Cooper Howard - AKA The Ghoul full cosplay outfit build

[DalekNim]

You can also use sandpaper on the sleeves, collar, etc...faster than dragging it through sand

Yeah I've used sandpaper on leather and it works well but for cloth I've just found I like how dragging clothes through real sand & dirt looks over large areas... for cuffs , collars & edges sandpaper does work well

 

[DalekNim]

So the Egyptian cigarette tin arrived and I made up some anti ghoul serum ... not entirely happy with the piece of cloth I found but it will do for now. I also just found a special effects makeup company and school that makes full head and shoulders life casts out of a industry standard stone material so that you can make whatever you want from them from silicon prostetics to full silicon masks to latex rubber masks as well. The price was reasonable so I've elected to do this to save a bunch of time and get a professional life cast immediately that will be good forever ...

 

[mrdagger]

Regarding the hat, which I too have been searching for. Check out the GHOLSON 4X by Bullhide Hats in the khaki color. It’s the closest I’ve come across for the price point- about $65. Would need a little additional aging/distressing but not a lot. Oh, and a different hat band but that’s much easier to remedy. Hope this helps!

I think I found a great hat... change the band, yes; but otherwise very, very close. Only issue is you need a minimum purchase for them to ship!

here's the link: Austin Vegan Suede Cowboy Hat- Sand

 

[mrdagger]

After being able to find the exact tin used in the show for housing his 3 viles of anti ghoul serum I thought I'd capitaliz3 on my success and jump in to the initial distressing of his overcoat. After about an hour with a pair of scissors, exacta knife and small toothed saw this is the current result
View attachment 1859058View attachment 1859059View attachment 1859060View attachment 1859061View attachment 1859062
I'm happy with the initial result but there are still several more steps to go.
1. I'm not 100% sure yet the length of the shredded parts is long enough yet
2. I need to add some beeswax to the shredded ends to make the crumple and curl like in the show costume
3. The entire coats still needs the weathering pass to add that 'dragged through the sand" look the outfit has

However, overall its a good start

Amazing work on that coat... Question; I see ELS has the coat listed, but it's much lighter in color... what did you use to darken it, or was there a darker option originally (or did you get it customized)? Thanks

 

[mrdagger]

Regarding the hat, which I too have been searching for. Check out the GHOLSON 4X by Bullhide Hats in the khaki color. It’s the closest I’ve come across for the price point- about $65. Would need a little additional aging/distressing but not a lot. Oh, and a different hat band but that’s much easier to remedy. Hope this helps!

anyone find a matching headband?

 

[mrdagger]

Boots & spurs have arrived .... not an exact match for sure but pretty darn close and I'm happy with them given the considerable difficulty in just finding boots that are close, used and in the correct size as I didn't want to spend 200-300 on boots. In my excitement of finding a pair that fit all 3 of those criteria I didn't notice that they have a pattern on top of the toe. I knew I'd have to dye them a different color which isn't really a big deal but maybe I'll be able to hide the etched patterns with sufficient weathering

Honestly the way those boots in the show are worn and covered... they very well could have had a pattern on them. Either way you are right; sufficient weathering them should do the trick!

 

[DalekNim]

Amazing work on that coat... Question; I see ELS has the coat listed, but it's much lighter in color... what did you use to darken it, or was there a darker option originally (or did you get it customized)? Thanks

Thx for the lead on the hat, I ordered one. As for the coat I think it may just be a lighting effect. There was only one option for the coat as shown and I didn't have anything customized. You can probably talk to them but I suspect they haven't changed anything? I've done my 2nd weathering/distressing pass to get it more screen accurate which includes adding the sand/tan weathered areas you see on the actual prop. I'll post some pics shortly including what colors//techniques I used to to get the results I did

 

[mrdagger]

Thx for the lead on the hat, I ordered one. As for the coat I think it may just be a lighting effect. There was only one option for the coat as shown and I didn't have anything customized. You can probably talk to them but I suspect they haven't changed anything? I've done my 2nd weathering/distressing pass to get it more screen accurate which includes adding the sand/tan weathered areas you see on the actual prop. I'll post some pics shortly including what colors//techniques I used to to get the results I did

Thanks, can't wait to see... also here's another find: Neck prosthetics

Option1: Old Age Neck — Toxic Image Studios

Option2: https://www.etsy.com/listing/692850...09e8a8ba03%3A692850006&organic_search_click=1

Unless folks are going for a full silicone (ie: doing make-up or a simple mask); these are handy.

and not to get too off-track, here's the mask I went with for now. I may upgrade to full silicone after I upgrade the rest of the costume... but it's a start.

