Ben Grimm, The Thing, from the Fantastic Four.

[Rocket Rider]

Very little update as work and weather hasn't allowed to make much progress. But I am back at it now...
Today is about painting and working textures on the body...

Enjoy!

 

[George]

Thanks for sharing your progress !

 

[Rocket Rider]

I took the costume out ( to show off a little ) two weeks ago, at a convention in Chicago. it's a portable sauna. But more fun than it sounds.

 

[George]

So cool ! Thanks for the photos !

 

[DazzlerFan]

Fantastic work!

 

[Marthony]

Looks great! I'm looking to do a version of my own. Hoping to ask you for a few pointers?

How did you approach attaching the shoulders, and how do things look under the arms?

How did you seal the foam, and what was your painting materials & technique?

I plan to build a ventilation system for mine, using 4x 6V fans sending air through tubes with air being released from 1/8" holes along the lengths. Long story short, it will be a variation on what I just used to great effect on my comics Silver Centurion Iron Man. The tubing will run under a water-wicking base layer.

On top of the base layer I plan to add upholstery foam muscle shapes & bulk, for my first time.

Thanks for any tips you can provide!

 

[Rocket Rider]

Looks great! I'm looking to do a version of my own. Hoping to ask you for a few pointers?

How did you approach attaching the shoulders, and how do things look under the arms?

How did you seal the foam, and what was your painting materials & technique?

I plan to build a ventilation system for mine, using 4x 6V fans sending air through tubes with air being released from 1/8" holes along the lengths. Long story short, it will be a variation on what I just used to great effect on my comics Silver Centurion Iron Man. The tubing will run under a water-wicking base layer.

On top of the base layer I plan to add upholstery foam muscle shapes & bulk, for my first time.

Thanks for any tips you can provide!

I didn’t install a cooling system under mine but I regretted it right away, the first time I put it on. You have to keep in mine that was my first ever cosplay of that type. Your silver centurion system is the way to go, for sure.

The under arm area is just open, for ventilation and mobility. Latex will dry out and tear over time. I am designing an upgrade of screen stapled, or velcroed, or held by magnets -tbd- to the ribs and arms, with left overs “ rocks “ to help blend it with the overall look and retain the ventilation properties.

The shoulders are just heavily velcroed and consist in the same system, pretty much, as the lid you had in the middle of the back of your silver centurion: one big hexagonal plate. Again, velcroed.

I didn’t seal the foam, as :
-1. I assumed it would prevent the air to circulate, even just a bit.
-2. It tends to make the shapes dull and I wanted my rocks to look as much as possible like actual rocks. That point is very subjective.
-3. I used fine acrilycs ( liquitex ) brushed not sprayed, to allow for variations in colors over larger surfaces, as I added to my dipping into my customer made color a little extra green or blé or browns depending on the file and area of the suit.

I hope it helps!

 

[VCGcosplay]

WOW! WOW! OKAY. This encouraged me to step up my game!! Holy crap!

Okay- so backstory. I cosplayed as The Thing waaaay back in 2011. That costume has long retired and is falling apart, and I'm now currently building the new Marvel Studios version of The Thing. I was gonna try and cheat myself out and use a 3D print head. But this jus put me to shame! I'm own away! Well done!

 

[Bodie27]

Ok so Fantastic 4s oldest and biggest fan here. "The Ever Lovin Thing" being my favourite character across Marvel DC etc.
So can you please explain how your Thing looks EXACTLY as we all know he is, but how do the big studios never manage it...
Lol well done on Ben. He truly looks amazing. Here's hoping the new movies do justice.
Video please, when finished.