DCnU New 52 Red Hood - Going for 90% accuracy - abandoned project :(

[ArmandDavid]

Hello all, I'm new to the Replica Prop Forum but have had some experience making costumes, and just by lurking through all of these amazing build threads I've learned a lot. Now I'm gonna finally put myself out there and making a costume for a cosplay showcase during this years otafest, and who other to cosplay as rather than my favorite comic book character, Red Hood. I will be going for 90% accuracy and DCnU Red Hood has had an inconsistent design due to many different, talented, artists depicting certain details in certain ways. For my costume I am going with Kenneth Rocafort's design as it seems the most detailed and most visually appealing.

I'm trying to be as independent on this project as I can be, as the rules for the showcase state that 80% or more of the costume has to be made by me, so I won't be buying your guys' amazingly made helmets or props.

--The Suit--

First things first I'm making a body suit from scratch out of grey 2 way stretch fabric and building the armor out of PVA coated craft foam just like Knight Armors slim batman armor. This includes the shoe and glove details. My problem with this is that I need a pattern for a bodysuit with gloves, socks and a neck.
Another problem is how I'm going to keep the armor on. Hot glue isn't much of an option as that would burn and sewing craft foam onto the fabric might be too time consuming.

--The Helmet--

For the helmet I am making a lifecast of my head and sculpting onto that with sulfur free oil based clay. After I will cast it out of a clear epoxy resin like Crimson490s Quorra helmet to get the really shiny, glass helmet look, only instead of adding dyes I'm going to keep it clear and spray paint the inside with red spray paint. I have never lifecasted/sculpted over a lifecast before but it is definitely something I will be willing to try with the right guidance. Anyone know any good tutorials on sculpting on a lifecast?
The black eye sockets I'm most likely going to tape off and spray paint over with Plastidip and for the lenses I'm going to keep clear with a semi-see-through white fabric. If I have time after the entire build I will line the lenses with pieces of EL wire to get the glowing effect seen above.

--The Jacket--

The jacket probably has to be the make-it-or-break-it part of my costume as if I don't do it right it could completely mess up my costume, but if done right with all the little details, it can be what gets me noticed. I am making the entire suit out of a camel coloured vinyl/pleather. I am pattern drafting the jacket with my fashion teacher.
It seems to not have a zipper but this weird sort of plates where the zipper should be, so those will be made from craft foam first and then molded into a plastic epoxy and will be sewn right into the jacket.

--The Guns--

If I somehow get hold of a 3D model of these guns and a 3D printer, there is no doubt that I would print this, but as of right now I haven't had the luck of finding either one. I would also settle on the pepakura method if someone can make a scale model of the guns that he uses, but for now, I think I'm going to use craft foam over toy guns.

I would appreciate any sort of help that you talented costumers can throw my way in any of these topics, I will keep updated as I go, thanks for reading this giant wall of text and pictures.

 

[ArmandDavid]

Re: DCnU New 52 Red Hood - Going for 90% accuracy

Regarding the helmet, I will be casting from alginate and plaster bandages, I have yet to find an alginate cheaper than 20 dollars per pound, any help finding a cheaper alginate will be appreciated. As for the casting, I wanted to use Crystal Clear epoxy from Smooth-On, but with my budget I am going to be using Castin' Craft Clear Casting Resin. If anyone has ever used this before, I would appreciate any tips or safety concerns regarding this product.

Another way of going about it would be to vacuform the mold.

 

[TheseusPro]

Re: DCnU New 52 Red Hood - Going for 90% accuracy

I will be following this build, although on the jacket: I think that those plates are just the artist's way of drawing a zipper.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[aioria2]

Re: DCnU New 52 Red Hood - Going for 90% accuracy

all these ideas sound great, any updates?

 

[ArmandDavid]

Re: DCnU New 52 Red Hood - Going for 90% accuracy

Update

Good to know a couple people are interested, I am currently working on the bodysuit right now in class. I am using the womens Kwik Sew pattern, just a little altered to fit a male build (Even though it would still probably fit my womanly figure as it is lol).


