Batman comic style costume. Leather cowl finished page 3

[Flash Dixon]

Re: Batman comic style costume WIP. Update 12-04-2012

So i don't want you to take this the wrong way but think you ought to rework the Cowl start over rather...the eye brow shapes and nose shapes need to be reworked, looks to much like a generic masquerade mask. Also i think it would be terrible if you didn't do the forehead and face as one piece so you don't have stitching running across the middle of your forehead.

I hope you take my concern as care for such a great project i want the mask to do the cape justice after such a big investment

I never take a constructive criticism the wrong way. I always appreciate someone else's take on a project.

I toyed around quite a bit with the eyebrows and nose on the design. When I went too robust with the designs, it seemed to overpower the overall look, and when I toned them back, they were difficult to see well. But I see your point. The nice thing is that if it doesn't look good in the final fitting, it can always be removed and redone. And as far as the stitching on the forehead goes, there is actually about 3" of leather left long above the shell that will be incorporated into the hood, so it actually goes up to my hairline. The shell doesn't go up that high because it makes it a little difficult to incorporate into the soft hood due to wrinkles and puckering of the material. Don't worry, it looks much less masquerade-like with the added leather on top.

But your concerns are certainly noted and appreciated.

 

[connormwood]

Re: Batman comic style costume WIP. Update 12-04-2012

Brilliantly carried out. The materials are great and it seems your work is pretty efficient.

 

[jolive]

Re: Batman comic style costume WIP. Update 12-04-2012

Cool man! Seems like you got it under control I'm eager to see it done

 

[jarodpenn]

Re: Batman comic style costume WIP. Update 12-04-2012

Glad to see some one else doing something similar. I've been constructing a hybrid hood for mine also. I've been following a couple of the 'helmet cowl' style threads, but mine is has fabric OVER the hardparts, and down the neck to make everything (cowl and cape) look like one piece.

I'd love to see some updates if you've made more progress!

 

[heiro5]

Re: Batman comic style costume WIP. Update 12-04-2012

I'm at the pre-beginning stages of a "fabric over hard face plate" Batman cowl as well, so I've been following this intently. Still not sure how exactly I'm finishing it off -- fabric hood with hard-shell faceplate, fabric-wrapped hard helmet front and back..? And then the question of whether to have it attach directly (or at least appear to) into the cape (well, I'm doing Paul Pope's variation, so it would attach to a leather shoulder piece, same issue) or be Nolan-style as discussed, helmet/cowl over fabric neck hood...

Anyway, I think about this build often and am really looking forward to updates.

 

[Bobzilla73]

Re: Batman comic style costume WIP. Update 12-04-2012

Hey, new to here. I have been looking for a batman suit, a good one for a long time. Anyone have any suggestions? I would like to have a rubber type one, so any help would be grateful. Please let me know. I look forward to hearing from you.
Bobby

 

[Flash Dixon]

Re: Batman comic style costume WIP. Update 12-04-2012

Ask and you shall receive, though it's not much of an update. Holidays and work have conspired against me being productive recently. :angry

A buddy helped by modelling up the "ears" in 3D and then sent them off to the printers. This way I can be sure that they matched perfectly. I'm going to run up a resin set to attach to the lifecast to help facilitate the mock-up of the cowl. Once the actual leather cowl is made, the original ears will be placed in and reinforced with some mounting plates. As they are hollow, they will work much better than the heavier resin.

As a bonus, here is my finished Utility Belt.

 

[clayslinger]

Re: Batman comic style costume WIP. Update 12-04-2012

The belt came out great!! Congratulations!!!
It's a beaut!
The copper bat is a very nice touch.

That is one huge flippin' cape!!! I applaud the use of leather!
I've always wondered just how that may look.

Keep up the great work!!!

Chuck...

 

[Flash Dixon]

Re: Batman comic style costume WIP. Update 12-04-2012

Slight update. I cast up a set of resin "ears" to attach to the lifecast as a base to run the cloth test on. Although having the ears 3D modeled so they matched each other perfectly was a huge help, placing them was a chore! Matching the height, forward placement, and evening out the pitch of the angle is enough to make a guy crazy! But it turned out good. A ruler, cloth tape measure, and level helped a lot. Honestly, I don't know how you guys that sculpt do it! My hat is off to you all!

Anyway, here's how it's progressing. The black lines around the ears are registration marks to help me place the ears back on in case they snap loose during the cloth test cowl construction.

Please excuse the slightly out of focus cell phone picture. I left my good camera at home.

