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Funhilde posted:What about using stickers they use for house numbers? It probably even comes on a roll or in sheets. This will be our backup solution, it's just kind of a pain in the rear end to sit there and cut out all the tiny surfaces we'd need. I'll link him to the thread and let him read everybody's advice 
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Sep 7, 2012 00:39
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I have a lot more time than sense so I wanted to do a costume of Artorias from Dark Souls, but I've never really made anything that looks like knight armor before. I thought that the shoulderpad, elbow pads, and helmet would be the hardest because they seem to be rather thick and round but really I'm pretty clueless about how to do any of it. The cloth drape that's attached to the helmet will cover up a lot of the joints for the neck and its something I could do reasonably well but I don't know what to make the rest of it out of. Here's a couple pictures  http://imgur.com/CnMqC http://imgur.com/2LqBZ
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Sep 7, 2012 02:39
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That's cool. All the ones I've ever seen at the store is either blue or pink.
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Sep 7, 2012 02:40
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Veev posted:I have a lot more time than sense so I wanted to do a costume of Artorias from Dark Souls, but I've never really made anything that looks like knight armor before. I thought that the shoulderpad, elbow pads, and helmet would be the hardest because they seem to be rather thick and round but really I'm pretty clueless about how to do any of it. The cloth drape that's attached to the helmet will cover up a lot of the joints for the neck and its something I could do reasonably well but I don't know what to make the rest of it out of. That looks amazing. Have fun with the construction. As for how there are a lot of different ways to make armor ranging in price and difficulty. My current favorite is the cardboard greatstuff/foam methods. Though I would really like to try Wonderflex/Worbla's though price keeps me at bay. Sense my current piece isn't full body armor I am tempted to try, though it depends on finances. Kamui Cosplay has a really helpful journal and youtube channel that go through most of the methods. She's a cosplay god really.
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Sep 7, 2012 17:25
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I read the thread, but apologies if I missed it. I really, really want to do a Garrus costume eventually. The only thing holding me back though is the mask. I found some high res reference shots from the game and a friend for their first time did Madam Vastra for DragonCon so I'm feeling confident I can pull this off. Sculpting and casting a mask are something I've never done though, so any tips or a good tutorial would be greatly appreciated. I'm giving myself a wide timeframe so that isn't an issue (I know I wont make NYCC/Halloween). Reference shots
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Sep 7, 2012 20:02
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Fooley posted:I read the thread, but apologies if I missed it. I really, really want to do a Garrus costume eventually. The only thing holding me back though is the mask. I found some high res reference shots from the game and a friend for their first time did Madam Vastra for DragonCon so I'm feeling confident I can pull this off. Sculpting and casting a mask are something I've never done though, so any tips or a good tutorial would be greatly appreciated. I'm giving myself a wide timeframe so that isn't an issue (I know I wont make NYCC/Halloween). Garrus is such a bad rear end. I know a few people who have made him. Check out the N7 Elite costume group on Facebook. They are always happy to help people out with the Mass Effect costumes. I'm not sure if they've got a tutorial for Garrus but I know a few of them have made him that could help you.
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Sep 7, 2012 20:08
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Veila posted:That looks amazing. Have fun with the construction. As for how there are a lot of different ways to make armor ranging in price and difficulty. My current favorite is the cardboard greatstuff/foam methods. Though I would really like to try Wonderflex/Worbla's though price keeps me at bay. Sense my current piece isn't full body armor I am tempted to try, though it depends on finances. Kamui Cosplay has a really helpful journal and youtube channel that go through most of the methods. She's a cosplay god really. I just found out my rent is 1/5 what I thought it was so I'm working with a bit of a budget. I've made things out of cardboard before, but I just wanted to make something out of a bit more durable materials because I plan to use it more than a few times. I'll check out the Wonderflex because it seems to be pretty available, thanks for the recommendation.
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Sep 7, 2012 21:06
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Veev posted:I just found out my rent is 1/5 what I thought it was so I'm working with a bit of a budget. I've made things out of cardboard before, but I just wanted to make something out of a bit more durable materials because I plan to use it more than a few times. I'll check out the Wonderflex because it seems to be pretty available, thanks for the recommendation. The cardboard method that I use is similar to a lot of weapon construction you make the base of cardboard then cover it in expanding foam then papermache I am actually gonna try and use bondo for Black Gold Saw as an experiment. My Sylvanas Armor is made this way and it's more than a little durable though I did the triming out of this crap clay and it sucks so I am pulling it off and trying again with new stuff.
