Egon's Spider-man costume. NEW PHOTOS! Nov 2, 2014,

[Joenemo]

Re: Egon's Spider-man costume progress and advice thread- Help needed!!!

hey guys i'm new here and am seeing advice and figured since this post was going I'd ask you all on it. I have experiance sewing and what not, but this already printed Spider-Man suit with a removeable mask is all new to me. I can pretty much tell where every piece goes for the most part, but just to be safe, do you guys have a diagram as to where every piece goes? i just don't want 400 dollars to go to waste and figured I'd ask you all before I began this suit.

 

[Egon Spengler]

Re: Egon's Spider-man costume progress and advice thread- Help needed!!!

Is it possible for this invisible zipper to be reinstalled so it's actually, "invisible" like a seam, or is this as good as it gets? Either way it needs to be redone. It doesn't curve to the shape of my neck in the back and pulled the entire mask backward when wearing it. It's painful on my neck and really annoying.

 

[OneTrickTony]

Re: Egon's Spider-man costume progress and advice thread- Help needed!!!

Wow man looks great. I'd ask TrophyWife about the zipper problem though. Best of luck!

 

[Lunaman]

Re: Egon's Spider-man costume progress and advice thread- Help needed!!!

This is why I tell people not to get spine zippers--there's no stretch where it's most important and they're usually installed too short as well.

If there's still seam allowance in there, get it removed and have a longer zipper installed by a local seamstress that can measure you in person, make sure they size it while you have your head dropped forward a bit so they can mark the real length along your neck and know how much to stretch the fabric as they sew it.

 

[Egon Spengler]

Re: Egon's Spider-man costume progress and advice thread- Help needed!!!

Thanks OneTrickPony!

Good advice Lunaman. I got the zipper down the back because I've read the u shape restricts movement as well. I'd rather find someone local honestly.

 

[Lunaman]

Re: Egon's Spider-man costume progress and advice thread- Help needed!!!

Good advice Lunaman. I got the zipper down the back because I've read the u shape restricts movement as well.

Cheers, but...
WHERE? Where have you heard this? I keep getting emails from new suit wearers telling me that they've heard that the u-shape restricts movement and it's just nonsensical.
The u-zip is designed to allow a full range of motion while avoiding putting non-stretchable zippers in high-stress areas. It's been used on hundreds of suits for 4 major feature films with some of the best costume people in the industry working on it. The best suit-makers in our hobby, like Brad/Spidey4fun and Yuri/SpideyPlanet use the u-zip almost exclusively.
Honestly, I feel like it's just because they are harder for seamstresses to install and measure that people are off about them. It makes no sense to me, thinking that an unstretchable length of zipper along your spine would be less restricting than a u-zip.
/rant.


---Even with a bulky first-generation prototype muscle suit, there is nothing restricting about this zipper setup:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o75T1SGVUGY

 

[OneTrickTony]

Re: Egon's Spider-man costume progress and advice thread- Help needed!!!

Honestly! I've ehard too many people on here saying that the U-zip restricts movement. There's a reason people continue to do it xD

Btw It's OneTrickTony... A [play on the phrase one trick pony xD Cause my name's tony

 

[Egon Spengler]

Re: Egon's Spider-man costume progress and advice thread- Help needed!!!

Ah, Tony. That was a slip up on my part.

Luna: I'm thinking of getting the U shaped zipper installed, since either way I need to have my current one removed. Good point on the film suits. Hm.

 

[CoreyHolland]

Re: Egon's Spider-man costume progress and advice thread- Help needed!!!

Cheers, but...
WHERE? Where have you heard this? I keep getting emails from new suit wearers telling me that they've heard that the u-shape restricts movement and it's just nonsensical.
The u-zip is designed to allow a full range of motion while avoiding putting non-stretchable zippers in high-stress areas. It's been used on hundreds of suits for 4 major feature films with some of the best costume people in the industry working on it. The best suit-makers in our hobby, like Brad/Spidey4fun and Yuri/SpideyPlanet use the u-zip almost exclusively.
Honestly, I feel like it's just because they are harder for seamstresses to install and measure that people are off about them. It makes no sense to me, thinking that an unstretchable length of zipper along your spine would be less restricting than a u-zip.
/rant.


---Even with a bulky first-generation prototype muscle suit, there is nothing restricting about this zipper setup:
Spider-Man Suit Test with Tobey Maguire - YouTube

Actually, it was TrophyWife who told me this. She recommended the spine zip over the u-zip, saying it was no only easier to get in and out of, but is less restricting for movement. Mine actually has two zippers, one that goes from the back of my head to the bottom of my neck, then another that goes from the bottom of my neck to the bottom of the spine. This eliminates the neck restriction and the problem the OP is having with the back of his hood.