 

[SEBRET]

Re: Batman comic style costume WIP. Update 12-04-2012

Awesome stuff. That utility belt looks great.

 

[closet batfan]

Re: Batman comic style costume WIP. Update 12-04-2012

I'm really impressed by all the elements of your batman build. Each price has a really authentic retro look about it. Can't wait to see more.

 

[Darth Serberus]

Re: Batman comic style costume WIP. Update 12-04-2012

Beautiful cape!!
Now dying to see pics of the finished cowl.

 

[Flash Dixon]

Re: Batman comic style costume WIP. Update 12-04-2012

I'm really impressed by all the elements of your batman build. Each price has a really authentic retro look about it. Can't wait to see more.

Thanks. I'm really shooting for that exact look and not have it end up looking too cheap and unrealistic in the completion. I really have to nail this cowl since a bad design and finished product will kill the rest of the suit. Which is one of the reasons it is taking so long to finish up. Taking a classic look and making it work in a real life costume has been a bit of a challenge in parts, and I think I've managed to make it work so far. There's been such a fine line between translating the comic book look without underselling it in that it turns out looking too plain, or going too far and losing that great retro look you mentioned. It's been challenging, to be sure. Hopefully I've worked out the design issues and will be able to proceed soon with the test piece.

 

[AraxisHT]

Re: Batman comic style costume WIP. Update 12-04-2012

Your cape looks really great! I guess you get what you pay for! What were you planning on lining it with?


I'd love to see how your cape would look with a cowl like this:

I've often wondered how that cowl was made and why there didn't seem to be many leather batmen.

 

[Flash Dixon]

Re: Batman comic style costume WIP. Update 12-04-2012

That cowl was made by a costumer over in England that went by the name "Goldenage" on the BOTB at one time. I don't think he does costuming anymore. It's a beautiful piece, but as I recall, it had zero neck movement. It was made over a form out of a single piece of mold-able leather. I'm envious of the craftsmanship in it. A gorgeous piece, and great for photos, but would be tough to costume with. Still, I wouldn't turn it down if it was handed to me.

As far as a lining, I'm not sure that I'm going to do one. It looks really striking when the cape is flipped over the shoulders, showing the inside. The look of the backside of the cape, along with the seam work makes for a nice contrast that seems to work well.

 

[rchan202]

Re: Batman comic style costume WIP. Update 12-04-2012

What is the name of the glue used on the cape ? And to make sure I understand there is no stitching at all on the cape ? Thx

 

[bubble085]

Re: Batman comic style costume WIP. Update 12-04-2012

i can't wait to see the finished results, not enough comic book style costumes out there and this one is shaping up to be epic. keep up the fantastic work my friend

 

[Flash Dixon]

Re: Batman comic style costume WIP. Update 12-04-2012

What is the name of the glue used on the cape ? And to make sure I understand there is no stitching at all on the cape ? Thx

The glue I used is called "Petronio's Master All Purpose Cement".

There is stitching on every seam of the cape, but on the inside, where the two halves lie against each other, the leather is then folded back on itself, rough side to rough side. That is the only portion that is glued. Think about how you fold a paper airplane. You fold the middle, and then fold out the wings. The first fold is where the stitching is, and the second fold, or inner portion of the cape is essentially the wings. The edges of the cape, scallops, and collar are sewn normally.

 

[Flash Dixon]

Re: Batman comic style costume WIP. Cowl completed.

Keep an eye out for my reveal of the finished cowl, sometime later tonight. It turned out great. Hopefully you all will enjoy it as much as I do.

 

[Flash Dixon]

Batman comic style costume. Leather Cowl completed

Well, here it is.

Here are a couple of close ups of the brow.

A close up of the back seam lines

A close up of the darts at the ears. Darts are needed to keep the leather from having vicious wrinkles along curves.

Ear detail

A close up of the seam work at the ears

The back neckline

The front neck closure when closed

And when opened

Close ups of the nose

Details of the faceplate. Note the hollow ear structures for stability and glued seam work.

As it was made over a lifecast of me, it fits perfectly. Quite snug and yet very easy to put on and take off. hearing loss isn't too bad, and vision loss is no more restrictive than your typical rubber cowl, despite the eyeholes being not much bigger than my own eyes. Really no need for eyeblack with this.

I can't say that this would be the "Holy Grail" of cowls. To each his own. It suits me for what I was wanting to do, an all leather cape and cowl. It came out with negligible redesign work. Only three fittings for final tweaks at the neck closure. Not bad overall.

I like it.