The pattern is finished and I tried it out on an ugly red and navy striped test fabric.


Of course despite the ugliness of the fabric it still fits rather well, with very few things I need to fix (e.g. the arm holes, the addition of arms and gloves, etc.), Other than a few of those little things, I'm happy with how it is and I'm ready to start with the grey fabric.


- - - Updated - - -

I would think that the plates are just a zipper as well, but I am still going to go and build it to add just that little bit of originality from all the other Red Hood builds. I also hate sewing zippers, so that just takes a huge weight off of my shoulders.

 

[afdanw]

Re: DCnU New 52 Red Hood - Going for 90% accuracy

i have been thinking about doing a red hood, but my idea is more about trying a technique than accuracy. I was thinking the mask would look really good if I made it out of silver Kevlar, then do a few coats of candy blood red paint. I have never done this b4, but it should allow you to see the kevlar (candy paint is semi translucent), and the combination of silver, with candy blood red should give you the correct color.

 

[ArmandDavid]

Re: DCnU New 52 Red Hood - Going for 90% accuracy

i have been thinking about doing a red hood, but my idea is more about trying a technique than accuracy. I was thinking the mask would look really good if I made it out of silver Kevlar, then do a few coats of candy blood red paint. I have never done this b4, but it should allow you to see the kevlar (candy paint is semi translucent), and the combination of silver, with candy blood red should give you the correct color.

I'm doing costumes for a friends DC Universe fan films where I get to design the costumes and make them. I'm doing accurate, yet more practical, costumes (e.g. Batman wearing Kevlar) if that's the sort of thing you're talking about. I think rather than spending big bucks on silver kevlar and paint separately, I think purchasing a red carbon fiber vinyl will give just about the same effect.

 

[afdanw]

Re: DCnU New 52 Red Hood - Going for 90% accuracy

Yes, the red vinyl is going to be very similar to what i was talking about. for a fan film, if you take that vinyl and do a coat of clear or 2, it will probably look exactly like what im talking about. The kevlar, and candy paint will have a lot more depth to it, but on camera the differance will be almost unnoticeable. Once the film is up, post a link here so we can see it. I know that will be a ways out.

 

[ArmandDavid]

Re: DCnU New 52 Red Hood - Going for 90% accuracy

Yes, the red vinyl is going to be very similar to what i was talking about. for a fan film, if you take that vinyl and do a coat of clear or 2, it will probably look exactly like what im talking about. The kevlar, and candy paint will have a lot more depth to it, but on camera the differance will be almost unnoticeable. Once the film is up, post a link here so we can see it. I know that will be a ways out.

Haha yeah, a long ways away. My friend is just starting to bring his production company together, with a little help from me. We'll try and get it all together sooner or later, but for now I have cosplays and other fashion-related projects to do.

 

[rasendori04]

Re: DCnU New 52 Red Hood - Going for 90% accuracy

For the guns, you could always do foam core or cardboard in layers. I mean, finding a decent picture of the guns would be the hardest part, but afterwards, just cut out 3-4 layers, glue em together, add some craft foam for added details and whatnot, then seal with a foam sealer, or modpodge, or something and paint.

 

[ArmandDavid]

Re: DCnU New 52 Red Hood - Going for 90% accuracy

For the guns, you could always do foam core or cardboard in layers. I mean, finding a decent picture of the guns would be the hardest part, but afterwards, just cut out 3-4 layers, glue em together, add some craft foam for added details and whatnot, then seal with a foam sealer, or modpodge, or something and paint.

Haha I remember making cardboard guns like that when I was younger, I can't believe that didn't cross my mind. I'll definitely be using that method

 

[ArmandDavid]

Re: DCnU New 52 Red Hood - Going for 90% accuracy

Time for an update! Ok, so I completely forgot to add my reference pictures, so here they are

Helmet


Jacket


Body armor


Belt details


Gun side


All of those were really rough sketched, I should be able to fix them up on Paint.Net soon enough. Also, update on the bodysuit..