I totally agree with you though in that the U-zip is proven in films and so much more. For my next suit I'm working on, I think the U-Zip is a must. I had originally wanted a U-zip, but when I showed pics and explained it to my seamstress, she didn't seem confident in it. So I did research making sure the spine zip would suffice. It's totally works fine and I don't have any problems, but like I said, I want a U-zip for my next suit. One thing I'm wondering, I'm not totally sure about this, but a lot of people, myself included, had problems with the mask not coming down far enough so the mask's center webbing was a bit higher than it should be. I'm wondering if this is caused by a spine zip? I've seen a lot of people with higher center webs, and then they put their lenses really high too and to me, this looks worse than having the webbing look slightly askew. I like the look of Spidey when there is more space above the lenses than below - more forehead than mouth, or at least mostly centered.

Btw, Egon - I've been watching the thread for a while. You did an awesome job man! I don't think I'm brave enough to take on the task of sewing like you did, and I know I wouldn't have done such a great job! You look great! Can't wait until you feel you're 100% finished, but it looks fantastic!

 

[Lunaman]

Re: Egon's Spider-man costume progress and advice thread- Help needed!!!

Actually, it was TrophyWife who told me this. She recommended the spine zip over the u-zip, saying it was no only easier to get in and out of, but is less restricting for movement.

Not meaning to knock Trophywife's input, she's a friend and has helped me out on several projects and she does good work, but this information is just wrong. A spine zip is only easier to get in and out of if you have a helper (ever tried to scratch the unscratchable part of your back?) U-zips are awkward at first but once you get the hang of it you can do it unassisted. As for 'restricting of movement' I think I've pretty much covered the reasons that's baloney in my post above.

Mine actually has two zippers, one that goes from the back of my head to the bottom of my neck, then another that goes from the bottom of my neck to the bottom of the spine. This eliminates the neck restriction and the problem the OP is having with the back of his hood.

No it doesn't; you have the exact same problem Egon does, you just placed the eyes differently. He lined up the eyes in their proper place on the mask and found that he couldn't get a comfortable position for his neck. You found a comfortable position for your neck, and then surprise surprise found out that your eyes wouldn't line up in the right place on the mask. Your entire spine is still made of unstretchable zipper, it doesn't matter that there's two zip pulls.

I totally agree with you though in that the U-zip is proven in films and so much more. For my next suit I'm working on, I think the U-Zip is a must. I had originally wanted a U-zip, but when I showed pics and explained it to my seamstress, she didn't seem confident in it. So I did research making sure the spine zip would suffice. It's totally works fine and I don't have any problems, but like I said, I want a U-zip for my next suit. One thing I'm wondering, I'm not totally sure about this, but a lot of people, myself included, had problems with the mask not coming down far enough so the mask's center webbing was a bit higher than it should be. I'm wondering if this is caused by a spine zip? I've seen a lot of people with higher center webs, and then they put their lenses really high too and to me, this looks worse than having the webbing look slightly askew. I like the look of Spidey when there is more space above the lenses than below - more forehead than mouth, or at least mostly centered.

Yes, this is absolutely caused by the spine zip, see above. Or ask Brad why he doesn't do rear zippers. These are symptoms of the same problem.

 

[CoreyHolland]

Re: Egon's Spider-man costume progress and advice thread- Help needed!!!

Totally agree, Luna. I do wish I had gone with what I wanted originally which was U-zips. I was worried my seamstress wasn't going to be able to do it. Like I said, definitely a must for my next suit.

 

[Egon Spengler]

Re: Egon's Spider-man costume progress and advice thread- Help needed!!!

Yeah, I think I'm going to sew up the back seam and open the bottom seams and have a tailor install invisible u-zips.

 

[peterparker]

Re: Egon's Spider-man costume progress and advice thread- Help needed!!!

I've had U-zips for the past 6 years. I've always thought the main reason the U-zip gained popularity was not due to anything having to do to mobility... I thought it was because the zipper was best "hidden" in the U-configuration.

In my humble opinion, U-zips have some serious drawbacks. For one, zippers aren't designed to take a "curve" in their path very well... when you get down to belt level with the zipper and go "around the bend", the zipper is being asked to do too much. Expect frequent zipper replacements if you wear the costume often enough.

The other drawback is that you are "locked in" to the waist size of the costume... if it's not perfectly sized (or if your waistline grows bigger while you have the costume), that zipper across the lower back is what "locks" you into the waist size of the costume. There really is little "give" , if any, due to that back beltline zipper.

My most recent tailor (the past 2 years) has a tremendous amount of experience sewing costumes for productions/Broadway, including bodysuits similar to what we use in Spider-Man costumes. He is so fed up with the U shape zippers he may never do one for me again!

