Daryl Dixon Costume - The Walking Dead

Soulinertia · Oct 20, 2014

Staring at myself in the mirror after getting out of the shower a few days ago I realized I kind of had this Daryl Dixon look going on and the Denver Zombie Crawl was only 4 days away so I figured why not!?

Here is the look I ended up with:

The following is the process which led me to the finished result above:

It was a scramble to get all the costume components together. I was so late in the game I didn't even have time to order stuff on ebay because It wouldn't arrive before the zombie crawl so I hit up the local Goodwill, and what luck!

I found this denim vest:

Too light, but I figured I could remove the patches and dye it.

Also found this leather jacket I decided to use as a base for the winged vest:

I already had this pair of torn up jeans that fit the part:

Also had these vintage Redwings from a Tyler Durden costume. Not the right model, but they had the right look for the zombie apocalypse:

Then I hit up a Spirit Halloween shop for the crossbow. I checked online and they were sold out, but luckily the nearest location had 1 left in stock!

I also found this creepy latex zombie mask. My idea was to turn this into a severed zombie head with an arrow in it's cranium that I could carry around as a prop:

More to come . . .

Soulinertia · Oct 20, 2014

Re: Daryl Dixon in 3 days! - Walking Dead

Day 1

I started with the zombie head. I used this foam head form to wrap the mask around:

Had to cut off the nose to get it to fit:

Then I hit it with some black spray paint. I forgot this stuff eats the foam! Well, it kind of worked out though

I screwed the back of the mask into the styrofoam head to secure it:

Then I loosely outlined the areas I wanted to cut off around the neck to give it that torn off look:

After cutting:

The mask wasn't fitting snug around the head, and I wanted more of that sunken in look so I screwed the cheeks in too:

Much better! You'll notice I also cut the sharp teeth down. I didn't want it to look supernatural, just more like a regular walker's head:

Then I cut off the suction cup from the arrow and stuck it in:

As a tribute to Daryl I thought . . . that ear has to go!

Then I used a piece of the leftover neck material to fill in the severed ear hole:

After that I went around with some hot glue to fill in the gaps and give it more texture around the edges where I cut it up:

I also filled in the screws with glue so they would be hidden when painted over:

Then I took to painting the neck stump:

I made a blood drip from the severed ear:

Did a bit more detail painting all around the mask:

He was starting to look even more gruesome! I didn't think that was possible:

Finally I painted in some milky ghost eyes:

Soulinertia · Oct 20, 2014

Re: Daryl Dixon in 3 days! - Walking Dead

Day 2

Moving onto the vest, I started by printing out the wings to scale from some screen grabs to figure out where to cut the leather:

After cutting out the vest:

I thought the fit was pretty decent:

Then I cut out the wings so I could trace them onto the vest:

I had some weathered looking material on hand, but it had some print on it:

So I flipped it over and drew in the details with a sharpie:

Then I cut it out leaving some extra material around the edges for the fray:

After sewing it to the leather and going at it with my fingernails:

Did the same for the other wing:

I also added the grommets to the sides:

Then I stitched around all the edges to give it a slightly more finished look. I didn't have time to make it all proper though with a lining:

Cutting between the grommets and starting with some leather lace:

Another fitting:

The wings were too bright so I decided to stain them with some coffee:

I'll probably go in with another coat or two later to weather them even more.

Vest finished! (for now)

Soulinertia · Oct 20, 2014

Re: Daryl Dixon in 3 days! - Walking Dead

Day 3

I pulled off all the patches from the denim vest:

Then I dyed it with some Dylon dye. I was really moving fast and didn't really give the dye time to evenly hit all areas of the vest so it turned out kind of splotchy, but I think it was for the best:

I had my wife help me straighten my hair since it's naturally pretty wavy. Then I matted it down with some conditioner:

I also added a strap to the crossbow:

Practicing some Daryl expressions, lol:

I did a little makeup on my left eyebrow similar to the cuts Daryl has in the season 5 premiere and we did a quick photoshoot in the yard before heading of to the zombie crawl:

With my cousin:

I also added the red oily rag out the back pocket as a finishing touch:

I have plans to get the legit crossbow and hunting knife to round out the costume and make it more screen accurate.

Cameron1138 · Oct 20, 2014

Re: Daryl Dixon in 3 days! With severed zombie head - The Walking Dead

Awesome job! I thought about dressing as Daryl for Halloween, but I didn't have time to get everything together and I figured a sleeveless costume would be quite cold this time of year where I am, so I decided to wait until a spring/summer con.

CJ 617 · Oct 20, 2014

Re: Daryl Dixon in 3 days! With severed zombie head - The Walking Dead

Great work on the costume!!!! It looks great!!!

Soulinertia · Oct 20, 2014

Re: Daryl Dixon in 3 days! With severed zombie head - The Walking Dead

I was a huge hit at the zombie crawl! I felt like a local celebrity. Couldn't walk 5ft without someone wanting a pic and I kept hearing "Daryl! Daryl!" in the background.

Here are a few pics from the event:

This Neverland crew had some amazing costumes. Super creepy!

My little sis. She did all her own makeup too.

Then I found Tyreese!

I even ran into a female Daryl:

Right then, it was excellent timing and 2 more Walking Dead crews happened by for the perfect photo opp.

I believe there were over 30,000 people at the event!
I had a great time and I'm already planning my costume for next year.

Felgacarb · Oct 20, 2014

Re: Daryl Dixon in 3 days! With severed zombie head - The Walking Dead

Nicely done- that looks great!

Soulinertia · Oct 20, 2014

Re: Daryl Dixon in 3 days! With severed zombie head - The Walking Dead

Thanks guys! :thumbsup

Doh2 · Oct 21, 2014

Re: Daryl Dixon in 3 days! With severed zombie head - The Walking Dead

Fantastic job all around! You look just like the actor, too.

DJHAMMERHEAD · Oct 21, 2014

Re: Daryl Dixon in 3 days! With severed zombie head - The Walking Dead

Bulls Eye on the Over All look!!!

Great Job for wih a limited time to prepare!!!

Michael Bergeron · Nov 1, 2014

Re: Soulinertia's 2014 Halloween Costume Contest Entry - Daryl Dixon - The Walking De

This entry is just missing the proof photo and gallery pic.

Soulinertia · Nov 1, 2014

Re: Soulinertia's 2014 Halloween Costume Contest Entry - Daryl Dixon - The Walking De

Proof pic:

I'll upload the gallery pic on Monday.

Soulinertia · Nov 3, 2014

Re: Soulinertia's 2014 Halloween Costume Contest Entry - Daryl Dixon - The Walking De

Contest Entry: http://www.therpf.com/gallery/2014-10-halloween-costume-contest/p7858-daryl-dixon-3a-walkin.html

Michael Bergeron · Nov 3, 2014

Re: Soulinertia's 2014 Halloween Costume Contest Entry - Daryl Dixon - The Walking De

This entry is complete! :thumbsup

Soulinertia · Mar 19, 2015

Damn, now I gotta build this bike! Loving the offset headlight.

gothic · Mar 19, 2015

looks great, the zombie head with the arrow in it is a nice touch

drneville · Jun 17, 2015

Nice look, the jacket is nicely done... that zombie head looks incredible :cool
I'm working on a jacket as well, i hope it turn out as nice as yours.

dipti · Jun 17, 2015

Wow...amazing every picture was just cool. Hope to get their for next.

Soulinertia · Jul 6, 2015

Dang, how much longer is Norm's hair going to get? I better start growing mine out again.

Daryl Dixon Costume - The Walking Dead

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