Dredd W.I.P.(comic/movie mashup) sculpting stage

[Dargas]

This started this december when I was able to score one of Igor's awesome Dredd 3D Helmets. Ive been a huge fan of Judge Dredd for the longest time (I think the only thing I've been a fan for more tie than Dredd is Doctor Who) and at first I just wanted the helmet but when I opened the Box and saw to my surprise that Igor had included the Badge as well I lost it... I had to make me a Dredd costume.

Now it seems that making a fully accurate Judge Dredd 3D costume is REALLY expensive so I'm not going for accuracy on this one. My love for the Comics Version of Dredd is heavy but I really liked the Dredd 3D costume design a lot for it's realistic and practical approach.

with this in mind I decided to work on my costume by bringing together the most parts I can afford from the 3D version and adapting the rest from the comics look.

I live in the tropics so a full leather costume would be suicide So I'll probably end up using a mixture of Fabrics and Pleather to complete the costume.

So far the only things I have are these:

the Lawgiver is a NERF Retaliator that I just started modifying. I need to add the bullet switch counter and the eagle over the Nerf logo. The rest looks close enough for my budget.

The Badge was painted with Krylon Fusion hammered steel silver and then with bright gold and was finished with shoe polish paste for the grime and crust of dirt.

The Helmet is in reality painted in Harrier Blue (or what I like to call TARDIS blue) and I used black liquid polish to darken it to the point where it looks Black But with the right light it will shine blue. I love the effect and the fact that it looks both like the movie and comic version depending on the light.

As i said above.. i REALLY like the comics version of Dredd and one ting I always had the impression when looking at the helmet's visor was that it was a double shielded visor. Meaning that It had a clear protective visor ove a smaller and black visor that would sport all the helmet's HUD details.
It's logical to think that it's cheaper to replace a bulletproof plastisteel shield that will protect the wearer's face and the helmet's integral parts than replacing the entire screen.

With this in mind I followed that idea and using a face shield for working with powertools (the cheap ones that you can get in home depot) I cut the face shield in 2 parts (one thicker than the other but both with the same lenghts) and glued a very stretched black Pantyhose sheet glued over the edges of the smaller shield.

The big one was glued to the helmet and the back one was attached to the first with hot glue in case I need to change it or replace it.

The effect is great I think and I can use it with my glases on and no one will notice it! it is also great for pics as the flash will not reveal your eyes underneath the visor. I learned this technique with my Darth Vader costume for the 501st.

I like the fact that it looks like the comics version when worn!

Cliched yeah... but I have to say it: "I am The LAW!"

Any feedback will be greatly appreciated!

@ Mr.Pinski: Buddy, you ROCK! thanks for the amazing helmet and for the kindness that was adding the badge to the box! I really appreciate the gesture!

cheers and more to come soon.

 

[hoakypoaky]

Re: Judge Dredd W.I.P. (Slow Progress)

Looks awesome! Really outstanding work, it's looks spot on to me, especially your detail work. I scored an Igor cold cast helmet myself but due to moving into a new house, my costume project has taken a back seat until I get some free time to work on it.

I'm curious what exact brand of paint/colors you used for the helmet (if it was hand or spray painted). It looks to me you used the same polish on the helmet as you did on the badge to get that weathered effect, but I could be wrong. Also curious what technique/materials you used to line the inside of the helmet with padding to get it to sit correctly on your head. That seems like it would be difficult.

Again, great work!

 

[Dargas]

Re: Judge Dredd W.I.P. (Slow Progress)

Thanks man! the helmets are great. the do look a bit big but that's how the helmets in the movie where. with the neckpiece, jacket and shoulderpads the proportions fits right in.

as to your questions:

The paint I used was Krylon Fusion spray paint. The exact colors I can give them to you later cause the cans are at home but from mind I can say the silver was hammered steel color (and it gives the texture of hammered steel as well). I sprayed about 6 light coats during a period of 48 hours. I then sprayed about 2 coats of Harrier blue and let it sit for 12 hours and then sprayed a mist of black concentrating the misting on the sides where the blue meets the red and on the 2 lines running from the front to the back of the main helmet.

I then masked the blue and painted the red in a red that I can only describe as lamborgini red. I made the mistake of only waiting for 12 hours for the blue and black misting to cure so when I removed the masking tape from the blue after spraying the 2 coats of red the masking marked the surface of the blue/black area. I was about to fret about it but then I remembered that Dredd's helmet has been shocked, sprayed with acid, with molten plastic, scratched, hammered, fired on, etc... so I decided to leave the acid burn-like marks... they where hard to notice anyways... but be warned on your side. Always wait 24 hours for the latest layer to cure before doing anything to it.