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Sep 7, 2012 21:31
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I'd personally probably do EVA foam (yoga mats, craft foam) before I did wonderflex, especially on a budget. Wonderflex works just fine but I didn't totally love it when I used it for my 40k outfit. I plan on using up what I have left from that project but I probably wouldn't buy more.
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Sep 7, 2012 21:43
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McPantserton posted:I'd personally probably do EVA foam (yoga mats, craft foam) before I did wonderflex, especially on a budget. Wonderflex works just fine but I didn't totally love it when I used it for my 40k outfit. I plan on using up what I have left from that project but I probably wouldn't buy more. Alright, I have some money to waste but I'd rather not spend money I didn't have to. Craft foam seems like it would be good. Veev fucked around with this message at 23:39 on Sep 7, 2012 |
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Sep 7, 2012 23:36
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Veev posted:Alright, I have some money to waste but I'd rather not spend money I didn't have to. Craft foam seems like it would be good. Oh, yeah, I read that backwards. Either way, craft foam is awesome--you can heat shape it, and once it's done, you can coat it in a mixture of Elmer's glue and water and get a really nice leathery surface. Downside is that it can tear relatively easily but for our last project, our Yoshimitsu backed his craft foam breastplate with cheesecloth by laying it on the inside and brushing glue over the whole deal and that helped a lot.
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Sep 8, 2012 00:08
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Speaking of craft foam, I'm making a mask out of that and now that I've got the basic shape I'm wondering how to paint it. Can I just use acrylic paints or do I have to seal it first?
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Sep 8, 2012 23:41
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CantDecideOnAName posted:Speaking of craft foam, I'm making a mask out of that and now that I've got the basic shape I'm wondering how to paint it. Can I just use acrylic paints or do I have to seal it first? You will want to seal it first. mod podge or elmers.
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Sep 9, 2012 01:53
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CantDecideOnAName posted:Speaking of craft foam, I'm making a mask out of that and now that I've got the basic shape I'm wondering how to paint it. Can I just use acrylic paints or do I have to seal it first? Also, since I was shaping small pieces I found a got a really nice result with the heat from a candle. I felt like I was melting my fingers trying to use a blow dryer and hold it in shape. I just held the foam over the flame until it got a bit soft then shaped it, blew on it to cool it off... It's held some really nice "sharp" points for my Mera crown.
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Sep 9, 2012 02:47
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Bugger. How does one seal?
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Sep 9, 2012 03:28
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CantDecideOnAName posted:Bugger. How does one seal? Paint it with Mod Podge or Elmer's Glue, let it dry thoroughly. Maybe do a second coat.
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Sep 9, 2012 03:56
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RazorBunny posted:Paint it with Mod Podge or Elmer's Glue, let it dry thoroughly. Maybe do a second coat. I don't really want to waste a brush on glue. Are fingers and tacky glue an acceptable substitute (since those are things I already have)?
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Sep 9, 2012 05:03
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I spent a good part of today working on my Flynn Rider vest. It's rough, but for my first venture into putting something together from scratch and not having a good pattern to go from, I think it's coming together ok. I still need to add the sleeves, some belt loops, and the hooks and buckles: Terrible iphone pictures for anyone curious:  
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Sep 9, 2012 05:24
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CantDecideOnAName posted:I don't really want to waste a brush on glue. Are fingers and tacky glue an acceptable substitute (since those are things I already have)? I used watered down school glue when I made did my second attempt at foam armor. I'm sure you could use a finger but if it's a big area spend a buck on a cheap brush. That vest looks great.
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Sep 9, 2012 06:46
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Killer_Frost posted:I used watered down school glue when I made did my second attempt at foam armor. I'm sure you could use a finger but if it's a big area spend a buck on a cheap brush. Ah. Does it need a lot of coats of glue? That is a nice vest indeed. Was his really that blue? Fantastic color.
