Help wanted: Wookiee costume

[Tony Rotherham]

Okay as I am new to this I don't really know what the hell i am doing , but i would appreciate some adcise.
I am looking to build/make a Wookie costume and have no idea where to get the materials from.

" You must be mad "

I hear you all saying and perhaps you are right .It is just that I have friends that have been involved with various Star Wars groups and the one thing that is missing is Wookies.
I have seen plenty of Stormtroopers, Sandpeople, eben a detatchment of Jawas but hardly any Wookies.
So i would be most gratefull if someone, anyone could point me in the right direction where to obtain the right stuff.
The main problem is I am in the UK and it is very hard to find anything here that even comes close unless one of you good people out there can help me I think I may be pretty stuffed.
I have seen ready to buy Wookie outfits and to be honest they all look like overgrown Ewoks and I am afraid that will not do for me .
I am looking for the materials to make a kick arse costume so if there is anyone out there who can help please don't hesitate to contact me
Cheers
Tony

 

[Coz]

Re: Help wanted

Hi Tony! Welcome aboard! Nice to see more of us UK guys arriving!

I'm sure someone will chime in with a link or three, but I'm sure I remember a couple of Chewie / wookiee costumes here on the board. A forum search should bring 'em up.

For hair, I've seen some long fun fur that was a brown-black mix - not correct, but I've wondered about it, for a quickie costume.

Here's a great online resource, runs down everything from hair to Chewies Y-fronts:
http://rebellegion.com/chewie/

Alright, I was kidding about the Y-fronts.

He's a boxers guy.

Good luck!
C.

 

[Treadwell]

Re: Help wanted

I took the liberty of making the thread title give people an idea what the thread's about.

 

[RoCKo]

i know it´s a german site, but it has some real good tutorial and great pictures on it...

http://wookiee.de/

also check the link section!

 

[Apollo]

See if The Wook will give you any tips!

His costume fooled Mark Hamill! :thumbsup

 

[LoNeR]

And with this?

 

[Combat Gerbil]

Also Take a look at http://www.makingwookie.co.uk/
This should give you some pointers.. and he's a Brit too.

 

[Tony Rotherham]

Re: Help wanted

Hi Coz
Thank's for that i am already aware of this site and found it really interesting.
A very informative read

Hi Tony! Welcome aboard! Nice to see more of us UK guys arriving!

I'm sure someone will chime in with a link or three, but I'm sure I remember a couple of Chewie / wookiee costumes here on the board. A forum search should bring 'em up.

For hair, I've seen some long fun fur that was a brown-black mix - not correct, but I've wondered about it, for a quickie costume.

Here's a great online resource, runs down everything from hair to Chewies Y-fronts:
http://rebellegion.com/chewie/

Alright, I was kidding about the Y-fronts.

He's a boxers guy.

Good luck!
C.

 

[Tony Rotherham]

Thank's RoCKo
If I could read German this site I am sure would be great, they have some great images and some (not all) of the costumes look great

i know it´s a german site, but it has some real good tutorial and great pictures on it...

http://wookiee.de/

also check the link section!

 

[Tony Rotherham]

Hi Gerbil
I have spent a long time on this site, this guy really does know what he is doing and this is what I am trying to achiece although i do think his costume is a little to primped and combed.
I suppose i am looking for a more weathered Wookie look, not so clean.

Also Take a look at http://www.makingwookie.co.uk/
This should give you some pointers.. and he's a Brit too.

 

[DaddyfromNaboo]

Hi Gerbil
I have spent a long time on this site, this guy really does know what he is doing and this is what I am trying to achieve although i do think his costume is a little to primped and combed.
I suppose i am looking for a more weathered Wookie look, not so clean.

Ah, I´ve seen that costume at CE, and while very well done, it´s a really "broad" interpretation of Chewie.

A guy in a Wookiee costume won the Celebration Europe adult costume contest, and he didn´t look like Chewie at all, but slapped a custom Wookiee Warrior Bandolier/armour piece on. It looked great, and I think that is the way to go for many folks. Chewie has IMO a very distinctive look that is hard to nail, and I´ve only seen two Chewies that exactly nailed it. There are a few runner ups, but also a few that look like awesome wookiee warriors without their armour.

