloaded; the file itself is 10 pages, so as you can see, this image really can't be used for pattern making, unless you blow it up some, or if I could attach the PDF to this post.  I...  wait...  how come I can't attach a document?  I can do that over at NLPRS; is that an option that needs to be checked?  Ehh, maybe it's for the best that I don't attach the file.

So anyway, here's the pattern I recently acquired.  Or rather, the cover page to the pattern I recently acquired.

Costume and clothing designs, ongoing Cospla10

The video below is the video I saw which led me to the pattern above.  I'm posting this here so you can see just how freaking easy this helmet is to assemble.



"But it's plain!" someone is shouting right now.  Yeah, it is... but any added details would be easy.  Any changes to the helmet itself, once you have the basic pattern, would be easy.  As long as you have the basic pattern, any changes or additions or whatever you want to do to it, it can easily be done.

Definitely watch the video, very informative and it shows you just how quickly this can be made. And while the crafter is using Barge Contact glue, I'm going to first try some shoe glue I picked up at Walmart. There are other glues that could probably be used, but in the video the crafter talks about maintaining flexibility and shoe glue, so I figured why not.
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PostSubject: Re: Costume and clothing designs, ongoing   Costume and clothing designs, ongoing EmptyTue Jul 25, 2017 1:41 pm

Sew what?

I broke down today and purchased myself a sewing machine. I really wish I knew what I was looking for, all I knew was that I wanted something that could sew. Duh.

So here I am, standing in front of the sewing machines at Walmart, trying to figure out what the hell was the difference in machines. Usually, if you judge items by price, you can see what the difference is, or why something is a higher grade than the other, not so here. Should you ever be looking for a machine, I highly suggest reviewing and researching a bit first, go into the store knowing what it is you are looking for.

The first deciding factor was, do I want to select my stitch style by dial or by computerized touch pad? I went with a dial, figuring those are tried and true methods, proven. Being mechanical, they might be more prone to break (I assume), but on the other hand, being mechanical, they'ed be easier to fix.

The second was, how many different stitch styles do I want? Well, let's see... can it stitch in a straight line? It can? That's all I want. From the machines I saw, stitch styles ranged from 23 all the way up to 200. Dear lord.

Third was table size. This is the work area of the machine, the flat surface that the material rides on. I'm betting that, if I wanted a larger area, I could either buy an accessory, or I could just slide something up against the machine.

Fourth was in the description of the machine itself: light or heavy duty. As I am planning on sewing everything from basic fabric to pleather, upholstery to denim, I reasoned heavy duty would be the one for me. The size of the machine falls into this category as well, I think. I wanted something that looked as if it could take a beating, or at least, could handle being used inappropriately. Rugged.

I walked away with a Singer 44S Heavy Duty Classic. Wasn't the cheapest Walmart had to offer, but it wasn't the most expensive by far, either. Will definitely be more cost effective than using hot glue for my costume making, will allow me to do more detail type stuff (such as gloves or masks), and hey, can always use it to fix my everyday clothes as well.
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PostSubject: Re: Costume and clothing designs, ongoing   Costume and clothing designs, ongoing EmptyMon Nov 13, 2017 9:23 am

it slices and dices

Just going through this thread, and I noticed I never made mention that I have some hot wire foam cutting tools. I may have put that in a different thread (terrain making, perhaps?), but I just want to cover all bases here: I have hot wire foam cutting tools should anyone need to use them.

Anyway, the purpose of this post is to announce that I just ordered a scroll saw. Besides being a handy device for crafts and artwork, it will be perfect for cutting thick pieces of foam or rubber for the use of armor, weapons, and so on. As an example (and I, sorry for not posting a picture), a couple posts back involved foam helmets. I made one, it turned out pretty good for a first attempt, but you can see that the shaping and cutting wasn't as good as it could have been: either the knife would go out on an angle, there would be noticeable jagged marks, or whatever due to the knife not making a clear cut. A scroll saw is going to be an essential tool in foam cosplay fabrication.

Note that a scroll saw is something I've been seeking out for quite some time. I enjoy woodworking and crafts, and I'm positive I'll be getting a great deal of enjoyment from this device even if it isn't related to costume making.

The scroll saw I ordered is a WEN 3920 1.2 amp 16". From the various reviews I reviewed (heh), this is a solid-yet-cheap saw. Not cheap as in crap, but rather it's a good buy for the price, with little to no issues. The bed tilts, allowing for 45* cuts, 16" arm, air nozzle, adjustable LED light, variable speed control, and quiet (multiple reviews described it as a sewing machine). I also ordered some spiral blades, which allows for cutting without having to turn the piece being cut... perfect for 90* or narrower cuts. The saw itself was about $80 with free shipping on Amazon (cheaper than eBay); there were cheaper ones of this make and model advertised, but I couldn't access those sites. Likewise, there are cheaper scroll saws, but those are generic knock-offs, and quite honestly this one reviewed nicely.

