Spider-Man pattern size issues and zipper location

Agent Coulson

Agent Coulson

Member
So I am currently working on my second Spidey suit (ASM 2) and more questions keep popping up in my head.
For those of you who have been doing this longer than I, have you had any issues with printing?
What I mean is when you got it back from the printer did it fit you? I just recieved my ASM 2 pattern from Orhadar, and it is suppose to fit guys between 5' 9" and 6' 1" :
That is a WIDE range! That is a four inch stretch! So my question is: do these patterns fit a 5' 9" build better than a guy who is 6' 0" (Which is what I am).
I'm about to send my pattern to FOD for printing and I am just concerned that it may be too tight of a fit for me (I am 6' 0" and 175 lbs). Should I size the pattern larger? And if so by how much? Or should I just send the print off and not worry because it will fit fine?
I dont want the suit to be so tight that it is all stretched out and all you see are white patches everywhere.

Second question (And maybe a whole new thread): Where did you put your zippers on your suits. I have seen MANY variations and now I am confused as to which set up works best. I have seen across from shoulder to shoulder, up the middle of the back, and down the sides and across the back belt line (U shaped).
Which one is the easiest to get in and out of? Which one is the easiest to get in and out of by yourself?

Thanks everyone for your input!
 
HIGHLY recommend you take a very close look at your file in Photoshop.... measure from the middle of the circle between the eyes down to the bottom of the belt. That measurement should be 29" in Orhadar's "normal" file. My "normal" file was not that large.. only barely 27.5". I didn't catch the fact that he sent me a smaller than "normal" file... I had it printed and sewn, and then had to sell it since it didn't fit me at 5'9.5" and 170 pounds.

I then purchased a suit that was owned by a few other RPF members... it was an Orhadar "normal" size print. It has a center spine zipper (the most roomy type of zipper to use) and it barely fits me (see my measurements above)... I have a thread about it with just a couple of photos so far... http://www.therpf.com/f78/amazing-s...-redtogusas-el-fetts-mods-208171/#post3232978

I highly recommend you bump up the size of your costume file.

Zippers... my suit in that thread has a center spine zipper, from the base of the neck down to just below the bottom of the back belt (I also have a zipper down the back of the head, from the top of the head meeting the spine zipper at the base of my neck). This is the most comfortable zipper configuration. If you want the best zipper to zip by yourself, that's the U-shape zipper. The downside to using the U zipper is that it will eventually malfunction and need to be replaced.... zippers aren't made to go around sharp 90 degree bends!

I have an idea of how to zip my center spine suit by myself... attach a paper clip "hook" to a long piece of strong string or fishing line... use the "hook" in the eyelet of the zipper pull... should be able to pull the zipper up and down if the suit is not too super tight of a fit.

If you want to compare the measurements of your file PM me and we can talk more about that.
 
Thank you Peter Parker for confirming my fears! I wasnt sure if it was just me, or maybe others had the same issues here. I'll PM you now about the size issue.
As for the zipper, was it a hidden zipper? What color zipper did you use?

YIKES! You are absolutely right! I just measured that line and it came to 27.44"! NOT 29"!
So how can I size this file larger without it becoming a blurry mess?
 
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I second what peterparker has said. I had 2 suits done originally and they were printed at the standard size - I'm just under 6'1 and they didn't even come close to fitting me. I had to upsize my files on my new suits and they fit just fine :)

Both of mine have hidden zippers up the back to the base of my neck and then a second smaller one that runs down the back of the mask to the base of my neck. I haven't tried a u zipper so I can't give you a comfort comparison.
 
I am 6'2" and i asked Orhadar to resize the file to 6'3". Was this a clever thing to do or would it still not fit me?:rolleyes
 
I had the same dilemma with my pattern (except I'm too short for the "normal size"). This was my very first post on my progress thread. I resized my file according to the instructions I received. However, I thought that the suit was going to be too small for me after it was sewn. So I bumped up the size a little bit fearing it would be too big this time. But I jumped the gun anyway. Lo and behold, when the pattern arrived and the suit sewn, it came out tighter than I expected, but still fits me. Had I followed the resizing instructions strictly, the suit will be too small.

If you are really good at Photoshop, I suggest manipulating each part to your body size for a perfect match. I think that's the only way to get the perfect fit. If you're not good at Photoshop, however, I agree with bumping up the size a little bit, but not too much.

For the zippers, I have a U-zipper on my suit. I also have a zipper at the back of the mask, letting the mask fall to the front (like a reverse hoodie) in case I need to take a breather. I always require help suiting up but that's probably because I'm not used to it yet. I'm not sure which zipper style is easier to get in to.

Good luck on your build!
 
RaidenTyler said:
I had the same dilemma with my pattern (except I'm too short for the "normal size"). This was my very first post on my progress thread. I resized my file according to the instructions I received. However, I thought that the suit was going to be too small for me after it was sewn. So I bumped up the size a little bit fearing it would be too big this time. But I jumped the gun anyway. Lo and behold, when the pattern arrived and the suit sewn, it came out tighter than I expected, but still fits me. Had I followed the resizing instructions strictly, the suit will be too small.

If you are really good at Photoshop, I suggest manipulating each part to your body size for a perfect match. I think that's the only way to get the perfect fit. If you're not good at Photoshop, however, I agree with bumping up the size a little bit, but not too much.

For the zippers, I have a U-zipper on my suit. I also have a zipper at the back of the mask, letting the mask fall to the front (like a reverse hoodie) in case I need to take a breather. I always require help suiting up but that's probably because I'm not used to it yet. I'm not sure which zipper style is easier to get in to.