The whole suit is almost done, I got the sleeves and invisible zipper in(definitely not as hard as I thought, just need to add the neck, gloves, new socks (I accidentally sliced a huge portion off while serging) and then I'll start adding in the armor, any advice on what type of adhesive to use on stretchier fabric?

Tomorrow, I will be starting the jacket, as to get away from the struggles of knit fabric, because it was pissing me off.

--EDIT--
The reference pictures are gone, but I still have the drawn references. Eh it's better than nothing

 

[rasendori04]

Re: DCnU New 52 Red Hood - Going for 90% accuracy

Glad I could help. I made a DMR from Halo:Reach using that method. It actually turned out quite well, considering it was my first prop build. One thing, though. Your reference pics aren't working, at least, not for me. Perhaps they need more time to upload, I dunno. Good luck with this build. I am also going to be starting a thread for the Red hood, but a little less accurate, and a little more motorcycle fetish.
I will be following this one for sure.

 

[ArmandDavid]

Re: DCnU New 52 Red Hood - Going for 90% accuracy

Glad I could help. I made a DMR from Halo:Reach using that method. It actually turned out quite well, considering it was my first prop build. One thing, though. Your reference pics aren't working, at least, not for me. Perhaps they need more time to upload, I dunno. Good luck with this build. I am also going to be starting a thread for the Red hood, but a little less accurate, and a little more motorcycle fetish.
I will be following this one for sure.

Thanks for the heads up, Ill fix it now

 

[ArmandDavid]

Re: DCnU New 52 Red Hood - Going for 90% accuracy

I started pattern-drafting the jacket with my cosplay teacher today and go the torso details down, but we just started spring break, so I won't get anything done for a week. For now, I'll be working on my friends Daedric Armor from Skyrim with him, not sure if it's acceptable to post progress on here. I'll also try to get some progress done on the helmet over the break.

 

[rasendori04]

Re: DCnU New 52 Red Hood - Going for 90% accuracy

I like the way you are going with this. It looks kinda dragon scale like. Especially the body armor.

 

[ArmandDavid]

Re: DCnU New 52 Red Hood - Going for 90% accuracy

So I made some sort of progress. I was able to squeeze in some cosplay work time in between all the partying that I didn't do to work on the guns.

I followed rasendori04's advice on how to do the guns and did it really rough in cardboard




The roughness is something I can work around during the bodyfiller stage, after the fibreglass stage, of course. I just need to get a mask and I'm ready to go.

 

[rasendori04]

Re: DCnU New 52 Red Hood - Going for 90% accuracy

Very nice. Any ideas where you're going to get the mask?

 

[ArmandDavid]

Re: DCnU New 52 Red Hood - Going for 90% accuracy

Very nice. Any ideas where you're going to get the mask?

The way I was going to go was posted above. I definitely have to make it myself, because at least 80% needs to be built by me (and I'm an overachiever) to enter it into the showcase, so I won't get to buy in the amazing masks I see that are for sale in the junkyard. Right now, I don't have the funds to lifecast as I thought I would. I'd like to try lifecasting, but if I get really desperate, I'll use the fibreglass/pepakura method.​

 

[ArmandDavid]

Re: DCnU New 52 Red Hood - Going for 90% accuracy

Haven't gotten much done while I was gone, other than starting the jacket and adding socks to the body.

Here's a first look of what I got done on the jacket

Doesn't look like much as of right now due to the lack of the sleeves, but the sleeves are coming along and the red zippers went on no problem. I'll try and get the sleeves finished and attached this Monday with pictures and fit check.

Also, I finished the socks, but I will not be attaching them onto the suit.

They definitely already look like they're attached but they are not, and the top part of the "boot" keep slipping off. I'm adding pop-on buttons on both the boot and the leg of the suit to keep the boots on, and the insoles will be put inside of the boot and a custom outsole made of foam will be hot-glued onto the outside.


And now all that's left to do on the body armor is the neck, gloves and actual armor pieces.