Human Huntress - wip

[kehlan1]

Finally started work on my huntress outfit. Ive wanted to do one for years and never had the guts as I am... how do I put this nicely... not the most slender of girls. but I was at an event in Leicester (UK) at Easter and met a girl called Marie. She was tubbier than me and not only did she look fantastic, but she got no negative comments whatsoever (which is as it should be) and she made me realise that I could do it if I wanted to. So thanks Marie, and here goes!
I managed to find a fantastic leather bra/crop top on ebay, its perfect for what I need. I also picked up a fishnet body stocking, and have to say that its the dodgiest item I've ever had to look for on ebay, some of the pics were nothing short of obscene, lol.
So anyway, moving swiftly on from the trauma of that, I also got some lovely pieces of black leather hide and this morning, turned them into a leather skirt, in the wrap around style, keeping the natural ragged edges of the leather.
Ive got some worbla and have some foam on order, not sure yet which I will use for what. I suspect for a first attempt the foam will be easier to work with, but we will see. Meanwhile,I am studying Vinman's threads and his fantastic templates and plotting and scheming how to acheive this.
I'm just trying to figure out how to upload photos here. Not sure if I have to put them online first as cant see a way of inserting direct from my computer.

 

[A Hunters Moon]

Glad to hear you're joining the fray. Concerning your photos . . . Click on the picture icon above the text that you're typing. Then paste a url from a photo sharing site like photobucket etc.

 

[predtrooper]

Does annyone actually order a fishnet boddy stocking for its intended purpose or is it only predators that order them ? And do the company's that make them realise ?

 

[kehlan1]

Predtrooper,I did wonder what they would say if they knew. Anyway, heres a pic. I hasten to add, the mask in the pic is NOT the one I will be using with the outfit, I just put it on for fun with the photo. I am also wearing a flesh coloured body suit underneath and am really pleased because it doesnt show at all.

 

[predtrooper]

Starting to look the part ! I got a funny look of my girlfriend when my fishnet body stocking arrived in the post luckily it was for her costume

 

[Arktic]

Hey - glad you've taken the plunge and decided to start making your costume.

Could you post a link (or send a PM) for the fishnet catsuit on eBay? I bought one, but it doesn't look anywhere near as good as the one in your picture!

One thought, how stretchy is it? I'm 6' 7" tall... do you think it'd fit me? Thanks!

 

[spgfx]

I'm also interested in your net suit. I have purchased a few trying to get the best look. I got 1 that's not bad but it's 2 pieces and I'm always looking for something better.

 

[kehlan1]

hope I am allowed to post links to ebay, if not my apologies... this is the one I bought. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Fishnet-M...-Net-Long-Sleeve-Black-One-Size-/251947858584?

Arktic, I think it should fit you, there's plenty of stretch in it. although be warned, when it come out the packet it looks like it wouldn't fit a Barbie doll... a huntress Barbie of course ;-) I remember holding it up and thinking I wouldn't even get my big toe into it.

Meanwhile, I have ordered some resin, liquid latex and fimo and once it arrives am going to play with making a ceremonial dagger and if that goes well, a spear, although I will hopefully use warbla for parts of the spear. Should be fun as Ive never cast anything that isn't flat on one side. Cue lots of youtube video watching.

Also ordered a mask, I found a nice airsoft one at a reasonable price so am hoping it will do the job for now. Meanwhile, on with the weight loss regime, I do not intend to be a fat huntress!

 

[spgfx]

This is a UK shipped item so the shipping is a bit in the expensive side for a test fit. I have tried 3 or 4 of the full body things and the biggest problem is height. I'm 6 foot and that really stretches these to their limits for the net pattern. They work and look better when stretched with weight then height. I ended up with 2 pieces. A fishnet pantyhose on my legs and a fishnet body stocking worn backwards (head thru crotch) for the top. I know it sounds funny but the net patterns and size matched up and it did it look like it was all stretched out. I can dig up the eBay items if you r interested in going this route.