After waiting 24 hours more this time I masked the red and painted the gold badge.

I then proceeded to scratch the blue and red with an exacto knife up to the point where the hammered steel shows.

I then used black Liquid shoe polish to weather and blacken the blue. I applied the polish and Immediately cleaned it with a paper towel. I this this trying to cover as much area as I could before It would dry off completely. It took about 3 coats to get to the desired hue.

for the red I dod only 1 coat and mostly cleaned it everywhere except where I wanted the paint to look grimy.

for the badge I used Black Paste shoe polish applied with a paper napkin and mostly cleaned the areas I wanted to look more clean and left more of it where I wanted more dirt and grime. the same was done with the badge although with the badge I first used a coat of liquid shoe polish for the recesses before giving it a coat of paste shoepolish for the grime.

Seems like a lot of work but I did the shoe polish work in less than half an hour in total.

the inside padding was a tad of a nightmare.... I just had no idea what to use for it. I found an old CD case (a 20 cd one) that had a front and back made in a sort of squared off foam rubber. I used that for the top pad and the the back pad. glued with the new brand of superbonder flex. The sides of the padding where made by folding (this was nightmarish to do right) 2 regular black mousepads (bought in the dollar tree) in the shape of the angled borders AND making a sort of bag opening on the top.

I Glued the pads to the borders with superbonder flex following the inside lines and when It was done I proceeded to fill the padding "bag" opening with that white/transparent stuffing material they use to protect TV and computer screens in their boxes until they where tight enough on my cheeks.

I would've like for the liner to look thicker so I might try it again later on with thick pads of sanded out borders exercise floor mats.

I'm really happy with the look but I do want a thicker and tighter old on my head.

Hope that helps!

 

[Bountys Hunted]

Re: Judge Dredd W.I.P. (Slow Progress)

Looking really darn good!!! Can't wait to see your creation of move / comic Judge hybrid!

 

[Dargas]

Re: Judge Dredd W.I.P. (Slow Progress)

Thanks man. I'm sketching a few ideas before I move on the actual thing. I'll post later what I come up with and see what you guys think of it.

 

[DevilDogCota]

Re: Judge Dredd W.I.P. (Slow Progress)

I'm really glad I came across this Thread. This looks very promising, and that helmet is beautiful! Subscribed. Keep up the great work, and keep us posted.

 

[Dargas]

Re: Judge Dredd W.I.P. (Slow Progress)

Quick ink sketch of what I kinda have in mind for the costume.

I Really like the comic version shoulderpads (from the first 30 progs or so) that where rounded but still had a bulkiness to them (Including the eagle) that had great balance for a skinny guy as Dredd was initially.

Hopefully the final result will end up looking better than in the sketch lol.

Edit:

Browsing over nowadays tech research for ballistic personal armor I found this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qfhw6I_uBQg

I had heard of the liquid armor myself some time ago but it's until now that I see a video of it.
This tech (or so they say) will be in the field in 2 years time so i guess that since Dredd is set in a near future it's safe to assume his armor "could" be made from padded layers of Kevlar and improved nanogel armor.

It's interesting when you try to design something based on factual developments. My plan now is to create an armored suit for Dredd that can be worn on a daily basis without compromising movement over protection that's grounded in actual armor developments for urban pacification.

While the movie's approach to the costume design is for motorcycle patrolling, we see Dredd 80% of the time on foot on both the movies and the comics and being that Street Judges are basically one men armies they should be protected not Just on the head, chest and shoulders but on legs and groin as well. Nanogel and Kevlar layers allow for the best protection while allowing flexibility on the parts and that allows me a chance to play with dynaliner sheets over fabric in a pretty much Mandalorian armor stile.

 

[Quake II]

Re: Dredd W.I.P.(comic/movie mashup) design stage

I totally agree with your take on Dredd and I'm also making a movie/comic hybrid suit. I LOVE the movie and dig the "realistic" tactical costume but a few small things bugged me. The biggest issue is I think they toned/flattened the eagles (shoulder, badge & belt) down too much. I kind of like a little "bling" on Dredd, it's what makes him iconic. The Stallone Judge Dredd definately overdid the bling but I do admire the costume designs. The character is over-the-top and portions of his uniform should reflect that. I like your sketches and totally understand what you're going for. I've started a thread as I put my costume together and I want it accurate enough to patrol a convention with a Dredd 2012 group but still maintain that little something different.

 

[minez01]

Re: Dredd W.I.P.(comic/movie mashup) design stage

Not only is this outfit going to look insanely cool, but:

(a) it may well rival that of the movie costume. Big yes to the added bling.
(b) your sketching skills are crazy good. I love the drawing.