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Sep 9, 2012 07:17
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McPantserton posted:I'd personally probably do EVA foam (yoga mats, craft foam) before I did wonderflex, especially on a budget. Wonderflex works just fine but I didn't totally love it when I used it for my 40k outfit. I plan on using up what I have left from that project but I probably wouldn't buy more. Why weren't you impressed? It looks like a pain to work with, but I'm thinking about getting some for my next project as I don't think EVA foam would be supportive enough for what I need.
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Sep 9, 2012 07:53
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CantDecideOnAName posted:Ah. Does it need a lot of coats of glue? I've never done it with Tacky Glue, but I know with regular school glue and Mod Podge I've never had to do more than two coats to get a good seal. The foam I'm using is more open-celled than the foam you'd buy in a craft store, so it needs more sealing. Both Mod Podge and Elmer's glue wash right out of a paint brush, too. I usually use the cheap foam brushes and rinse them out afterward, but since they're so cheap I occasionally feel too lazy and just chuck them.
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Sep 9, 2012 09:02
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His was a little lighter teal. This was the closest color corduroy I could find at the stores around here and it looks close enough for me. I'll be sure to post more as I go.
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Sep 9, 2012 13:27
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CantDecideOnAName posted:Ah. Does it need a lot of coats of glue? If you are willing to spend more money, I bought a big jug of this stuff called Rosco Flexbond. It comes in a gallon size for about $30-40 but it will last you forever because you only need 1-2 coats of it to seal foam! This is compared to the 8-12 coats of regular Elmer's glue/water, and you don't need to thin it with water. Also unlike Elmer's glue, it is flexible when dry, so it won't flake off or crack, and makes your armor extremely tough, so it won't dent or rip like regular foam without a concerted effort. I used it for the enormous Samurai armor build I did earlier this year for Yoshimitsu, and we still have about half the gallon left. Reformed Tomboy posted:Why weren't you impressed? It looks like a pain to work with, but I'm thinking about getting some for my next project as I don't think EVA foam would be supportive enough for what I need. I used Wonderflex recently too, it is unbelieeevably easy to work with. You can hit it with a hairdryer set on high to get it to form. You can draw right on it and cut it with scissors. However, it's not super strong all by itself, plus if you leave it in the back of a hot car or in your garage (as I discovered  ) it will start to soften and deform. You can reheat and reshape it endlessly, at least. I think the next time I use it I'm going to glue some foam to the underside for a little structural stability.
THIZZFACE KILLA fucked around with this message at 14:21 on Sep 9, 2012 |
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Sep 9, 2012 14:17
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Reformed Tomboy posted:Why weren't you impressed? It looks like a pain to work with, but I'm thinking about getting some for my next project as I don't think EVA foam would be supportive enough for what I need. It's very thin, it took a lot longer to get the shape right than I thought it would, and it heats up and gets soft again very easily. I left a piece of armor out in the sun to dry after painting it and it started getting soft again just in the sun.  Having to ride to a convention with it in the trunk was really stressful, I kept worrying I'd get to the con and just have a pile of flattened plastic.
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Sep 9, 2012 14:27
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Could you use something to reinforce and set its shape? Like, I dunno, coat the backside/interior with fiberglass resin or something similar? That way you could get the benefit of the workability and then fix the shape when you were done.
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Sep 9, 2012 17:47
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THIZZFACE KILLA posted:I used Wonderflex recently too, it is unbelieeevably easy to work with McPantserton posted:Having to ride to a convention with it in the trunk was really stressful, I kept worrying I'd get to the con and just have a pile of flattened plastic. The easy to work with is reassuring, but the other statements are not. Ashcans posted:Could you use something to reinforce and set its shape? Like, I dunno, coat the backside/interior with fiberglass resin or something similar? That way you could get the benefit of the workability and then fix the shape when you were done. I don't know about them, but the whole point of my choosing wonderflex was to avoid using fiberglass. It looks like I may end up going with leather after all.
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Sep 9, 2012 17:58
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CantDecideOnAName posted:Ah. Does it need a lot of coats of glue? I think I did like 5 or 6. I basically kept painting it until it stopped soaking it up. I backed mine with some left over linen scraps that I glued to the back before I painted it. It helped. I was going to use fiberglass resin on my knee "guards" for Miranda from Mass Effect. A friend did some tests for me, since I was mid-move, it didn't melt the 1/4" foamies from the craft store, sealed it really nicely and gave it a nice finish. He didn't do any shaping, I was just curious if it would melt the foam, but I bet using the fiberglass on the back side to support the curves and what not and if you want a high shine on the front, just resin it.
