Bard the Bowman costume build - The Hobbit movies

[jessamygriffin]

Arrows - Done!

I've only got five, but I figure that's fine.

I wound up running out of my usual resin, attempted one out of a puffy resin stuff (so so result) and wound up making one out of hot glue. The big blobby ones are the puff resin and glue gun respectively, but I don't have to pose with those, so...



Since I was determined to have that one black arrow represent Tolkein's book, I did that. I can see I've lots to learn about fletching things, much less one day making a two-sided mold instead of just glueing parts together, but it works.



Off to the con tmrw, no doubt to sweat my head off.

 

[Yrien]

Awesome! I seriously need to learn how to mould and cast things. Maybe that will be my summer project.

 

[jessamygriffin]

Awesome! I seriously need to learn how to mould and cast things. Maybe that will be my summer project.

Do it! The actual molding isn't that hard, it's the sculpting that gets me going. Uuuugh. But I'd never have got through the Thorin costume without learning it, and I was determined to have that costume, so....

Anyway, I found it's worth it. The resin is hardier for things like buckles (not under heavy strain) than worbla or other stuff, and there's the decoartive things you can try.

 

[Yrien]

I haven't needed it for a costume yet, but it's definitely a skill I want to learn. Also, my husband kind of wants to cosplay as Thanos, so we'll need to cast the facial appliance! But I'd like to start with something a little easier than that, lol. But I will try it at some point!

 

[jessamygriffin]

I haven't needed it for a costume yet, but it's definitely a skill I want to learn. Also, my husband kind of wants to cosplay as Thanos, so we'll need to cast the facial appliance! But I'd like to start with something a little easier than that, lol. But I will try it at some point!

Yes, the flatmate and I want to try facial prosthetics too, only hampered by trying to wade through kanji to find the oddball ingredients. I'd love to have a set of dwarf hands, maybe the simian Thorin brow and nose! And there's so much more to try.

The con ended up being a no go, after all that hurry to get the damned costume done, waah. I woke up in a bad way, definitely a bucket-by-bed day and I'm just thankful the flatmate didn't harass with with pointless questions like, "Do you think you can go?" or even "Should I buy any fanbooks for you?"

MAN, though. What a let-down, though from what flatmate says, I would have been the lone Hobbit cosplayer there (since 85% of this con is anime related, and not Western fandom.) Well. Small blessings. There's a Western fandom con coming up, though they haven't put out the info yet as to whether they are allowing cosplay (depends on the site they get, usually.) Cross the fingers I get to wear Bard soon!

 

[Yrien]

Oh no. I hope you're feeling better today! That sucks so much. I was really looking forward to seeing the completed costume! But now I guess you have time to finish up some of the stuff you wanted to improve. I hope you get a chance to wear it soon!

 

[jessamygriffin]

I'm recovered, but boy it was a miserable day. And I was so PREPARED. All the bags and everything needed set by the door, ready to be scooped up and taken on public transportation. I was so happy with my arrowheads!

Well, I got SOME pictures from before, even if the costume wasn't completed at the time. I have a new moustache set I'd like to try, plus there's the eternal question of the hair spray colouring...

I think that the next bit to work on would be a the full size Black arrow. I've picked up some dowelling for it already, though now I see the real Black Arrow is actually made of two pieces, I may rethink it. Plus, smaller lengths = easier to take on trains. I've been playing around with wire trying to see how that tip does that odd reverse corkscrew, but no luck yet.

Plus, I am still waiting on those feathers I wanted for fletching to come from China. I'll need to order in more resin to cast more arrowheads.

Actually, if I do get to wear the costume to this con in June, I'm thinking I'd better use the last of the grey linen and make a dickey shirt so I don't die of heat. Heck, I could make the brown tunic a half-one - front in brown wool, back in something cool.

But thanks for coming round to comment, it's been like a cheerleader rah-rah sometimes!

I'll be leaving the thread open and not changing the title to COMPLETED just yet.

 

[jessamygriffin]

Got a few pics of the complete costume finally before it gets too hot for it. 26 degrees C, and the undershirt was soaked. I love playing a boy character but not when it's hot and I need that extra layer of a binder, sigh.

Issues - well, as one can see, the black hairspray isn't cutting it over my red, and it's infuriating. Plus it gets on EVERYTHING. My hair brushed my face, it gets dirty. I touch my hair to get it out of the way or try to smooth it (it's naturally curly and the humidity was not helping at all) and it's on my hands and thence to my face, clothes, camera...

Need to do #1 - either use a demi-dye and sigh at the loss of red hair, or get a wig and style it. On the plus side of a wig, I can get a lace-front and give Bard the deep widow's peak and squared hairline. It'd also be the right length. Minus - hot. Plus of my own hair - it's mine. Minuse - I have to use a straight iron to take some of the curl out and a bunch of product to avoid pouf and frizz.

#2 - just sew the gaiters on the boots. It'll be easier.

#3 - Got the feathers in for more arrows! So order more resin to make more of those and replace the blobby two of the five I'd made, the glue-gun glue versions.

#4 optional - make a version of the brown tunic and grey undershirt, with the brown wool only in front and cotton behid for coolness, with the grey linen as a fake collar attached on the inside for when I do cosplays in overly hot halls.

Otherwise - pretty happy with it.

Pics taken in and around Odaiba, Tokyo. It's not very Middle-Earth, but we do what we can.



Am so happy with the quiver. It is the icing on the cake. The perfect accessory.




Right! The end! Unless I actually do get that wig.

Thanks for reading along!

 

[Yrien]

That looks so phenomenal.