But then, I personally would be more like a Lumpy if I´d decide to make a Wookiee costume, so I can only admire all those who are tall enough to pull any Wookiee off

Michael

 

[Darth Stone]

I too have often thought of doing a Wookiee. But just to many other projects half done right now to even think about it. I did however find this site that offers some very fine man made fibers.
http://www.nftech.com/

 

[Tony Rotherham]

Cheers Darth Stone
I have been aware of this place for some time I think in fact they are the people who supplied the original Chewie hair,
I have already dropped them an email and i am waiting for a reply, but thank's anyway

I too have often thought of doing a Wookiee. But just to many other projects half done right now to even think about it. I did however find this site that offers some very fine man made fibers.
http://www.nftech.com/

 

[rickrickrick]

Just wanted to add my personal observations about NFT (National Fibre Technologies) ...

They are absolutely the best at what they do. It's where EVERYBODY in the motion picture biz goes for realistic hair, including Lucas, as you have noted. Because they DID do the wookiee hair, they know exactly what you need - color, length, texture, etc.

They are also the most frightfully expensive place on god's earth. Their material is sold by the square foot, not the yard like most ordinary fabric. That's only 12" x 12", little bigger than an average sheet of paper! Each square foot is custom knit to order (they also have some stock stuff, but not much), and they generally have sizeable minimums. Long turnaround times are routine, often months.

It will cost you thousands of dollars to cover a wookiee suit that is anywhere near to scale. ***Edit - Sorry, didn't notice before you are in the UK. Well, exchange rate is in your favor, anyway!***

This is not to discourage you from utilizing their services - just want you to know what you're in for. They are very good about sending out swatches, etc, and their customer service reps are very nice. But don't waste their time getting samples run up, etc, if you can't really commit the time and money. It's a small little specialty world, this hardcore costume biz, and I promise they WILL remember someone who burns them.

But it is BEAUTIFUL stuff...!

Good luck with your project.

Rick

 

[Tony Rotherham]

Yes I have realised that this is going to be a costly affair and i am looking at alternative products as I am sure there is no way I would be able to afford there prices, so if you know of any other fabric warehouses I would be grateful for any information.
Cheers

Just wanted to add my personal observations about NFT (National Fibre Technologies) ...

They are absolutely the best at what they do. It's where EVERYBODY in the motion picture biz goes for realistic hair, including Lucas, as you have noted. Because they DID do the wookiee hair, they know exactly what you need - color, length, texture, etc.

They are also the most frightfully expensive place on god's earth. Their material is sold by the square foot, not the yard like most ordinary fabric. That's only 12" x 12", little bigger than an average sheet of paper! Each square foot is custom knit to order (they also have some stock stuff, but not much), and they generally have sizeable minimums. Long turnaround times are routine, often months.

It will cost you thousands of dollars to cover a wookiee suit that is anywhere near to scale. ***Edit - Sorry, didn't notice before you are in the UK. Well, exchange rate is in your favor, anyway!***

This is not to discourage you from utilizing their services - just want you to know what you're in for. They are very good about sending out swatches, etc, and their customer service reps are very nice. But don't waste their time getting samples run up, etc, if you can't really commit the time and money. It's a small little specialty world, this hardcore costume biz, and I promise they WILL remember someone who burns them.

But it is BEAUTIFUL stuff...!

Good luck with your project.

Rick

 

[mfxreplicas]

http://www.nftech.com/

Supplied the fur for the last installments.
Best
Neill G

 

[takevin]

http://www.nftech.com/

Supplied the fur for the last installments.
Best
Neill G

thats been posted already, as said before, it will a few thousand for this, there are beauty supply places that carry synthetic hair which work very well and looks good too for just a few hundred. As ive done a chewbacca costume with a working jaw that opens and closes. This fall and winter ill be doing version 2.0 which will be nicer from what ive learned on my first one.