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Sep 9, 2012 18:57
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Sorry to chime in 4 pages and a month late, but for future reference, a hair dryer works on heat shrink tubing. That is, unless I missed something and EL uses a different kind than I pick up at radio shack and what have you. If that's the case, forget I said anything. Love this thread!
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Sep 9, 2012 19:12
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This mask is turning out to be a lot more trouble than it's worth. And this is supposed to be my backup mask, in case I can't finish my original idea on time, and I haven't even started that one. 
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Sep 9, 2012 19:34
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So I have been following this thread for a while and you guys have given me a ton of ideas. I'm new to costuming but I'm gonna work really hard to finish this attempt at Thor. Hammer:  I'm making it out of wood because we have scraps around and I just wanna play with the tools in the garage.   The base of the handle, I still need to find some leather scraps to work on the pattern, but for now I'm working on priming and smoothing. Armor:  The black in double layered cardboard supported with 16 gauge wire and encased in glued fabric, it needs to keep the cape up over the back. the cape velcros under the black, but above the gray foam. the foam is for attaching the main chest piece, which I haven't started.  My sister sewed the cape so it had some nice pleats in it, with velcro on the under side.   I really messed up some of the lines on the helmet wings, but im slowly working them out so I can redo them more carefully. If anyone has any advice or ideas on better ways to do things, I am all ears! I have a big pack of thin craft foam, and and nice pack of thicker eva foam for the armor. PS: I plan on loading the hammer handle with batteries and making the head give out a little shock. Possibly a second circuit for the handle so when I set it down it shocks anyone who picks it up. Only Thor can wield Mjollnir. 
Antiquated Pants fucked around with this message at 22:40 on Sep 9, 2012 |
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Sep 9, 2012 22:36
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Ashcans posted:Could you use something to reinforce and set its shape? Like, I dunno, coat the backside/interior with fiberglass resin or something similar? That way you could get the benefit of the workability and then fix the shape when you were done. The piece I had start to get soft on me was coated in a decent coat of bondo and it still drooped. I've never worked with fiberglass so I couldn't say if that'd work but I think it'd be better than just wonderflex. I know Svetlana at Kamui Cosplay does layers of craftfoam in between 2 sheets of wonderflex, I'm going to try that for a Nightmare Moon-inspired armor set sometime soon with my leftover wonderflex sheets. So I had a great costuming weekend, we had a spectacular time at GeekKon and I think our panel went really well! We did a photoshoot in our local park too, so I'll have some better costume photos soon. McPantserton fucked around with this message at 01:27 on Sep 10, 2012 |
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Sep 10, 2012 01:24
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Right now I'm in my carport, cosplaying Breaking Bad. Actually I'm experimenting with polyester resin and being a good girl and wearing a respirator. Stuff still stinks. But I'm hopefully about being able to use this stuff to cast my White Witch wand. I think it's going to be easier than carving it out of acrylic.
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Sep 10, 2012 02:34
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 Pleating is tedious
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Sep 12, 2012 01:21
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Looks great, though. What sort of fabric is that?
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Sep 12, 2012 02:51
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Thanks! It's a linen polyester blend and it holds the pleats really well!
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Sep 12, 2012 02:59
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Well, tonight I start experimenting with the fake hair I bought to see if I can use it for my White Witch costume. Wish me luck!
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Sep 12, 2012 03:11
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I can't wait to see how that turns out!
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Sep 12, 2012 04:09
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I started off with the dreadlocks portion, and I'll figure out the lion mane part later. Before and after. Making the dreads is a lot of work and back combing, I'm hoping the mane part will be a little easier.
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Sep 12, 2012 06:32
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Well I have officially started black gold saw. Horns are primed and after today I will have the sword started, I'll post pics of that once I have some painting started or sword layed out. Friend of mine is having a crazy costume themed birthday bash, and sense I hate myself I decided to do that crazy striped number from Sleepy Hollow. Hooray for fancy dresses and bustles boo for matching fabric stripes and pleating. That is at least some interesting sewing so I will probably post progress of that. First I have to get all 20 yards of the fabric, and make a dress form, but I have Gold Saw to keep me busy in the mean time lol.
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Sep 12, 2012 17:47
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