I'm in the wig camp, personally. I know they're hot, but you can get them to look exactly how you want (e.g. lacefront with the right hairline, and then styled) and not have to worry about them again! Well, maybe some minor styling again later, but since I'm so bad at styling my own hair I really prefer being able to style the wig on the wig head, where I can see all the way around it (instead of trying to figure out the back of my own hair!), then I can just pop it on when I do the costume, instead of having to dye/style my own hair. To me, a bit of work ahead of time to get the wig ready is quicker in the long run than having to do my own hair every time!

I hope you can figure out some way of keeping cooler too. I haven't done any particularly warm costumes yet (though that fake leather coat for my X-Men: Days of Future Past Quicksilver was hotter than I had expected!).

 

[jessamygriffin]

That looks so phenomenal.

I'm in the wig camp, personally. I know they're hot, but you can get them to look exactly how you want (e.g. lacefront with the right hairline, and then styled) and not have to worry about them again! Well, maybe some minor styling again later, but since I'm so bad at styling my own hair I really prefer being able to style the wig on the wig head, where I can see all the way around it (instead of trying to figure out the back of my own hair!), then I can just pop it on when I do the costume, instead of having to dye/style my own hair. To me, a bit of work ahead of time to get the wig ready is quicker in the long run than having to do my own hair every time!

I hope you can figure out some way of keeping cooler too. I haven't done any particularly warm costumes yet (though that fake leather coat for my X-Men: Days of Future Past Quicksilver was hotter than I had expected!).

Well, it may be that I do get a wig. Besides the hairspray annoyance, there's the grey he has, which needed to be painted in as well.

Thanks for hanging in and commenting!

 

[Yrien]

Well, it may be that I do get a wig. Besides the hairspray annoyance, there's the grey he has, which needed to be painted in as well.

Thanks for hanging in and commenting!

You can also try adding in a few grey strands by hand, but that would necessitate either buying grey wefts of the right length, or a donor wig, and that might be expensive for the little bit of grey you would have to add.

I've really enjoyed your build (and the Fili thread) - there is such a wealth of information! I hope I'm able to apply it to my own costumes sometime.

 

[jessamygriffin]

You can also try adding in a few grey strands by hand, but that would necessitate either buying grey wefts of the right length, or a donor wig, and that might be expensive for the little bit of grey you would have to add.

I've really enjoyed your build (and the Fili thread) - there is such a wealth of information! I hope I'm able to apply it to my own costumes sometime.

Well, if I decide to put the Thorin build up, there may be more more of our Hobbit madness. The reason I've held off is simply - I made it before the costume book and costume trail and other details costume pics came out, so it's not as accurate as it could be. Makes me crazy.

I did the hairline wefting on the Thorin wig for the deep widows peak, and we still have the white hair left over from adding on the streaks for Thorin's hair. It wouldn't be hard to do Bard's wig, we have the materials (though not the wig). It just takes so loooooong.

 

[Yrien]

I'd love to see it if you do decide to put it up, even if it's not 100% accurate!

I bought a lacefronting needle to try it out (I'm considering doing the feet for Bilbo that way) but I'm intimidated by it because I keep hearing about how long it takes, lol. I've never used a lace front wig (I haven't really needed one yet) but I have a friend who's worn a couple for different cosplays so she can probably help with any issues that might arise!

 

[Trollsngoblins]

Okay, I signed up here on this forum, because when I see this, I'm certain all my cosplay/LARP craft needs will be answered, especially when seeing one of the BEST BARD COSPLAYS I've seen so far!

LOVE THIS! <3

 

[jessamygriffin]

Okay, I signed up here on this forum, because when I see this, I'm certain all my cosplay/LARP craft needs will be answered, especially when seeing one of the BEST BARD COSPLAYS I've seen so far!

LOVE THIS! <3

Thanks a lot! It's one of my proudest accomplishments. This forum has tons and tons of good info, and sometimes people get really into being as accurate as possible, but if the advice isn't within budget constraints, the general internet and cosplayer community tends to provide. My Bard straddles the line between the super accurate 'Do I have the money to get actual kangaroo skins and the silk for his over shirt [answer - no, and definitely no]' to just working with what was available to me.

I've since fixed the problem with my hair - especially since I've gone blonde since last posting. Had a wig (not perfect) but adapted well enough for the purpose, and I added the white strands in for Bard's hair. I'll get some new pics up soon when I've the time - I've done a couple of cosplay events since then. Wish I had the money and free vacation time to go to Hobbitcon, alas.

 

[Trollsngoblins]

Thanks a lot! It's one of my proudest accomplishments. This forum has tons and tons of good info, and sometimes people get really into being as accurate as possible, but if the advice isn't within budget constraints, the general internet and cosplayer community tends to provide. My Bard straddles the line between the super accurate 'Do I have the money to get actual kangaroo skins and the silk for his over shirt [answer - no, and definitely no]' to just working with what was available to me.

I've since fixed the problem with my hair - especially since I've gone blonde since last posting. Had a wig (not perfect) but adapted well enough for the purpose, and I added the white strands in for Bard's hair. I'll get some new pics up soon when I've the time - I've done a couple of cosplay events since then. Wish I had the money and free vacation time to go to Hobbitcon, alas.

Well, two thumbs up from me! And actual Kangaroo skin is hard to obtain, yes. I live in the Netherlands, and we have actual kangaroo farms for the meat here. But none of them seems to be willing to tell what they do with the fur/leather/skins. Checked a few times and... well, yeah, I deffo see your problem.

I love how accurate your costume is, and I'm really looking forward to see how that wig turned out, and all the little adaptations **++Subscribes!!!++**

PS: We don't have any hobbitcons here ._. We've had one of our first comicons here in 2015 and.. well, it's not even close to what the other countries have. And I can't afford visiting abroad, so, I'll just try to make the most kick-ass costumes for LARP, which is my small scale cosplay-events