Crown

I love working with Wonderflex. There is just so much you can do with it.

First I cut out the crown shape out of Foamie. In order to get it to bend slightly in the front I scored the back side of the shape with a pen, creating a groove. Looking at the reference picture I want some raised detail in the crown so I cut out the raised detail out of a second layer of foamie. Gluing the raised detail to the crown, I set it aside to dry.

Next I cut out the crown shape out of WF. I cut out a second crown but add about an inch all the way around.

Heating the WF on low, I melt the crown shape softly on one side. It is pliable and starts to get a glossy sheen to it. This lets me know that it's ready to stick to the foamie. I gently pressed it to the back edge of the foamie, making sure to bend both foamie and WF along the groove. You need to go slow here, making sure that the WF isn't too hot. I tend to work in small sections. WF does NOT always stick to foamie, sometimes when it's cooled down, you can peal the foamie away so make sure you are gentle. If you are going to use my method to get built up detail make sure you encase the foamie in WF.

After the crown is cooled and hard I heat the front crown cut out. Remember how we cut this with an extra 1" around it? That is so we can wrap it around and 'stick' it to the back of the crown. Heating the WF on low on one side of the crown I wait until it's shiny and then start wrapping. I use a wooden clay sculpting tool to get into the detail and cracks. I used my thumbnail to get inside the circles.



Here is an up close shot of the raised detail after I've given it 2 coats of primer spray. I will use my nail sanding sponge to sand it down, hit it with another shot of primer, sand again then paint.

Barda Update

With 2 weeks to go to Ohayocon I'm starting to get more focused on what I'm doing.

I've patterned out the red bottoms out of an existing bikini. The goat leather will stretch a bit, but nothing like spandex. Thank goodness these are pre-triathlon so they are a bit big.




I've cut out the bottoms, not quite sure where to go from here so it's on hold until I wrap my brain around the sewing.

Instead I've been doing what I do best- working on the armor.

Big Barda

So I've been gone for a bit- triathlon training and all. Imagine that training takes up all my free time.

Back to the madness. I fell in love with Big Barda. I mean wow look at this amazing woman:

I know amazing, right? Well I just couldn't resist when I saw the new Anime Comi Big Barda:

Looking at the figure I can see several challenges. First off you can't see her right shoulder or what she's hold in her right hand. Crap. So creative license there. Second, you have the body. Lots of it. Like every Ame Comi these girls are pretty nakers. With my Victoria's Secret gravity defying bra I'm confident but I think I might have to add a second ab workout from now on. I really want to accent boobs and hips- something of which that Barda and I share in common. This means I will have to play with the cut of the panties- it's a fine line between skimpy bottoms and making sure there is no muffin top!

Materials:

Bra and Panties - red goat leather. I'm going to cover a VS bra and then sew the panties. I plan on using a pair of my existing underpants as a template.

Arm, neck & head: foamies dipped in tool grip. Should give the texture I want but still be flexible enough to let me move.

Should guard & knees: WONDERFLEX! (If you had to ask!)

Leggings- laser cut fish scale spandex lined with black.

Boots- Cyber punk boots, painted with nu-life.

Wig- cosplay.com (where I get all my wigs)

Stay tuned for updates!

WonderFlex question

Zombie Hadouken writes-

Hello there, i was looking for some Wonderflex advice, and was referred to your expertise.
I am making Dr Dooms Armor, and was wondering if i can use aluminum as a mold or base to wrap the wonderflex around.
will the heated wonderflex stick to the metal? I was going to use a small layer of baby powder if it does.

My plan of attack has been to make a mock up of the gauntlets and start there. i will then dissemble the gauntlets, and wrap wonderflex around the aluminum...but can i actually wrap it around? Ive never used the stuff before, and want to have a clear idea of how it will react to the aluminum before i start.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Hi there!

Wonderflex is kind of a weird substance. You never know exactly what it's going to stick to (or how long for that matter!) The one thing I know about WF is that it sticks to itself. I would encourage you to experiment with getting it to stick to Aluminum but you may have better luck forming it around something else long and cylindrical like a pint glass, jar candle, or anything else that is long and roundish like your gauntlet. I'm not sure how the baby powder would work (or cornstarch for that matter) but I have a BAD FEELING about trying that- sounds like it could get rather messy.

Your best bet is to cut out the basic shaped from foamies and see if the shape will work. Then you can cut it out of WF and start heating it (on low) with a heat gun. You will know when its about right when it starts to get a shine on the surface. For armor and durability's sake I would probably use 2 or 3 layers. This will make it very rigid.

Thoughts from MARCON

The local convention, MARCON, was this Memorial Day weekend. I am not as impressed with the con as I have been in past years. Maybe my lack of enthusiasm is due to DragonCon being so large that my hometown con just seems...well...small.

I had a great time teaching Super Hero Costuming 101 but I think next year if the nice folks invite me back I would like to break it up in the planner- a planned hour panel on costumes and then an hour of hands on. I will need a larger supply of heat guns but I really do think that Wonderflex is a super cool substance and more people need to hear about the wonder.

Here are the links I talked about in my panel:
Helpful Links

Costuming

http://thesuperherocostumingforum.yuku.com/

http://theleagueofheroes.yuku.com

http://leagueoflanterns.yuku.com

http://cosplay.com/

Body Sculpting

http://www.c25k.com/ Learn how to go from a non-running couch potato to 5k in 9 weeks

http://www.beginnertriathlete.com Lean how to swim/bike/run

Supersuits

http://spandexworld.com Fabric supplier

http://www.spandexhouse.com Fabric supplier

http://www.stretchy.org/catsuit/ How to sew your own

http://www.spandexman.com Spandex suits

Accessories

http://www.xtremedesignfx.com/ - Masks, belt parts

http://www.cosworx.com GOOD wigs and boots for men and women

http://www.snaz75.com/ Shoes for women

http://www.atthefront.com/ WWII site, good for leather pouches, ect.

http://www.fxsupply.com/ Body paint, makeup

Supplies

http://www.theengineerguy.com Source for Wonderflex, Fossshape and other moulding supplies.

http://www.smooth-on.com/ Molding supplies

http://www.edecals.com Vinyl sheets, all colors including gold and silver mirrored.

http://proplady.livejournal.com/51225.html Wonderflex tutorial

http://wondergirl-mydivinecomedy.blogspot.com/ Kate's Costume Blog

http://www.snapdragondesign.net/ Julie's website

http://www.shoetreemarketplace.com Change your shoe color with Nu-Life

Undergarments

http://www.spanx.com

I just want to give a little shout out to the FPQ for the most fun I have ever had in recent memory at Marcon. Great conversation, great drinks and pretty nice eye candy. We closed down the Bar on 2 Sat night. Can't wait for their room party next year.