 

[DalekNim]

That looks pretty darn good! Did you sculpt and make that yourself? I'm doing a full silicon mask. In the next two weeks I'll be having a professional FX studio make me a full head & shoulders life cast so I can get started on the sculpting. I need to weather the vest and find someone to sew the pants from the material & pattern I found and weather the hat. That's all that's left except for the face mask so I'll be able to focus solely on that shortly

 

[mrdagger]

That looks pretty darn good! Did you sculpt and make that yourself? I'm doing a full silicon mask. In the next two weeks I'll be having a professional FX studio make me a full head & shoulders life cast so I can get started on the sculpting. I need to weather the vest and find someone to sew the pants from the material & pattern I found and weather the hat. That's all that's left except for the face mask so I'll be able to focus solely on that shortly

Another good Etsy find;

https://www.etsy.com/listing/1760784804/

I also got the color mix he used from the maker so I can hopefully replicate when I do my throat prosthetic and makeup…

Still not as good as a full silicone, but it will do until I can get one.

 

[DalekNim]

I wonder how long that has been available? When I did a search a while back I couldn't find anything ... that will be a great backup in case my silicon mask making completely fails ... does it have a power mesh liner or is it straight silicon?

 

[mrdagger]

I wonder how long that has been available? When I did a search a while back I couldn't find anything ... that will be a great backup in case my silicon mask making completely fails ... does it have a power mesh liner or is it straight silicon?

My thoughts exactly. If I was to nitpick, I would have wanted the eye holes a little smaller... but otherwise it's very good. There's some mesh behind the mouth and nose. I'll probably still wear a headsock under it, but the fit is near perfect for me at least.

 

[mrdagger]

So while I continue to have this endless debate with myself on the " perfect" screen accurate cowboy hat to get I thought I'd dive into some 219 years worth of wasteland weathering and make some actual progress. Finished the bandolier and when I was about 2/3 done with the gun belt I noticed I had made a critical error in its fabrication ... can you all spot what I did wrong?
One good thing I did realize with all my 'paralysis by analysis' on the cowboy hat is that my cunning plan to get one using my current hat size would be a 'bad idea' since I'll be wearing a full face silicon mask which will increase the circumference of my head and ensure it won't fit ...

I'm not actually sure you are wrong. I recall (can't find it for the life of me) seeing a glimpse where that sheeth is "reversed" from what you normally think it would be. I know I did find a few statues / figures that clearly show it that way. Although it's on the left... he's right handed so it faces the way you would draw it across your body with the right hand to use it. You unfortunately don't see it in the famous "finger exchange" scene but I think you're actually ok. I know I saw a pic / video where it showed it...

 

[mrdagger]

So this hat came in, need to reshape and weather it... but I think it'll work. Still need to swap out the hat band...

 

[mrdagger]

So this hat came in, need to reshape and weather it... but I think it'll work. Still need to swap out the hat band...

Removed hat band and my first hat reshape attempt.... anyone find the right band or close?

 

[DalekNim]

that all is looking good! yeah my first impression when I saw the mask was the same thing ... those eye holes look a little big ... but I get why they did that for a 'one size fits all', which is of course the other thing that would worry me would be sizing. what is your hat size? On Wednesday I'll be sitting for having my full face life cast made. here's the latest from my 2nd distressing/weathering pass of the coat ... I think I'm about 95% of where I want to be as compared to the ref images I have. I think the ragged pieces are a little to even - they are all basically the same length and spacing is too even, I need more randomness in the gaps. the sand staining is pretty close to where a want it I think. I'll let it sit for a few days and then see what i think of it again ...

 

[DalekNim]

Removed hat band and my first hat reshape attempt.... anyone find the right band or close?

so what's your opinion about the vest color? it 'appears' to be a navy blue with the yellowish/tan staining on it similar to the jacket?

 

[mrdagger]

that all is looking good! yeah my first impression when I saw the mask was the same thing ... those eye holes look a little big ... but I get why they did that for a 'one size fits all', which is of course the other thing that would worry me would be sizing. what is your hat size? On Wednesday I'll be sitting for having my full face life cast made. here's the latest from my 2nd distressing/weathering pass of the coat ... I think I'm about 95% of where I want to be as compared to the ref images I have. I think the ragged pieces are a little to even - they are all basically the same length and spacing is too even, I need more randomness in the gaps. the sand staining is pretty close to where a want it I think. I'll let it sit for a few days and then see what i think of it again ...

Super nice... I'm truly a medium hat size (just under 23") - but honestly I could have gone up a size with the mask, and had more room to lower the crown. still I'm happy with it... now to find the band. I've looked everywhere and no luck.

Here's my update after distressing the hat. Happy for now but I'm sure I'll tinker with it...

 

[mrdagger]

so what's your opinion about the vest color? it 'appears' to be a navy blue with the yellowish/tan staining on it similar to the jacket?

I actually don't think it's blue... here's a better reference shot. Looks to me like brown and black

 

[DalekNim]

I actually don't think it's blue... here's a better reference shot. Looks to me like brown and black

Yeah you could be right, I thought it might be black at first as well but other images seemed to show a shade similar to his shirt which is a dark navy blue ... you gotta hate lighting effects.
That weathering looks quite good actually, what did you use to distress it?
I started searching hat bands and here's one from Amazon that looks close, you'll have to dye it the correct color but since it's horse hair that should be easy ...

Amazon.com