I'm looking at various projects right now to see what I want to build as a test. I'm also going to have to clean up my section of the basement to allow the use of this scroll saw; shouldn't be an issue, as I've actually been getting rid of a lot of stuff and condensing, just pretty much need to clear room on the basement workbench.

So there you have it: taking my potential crafting up to the next level. And as always, should you find yourself in need of a scroll saw but don't know where to go, now you do!

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PostSubject: Re: Costume and clothing designs, ongoing   Costume and clothing designs, ongoing EmptyTue Nov 21, 2017 9:40 am

Samurai 2018

On a different thread I wrote how I condensed and combined my two work areas so that I could see everything I have all at once / everything would be in reach. It's a lot easier keeping track of things that way, and is a little bit more motivational when you can see all your stuff, without having to stop and hunt for something. With that said, I believe I am ready to work on my last posted costume idea: samurai armor.

As inspiration, I want to model my cosplay after the minigun toting samurai from the movie Sucker Punch. I found an excellent reference source atthis link, but there are plenty of video clips on Youtube that I can always go to as well. I am not planning on making a complete or exacting replica though! I am only taking inspiration! Basically I'm going to be making my own samurai with a minigun.

The key differences are going to be in the head area, both with the mask and the helmet. While I like the head area of the Sucker Punch samurai, I just don't know if I can get the mask right, not to mention the blending of the horn into the helmet. Well, the horns I can at least try, any gaps or seams can be taken care of with spackle or some sort of contour putty. And with the horns actually being an octagonal curve instead of a true horn, it could probably be done.

...

Anyway, In looking at the reference photos and images I pulled off the internet, samurai armor doesn't seem to be all that complicated. Sure, there's detailing to consider, but all in all, not too bad. In this build, I'm definitely going to need to break things down and just focus on one aspect at a time. The first area, if you couldn't have guessed, is the head area.

In looking at Japanese helmet design, the kabuto (the helmet), when broken down into its components, is a bowl with an attached visor, a few neck protecting bands, the two curved pieces along the side of the helm, and the central crest. Pfft, that's it? With each of those portions, in recognizing the shapes and the pieces, the helmet will be easier than though. Everything else is just detail work.

The mask is a bit more complicated. I've proven to myself that I can make foam masks (my Dr Doom one turned out damn good), but with Doom, those were hard shapes, while a samurai's face mask has curves and is more organic. I may be able to get the basics, but the nose is going to be a pain. And then to keep the rigidity? I don't know. Seems something more fitting for a resin or fiberglass project. Luckily, I do have a fix: I've got a small selection of Halloween masks that I can easily modify. I just need to determine if I want the full face mask or the type that go from the nose down (I have both tyupes at home, so it isn't an issue). Being the chrome masks, I'll need to do a little sanding, no biggie.

I guess then all I have left is to figure out what crest to use on the helm, and whether or not my mask is going to have a mustache. I do have bristled brushes I can use; originally bought them to use the bristles as grass for model basing.

But yeah, there you go. Broken down shape by shape, the helemt, probably the most complicated part of this, really isn't that difficult.

"But the minigun! How you going to do that? That's the hard part!"

No, not really. Some PVC piping, some empty bottles, and I figure an old battery operated drill, I'll have a spinning minigun (and should I make it unmoving, even easier). For the belt feed, you would not believe how many lengths of Nerf ammo belts I have. I'm sure I can cobble something together.

The rest of the body armor is nothing but banded plates. Easy. The clothing underneath will just be sweatpants and sweatshirt.

If I was properly motivated, I could easily spit this out in a couple weeks. That's without detail. As I've got a year for this (this will be for Halloween 2018 after all), I've got plenty of time for all the finer pieces. Chest rivets? Googly eyes or diamond rivets. I've been buying up all the belts from Goodwill that have those diamond rivets, got a nice baggie full of them... but the googly eyes have the right shape. Tied leather knots? Crafting foam. Etching? More crafting foam or utility knife to score the surface.

So if I just focus on one piece at a time, the head area one month, the mini gun one month, chest and back armor, shoulders, hips, gauntlets, boots, detail and paint... that's eight months time. Halloween is in eleven months. Gives me time aplenty to do the armor and do it right AND plenty of time to lose weight.
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PostSubject: Re: Costume and clothing designs, ongoing   Costume and clothing designs, ongoing EmptyTue Jan 09, 2018 9:27 am

I have recently added another benchtop power tool to my arsenal: the WEN 3959 Benchtop Band Saw. Good for exterior cuts, bevels, ripping, and so on. If a table saw and a scroll saw had a baby, this would be it.

Why did I get this though? I think it was an impulse buy. It'll be good to cut layered foam pieces as well as slats or trimming the length of 2x4s. It'll prove itself in time, for both cosplay, terrain making, and woodworking.

...

Right now I'm debating on getting a disc sander or a disc sander / belt sander combo. I've got a handheld orbital sander and a dremel, so I'm pretty good as is. There's no hurry or anything, just trying to read up.
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