 

[kehlan1]

How much are they charging? If it helps I don't mind sending it on for you? If I take it out of the packet it should fit in a smallish padded envelope, I'll ask the post office what if would cost to send... are you in the USA?

 

[HunterKong]

Looks good so far.

 

[A Hunters Moon]

Looking good. Time for some armor!

 

[kehlan1]

The foam I ordered arrived and there begins the first problem. ITs unbelievably flimsy, there is no way its going to hold shape. I got 2mm foam because I thought thicker stuff would be too thick when the layers were added, but not sure this is going to work. I have some Worbla, which is only 1mm thick, might try layering them together. I dunno, maybe when its glued and painted it might be a bit more rigid.

any thoughts on the best way of tackling this? Is there anything I can spray with to stiffen it up a bit?

I intend to start by making the belt buckle, because its rectangular, no curves and hopefully fairly easy, then make the shoulder bell thingies. Ive downloaded Vinman's templates, was looking at the thigh armour, looks like there might be part of the template missing, will have a go at drawing it by hand.

On a side note, was watching one of those ghost hunter programs last night, they were investigating some monastery place where a load of people were kidnapped by Indians (nine men's misery) and their bodies were found skinned, headless and hanging in the trees. I just looked at my husband and said "And they blame the Indians for this? We know better" Maybe I'm just spending too much time on a Predator forum, lol.

 

[Arktic]

Hey,

The 2mm foam is, as you've guessed, not going to be strong enough to form the major components of your armour. People generally use foam that's between 5 and 10mm thick, at least as the basis for the armour. The 2mm foam is great for adding details / texture / greebles on the top of the thicker foam.

In terms of stiffening up, there's not a lot you can do with the 2mm foam. When you prime/seal the foam with either PVA or Plastidip, it'll harden a little, but you'll struggle to get it to hold its shape whilst it's drying, if it's just the 2mm foam on its own.

Are you UK based? If so, Argos sell a blue camping mat which is about 8mm thick, which I'm using as the main foam for my armour - I think it costs about a fiver. Halfords also sell the slightly firmer floor-tile foam mats which are about 10mm, which are much easier to sand into shape.

 

[kehlan1]

thanks for the recommendations, getting into either Halfords or Argos should be easy. question though, obviously much less flimsy but how do you get them to retain the shape? (sorry, this is completely new to me)

 

[Denixboy]

If the helmet is not a bit too small?
Looks a bit like Sido.

 

[kehlan1]

Denixboy, its WAY too small... its a cheap plastic children's one that I had hanging on the wall, I just put it on for fun for the photo.I wont be using it with the actual costume.

The knife by the way, is actually the knife from the Alternate Universe episode of Star Trek, again, was just having a bit of fun with it, hubby wouldnt let me play with his katana for some reason.... can't think why ;-)

 

[Denixboy]

haha, ok great shoot ;-)

 

[Arktic]

There are a couple of different ways to get the foam into the right shape. The denser floor mat type foam holds curves pretty well if you heat it with a hot air gun, and let it cool whilst holding it into the right shape.

You can also cut the edges at angles so that when you glue the pieces together, they form the right curve/shape. If you're using foam pepakura templates, it should be pretty easy to see where you need to cut the edges at angles, depending on how they're going to sit on the finished product.

You can also hold the foam into a curve, and fill the back of the curved piece with some hot glue - when the glue sets, the foam will be glued into place. So for example, to get this curve in the bio-mask piece to hold

I've filled the back with hot glue to hold the curve

You don't really need as much as that, just a couple of lines from one side to the other is usually enough, resulting in something like this

There are plenty of foam tutorials out there - in particular, I recommend this thread on the RPF - which is a great starting point for the basic techniques, as well as having a boatload of foam pep files.

Hope this helps

Cheers.

 

[kehlan1]

Thanks for this, Arktic, much appreciated.