I often need to zip up by myself.... The U-shape allows you to do that (but sometimes need assistance when the zipper track starts to get trashed "around the bend"). I had a center spine zipper 12 years ago, and rigged up a small hook and a length of string to pull the zipper down/up when I didn't have someone around to help zip it. I'm ordering an center spine zip right now from Frontier Costumes.... I'll let you all know how it goes when I get it. Frontier Costumes won't sell a sewn suit unless it's with the center spine zipper. (They will sell prints separately)

As far as what's used in the movies.... they have a few different configurations of the costumes, and have tons of assistants constantly working on the costumes during shooting... sometimes literally sewing the actors into the suit temporarily. Most of us "amateurs" don't have that luxury.... we need something that will work time and time again without frequent maintenance.

 

[Inspidered]

Re: Egon's Spider-man costume progress and advice thread- Help needed!!!

So just too be clear what zipper has the best comfort, looks the best and just is the best? Lol

 

[peterparker]

Re: Egon's Spider-man costume progress and advice thread- Help needed!!!

Is it possible for this invisible zipper to be reinstalled so it's actually, "invisible" like a seam, or is this as good as it gets?

Yes, an invisible zipper should look MUCH more invisible than what is shown in your photo (hence the name "invisible"). Also, they didn't "line up" the top of the spider when they put your suit together.

 

[TrophyWife]

Re: Egon's Spider-man costume progress and advice thread- Help needed!!!

I've had U-zips for the past 6 years. I've always thought the main reason the U-zip gained popularity was not due to anything having to do to mobility... I thought it was because the zipper was best "hidden" in the U-configuration.

In my humble opinion, U-zips have some serious drawbacks. For one, zippers aren't designed to take a "curve" in their path very well... when you get down to belt level with the zipper and go "around the bend", the zipper is being asked to do too much. Expect frequent zipper replacements if you wear the costume often enough.

The other drawback is that you are "locked in" to the waist size of the costume... if it's not perfectly sized (or if your waistline grows bigger while you have the costume), that zipper across the lower back is what "locks" you into the waist size of the costume. There really is little "give" , if any, due to that back beltline zipper.

My most recent tailor (the past 2 years) has a tremendous amount of experience sewing costumes for productions/Broadway, including bodysuits similar to what we use in Spider-Man costumes. He is so fed up with the U shape zippers he may never do one for me again!

I often need to zip up by myself.... The U-shape allows you to do that (but sometimes need assistance when the zipper track starts to get trashed "around the bend"). I had a center spine zipper 12 years ago, and rigged up a small hook and a length of string to pull the zipper down/up when I didn't have someone around to help zip it. I'm ordering an center spine zip right now from Frontier Costumes.... I'll let you all know how it goes when I get it. Frontier Costumes won't sell a sewn suit unless it's with the center spine zipper. (They will sell prints separately)

As far as what's used in the movies.... they have a few different configurations of the costumes, and have tons of assistants constantly working on the costumes during shooting... sometimes literally sewing the actors into the suit temporarily. Most of us "amateurs" don't have that luxury.... we need something that will work time and time again without frequent maintenance.

Yes exactly!!!! Invisible zippers are finicky enough as is....add in lycra spandex and a 90 degree turn it can be no good after a long time. Especially if you are bigger than a 31/32 inch waist

Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk

 

[tanman96]

Re: Egon's Spider-man costume progress and advice thread- Help needed!!!

Any big tips on sewing the hands?

 

[Egon Spengler]

Re: Egon's Spider-man costume progress and advice thread- Help needed!!!

Well, my suit was sent to Trophywife and she's finished up installing a zipper for the mask, a zipper for the back and a zipper in each wrist. So excited about getting this back. The progress photos were great and she constantly gave me good updates on my suit.

With that said I've been working on a web back pack for my costume. I didn't want to go the normal route of covering a hard shape with string, glue, or plastic lace. I figured that Spider-mans backpack would be kind of soft considering it's made from webbing and he probably wouldn't want to fall on a hard form. For that I bought a pillow, pulled the corners into the center of the pillow and sewed them in place, rounding off the pillow until I got the shape I wanted. I was going to use plastic lace originally and glue it all to the pillow but because of the flexible form of the pillow they wouldn't stay put. I then just decided to put a web pattern over the entire pillow form with hot glue and then paint over it with watered down silver metallic acrylic paint. After that I used a black permanent marker and went over it lightly again, following the web pattern. After that I coated it in clear rubber sealant. Looks great! Just working on getting the straps to look more web like now. I LOVE how it turned out and cannot wait to wear it with my suit.

Some pictures.

 

[Lunaman]

Re: Egon's Spider-man costume progress and advice thread- Help needed!!!

That looks WONDERFUL!

 

[Egon Spengler]

Re: Egon's Spider-man costume progress and advice thread- Help needed!!!

Thanks!