Good luck on your build!
Click to expand...

Thank you Tyler for your advice! I just read your thread and I know exactly what you are going through right now.
I've heard way too many horror stories of people spending hundreds of dollars and wasting weeks of time waiting, only to get something that doesnt fit.
I can't afford that. Not only am I on a tight budget, but I have a charity event coming up in five weeks to be ready for.

So my 27.44" patern is not going to fit me, and I gather now that even if it was 29" it still would be too small.
Any of my fellow tall spiders out there have a solution???

I am also debating just doing the one zipper down the back (with removable mask). What color zipper do most go with? Blue?
I've also heard the U zippers tend to jam and even break after some use.
Ahhhh the road to being Spider-Man is not an easy one kids! :lol
 
Agent Coulson said:
Thank you Tyler for your advice! I just read your thread and I know exactly what you are going through right now.
I've heard way too many horror stories of people spending hundreds of dollars and wasting weeks of time waiting, only to get something that doesnt fit.
I can't afford that. Not only am I on a tight budget, but I have a charity event coming up in five weeks to be ready for.

So my 27.44" patern is not going to fit me, and I gather now that even if it was 29" it still would be too small.
Any of my fellow tall spiders out there have a solution???

I am also debating just doing the one zipper down the back (with removable mask). What color zipper do most go with? Blue?
I've also heard the U zippers tend to jam and even break after some use.
Ahhhh the road to being Spider-Man is not an easy one kids! :lol
Click to expand...

No problem at all. Happy to help.

The Lycra will stretch so you can probably get inside the suit. But then again, you want to avoid over-stretching it. So take your time resizing the pattern before printing. Also, if you plan to get it sewn by a local seamstress/tailor, it would be better! Because you'll have the person sewing your suit in front of you to measure you before sewing. That will decrease the chance of the suit not fitting you well.

Which ever zipper color you choose to use, use an invisible zipper. It's a must if you don't want the zipper line to be showing. I got this one in particular: Amazon.com: Unique Invisible Zipper 22" ~ YKK #3 Conceal ~ Heavy Duty ~ 580 Black (3 Zippers / Pack): Arts, Crafts & Sewing

The challenge with U-zippers is that when you get to the curve, it's hard to get it through (at least for me). Although it's completely possible but a lot of care is needed to prevent it from breaking. That's where I imagine the jams to be happening.
 
Invisible zipper... Navy/blue if you can get one that color. Your seamstress has to have a machine with the proper kind of "foot" to get the invisible zipper to be truly looking invisible.
 
So my friend just printed the Raimi version and put it together as is with out any modification and it was too small for him. He's 5' 9" and it was def too small for him. :(
 
Agent Coulson said:
So my friend just printed the Raimi version and put it together as is with out any modification and it was too small for him. He's 5' 9" and it was def too small for him. :(
Click to expand...

In spite of me sending a few emails to Orhadar, showing him the file he sent me was too small and that he sent a down-sized file to me by mistake, he refused to admit it. I asked for some type of refund (since I had printed and had the print sewn) and he just kind of ignored that request.

I love his file, as do most of us here on RPF. Just wish he'd admit a mistake and try to make it right with me.
 
Same here had to have it resized. Im 5'11 and resized it to 29.8, so close to 30 and im hoping that works out. Sent it off to get sewn so we will see.
 
Keep in mind that the "measuring from the center of the eyes to the point of the belt method" is what people used to resize Raimi patterns. The belt point on the TASM2 suit doesn't go nearly as far down as it does the Raimi suit, so the measurements will be completely different.
 
I bought a pattern from sonjou and it measured out to be 31 but I'm only 5"8 and I went ahead and printed it. I hope it turns out well :/


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
TaylorMcManus said:
Keep in mind that the "measuring from the center of the eyes to the point of the belt method" is what people used to resize Raimi patterns. The belt point on the TASM2 suit doesn't go nearly as far down as it does the Raimi suit, so the measurements will be completely different.
Click to expand...
That's right. So i just tried measuring with the ruler in PS and roughly went from the mask to where the belt would end on the Raimi suit. I did get roughly 29 inches then. Does this mean it should be fine or would it have to be done completely different?
 
TaylorMcManus said:
Keep in mind that the "measuring from the center of the eyes to the point of the belt method" is what people used to resize Raimi patterns. The belt point on the TASM2 suit doesn't go nearly as far down as it does the Raimi suit, so the measurements will be completely different.
Click to expand...

Wezzulus said:
That's right. So i just tried measuring with the ruler in PS and roughly went from the mask to where the belt would end on the Raimi suit. I did get roughly 29 inches then. Does this mean it should be fine or would it have to be done completely different?
Click to expand...

I have an issue with "trying to measure down to where the belt would end on the Raimi suit"... some vague point "down there" somewhere. Not a very accurate way to measure things! Orhadar's sizing guide didn't mention to measure to some imaginary point... it says to measure straight down to the bottom of the belt.

Also, when I compared my Orhadar file to another person who ordered the regular, unaltered sized ASM 2 file as I did... theirs measured 29" to the bottom of the actual, "flatter" belt for this new costume. Mine was just a little less than 27.5" to that same spot.

Mine would be 29" if I measured down to some vague "imaginary" spot where the Raimi belt point should be located. It was still too small for me when printed and sewn for me at 5'9.5" tall.
 
Wezzulus said:
That's right. So i just tried measuring with the ruler in PS and roughly went from the mask to where the belt would end on the Raimi suit. I did get roughly 29 inches then. Does this mean it should be fine or would it have to be done completely different?
Click to expand...

How tall are you?
 
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