 

[dollstix]

Re: Dredd W.I.P.(comic/movie mashup) design stage

Looking good my friend.
Always like it when members on here put a 'spin' on a character.
Keep up the good work!!!

 

[Rikarus]

Re: Dredd W.I.P.(comic/movie mashup) design stage

This is gonna look awesome, nice design skills!!!

 

[Dargas]

Re: Dredd W.I.P.(comic/movie mashup) design stage

Thanks a lot guys. I appreciate the comments.

@QuakeII: I know right? I also think that Dredd needs a but of over the top pieces (Or Bling if you wanna call it like that) but I love the rough and used look of the parts as well.

we'll see how they come out. I plan on starting with the sculpts of both shoulder armor parts and the belt buckle this weekend.

@minez01: Thanks man! I wasn't really planning on competing with the movie design hahaha but if I can come up with something that most people like I'll be a happy artist/cosplayer. thanks for the compliments man.

Thanks everyone on the nice compliments.

Still thinking on how to add the led counter to the lawgiver as the recharge mechanism on the NERF Retalliator moves the entire body casing of the gun back to charge the pump for firing. Any ideas anyone?

 

[Quake II]

Re: Dredd W.I.P.(comic/movie mashup) design stage

"Still thinking on how to add the led counter to the lawgiver as the recharge mechanism on the NERF Retalliator moves the entire body casing of the gun back to charge the pump for firing. Any ideas anyone?"

It sounds like you'll have to "gut" the gun (aka unscrew it and take everything out). I've opened that same Nerf gun before and took out the spring (I removed that protruding stock attachment also).

 

[Dargas]

Re: Dredd W.I.P.(comic/movie mashup) design stage

thing is that I want the gun to fire the nerf foam bullets hahahahaha... I really don't want to gut it. If adding the counter will make the gun's firing mechanism to stop working I rather leave it like that and just add cosmetic stuff like the eagle over the nerf logo...

 

[seancoleman]

Re: Dredd W.I.P.(comic/movie mashup) design stage

Amazing concept (one hell of an artist)
Love the mash up of costume styles. Ill be following this one closely

Cant wait to see more, keep up the great work

 

[Dargas]

Re: Dredd W.I.P.(comic/movie mashup) design stage

Gloves came in today. Don't have pics of them yet but they're pretty much the same model as these:

I also took out my Old (12 years at least) New Rock boots (Image is not mine but they're the exact same model):

I'll be hitting the local army surplus on saturday in search of the pants, shirt, knee and elbow pads, pistol belt and varied belt pouches for the costume.

I'll make a pair of leather gauntlets similar to the 3D movie that will be attachable to the gloves with velcro and that will sport 2 pouches on the right one and an Ipod holder on the left where mi Ipod will be helt running a radar-like and sound detection app.

Production of the armor for the shoulders and belt buckle will discussed today with the buddy I make all this crazy things with. I plan to start sculpting the shoulders and buckle this same weekend and hopefully start making silicone molds for them next week.

 

[Nate Jangotat]

Re: Dredd W.I.P.(comic/movie mashup) design stage

Great concept. And that helmet is amazing. I think the shoulder eagle is something that should have come through to the film. Not practical maybe, but for me an identifier for Dredd.

 

[thundrkiss]

Re: Dredd W.I.P.(comic/movie mashup) design stage

that's gonna be pretty bad ass, I like the mando style to the armor!

 

[minez01]

Re: Dredd W.I.P.(comic/movie mashup) design stage

that's gonna be pretty bad ass, I like the mando style to the armor!

If I ever get a spare moment, you just gave me the idea of making a Dredd themed Fett bucket.

 

[Dargas]

Re: Dredd W.I.P.(comic/movie mashup) design stage

found a nice shirt I can use but I'm still looking for swat-like tactical pants. Cargos are a no no as they are too baggy and I want the slim looking pants of the comics.

this is a fit test for the elements I curently have:
Helmet
Gloves
Lawgiver (still being worked on)
pistol Belt with 2 M-16 pouches for the Nerf Clips (they're the eprfect size) and 6 regular military pouches
shirt
badge
and boots.

I know I don't have the athletic body for Dredd yet but I've come down from weighting 211 pounds to weighting 182 pounds with a 5'9" height in under 3 months. I still have a belly but I'm working into getting rid of it FAST with the Insanity program.

The boots lift me to 6'2 and for my country's standards that's tall.

I'm buying matt material and black vinyl in the next few days to start the armored vest and the glove bracelets.

I like the looks of the boots.

I plan on getting a set of green Alta tactical knee and elbow pads and add the striped pattern to them.

I'm still a long way but at least it's starting to shape up.