Max Replica
Well-Known Member
This isn't so much a "build" thread as it is a "buy" thread, since I'll be buying and assembling most of this costume, and letting other folks that I purchase from do most of the building (with some modifications by me).
Anyway, here's my Judge Dredd (comic book version) in progress. Updates will be sporadic and infrequent but I will have the whole thing done and ready to wear for this year's San Diego Comic-Con.
BILLY CLUB (aka "day stick")
I bought a genuine wood police baton online. Dredd is sometimes depicted with a more modern straight stick, but he usually has the more old-school shape so that's what I opted for. I've got one extra one too if someone needs one. (just PM me). The only thing I don't like about this particular club is the flat end, which I plan to sand to round it off.
BOOTS
Like the great costumes created for Judge Minty, I went with some motocross boots. Not the same boots they used for Minty, but very similar.
The problem with motocross boots is that they are not made for walking, they're made to protect your feet while you ride, and they're very uncomfortable to walk in for more than a few minutes (it's kind of like walking in ski boots).
I have a very talented shoe maker and leather expert that I work with and he showed me the problem: Between the sole of the boot and where your foot rests is a very hard plastic piece, with a metal shank. So we removed the sole of the boot, took out the hard piece and then put on a new rugged boot sole. The boots are still a bit stiff overall, but WAY more comfortable than they were before. We also added a little height to make me taller (more Dredd-like) without it being an obvious platform shoe.
Here are some photos of the boots as I bought them:
View attachment 52518View attachment 52517View attachment 52516
Some pictures of the sole removed, as well as the hard plastic midsole:
View attachment 52519
Another shot of the white midsole that we removed (you can barely see the metal piece inside):
View attachment 52520
The new soles, now much more comfortable and much more Dredd-like:
View attachment 52521
I will be removing the logos from the boots, putting on some Dredd-style toe caps and painting them green. More on those as they develop.
THE LEATHERS
Like the Minty costumes, I decided against doing a one-piece leather suit. They're more expensive, hotter, harder to get to fit properly, and harder to get in and out of.
Instead, I'll be using a leather jacket and leather pants combo, with the utility belt used to hide the seam between the two. With any luck, it will look like a one-piece outfit.
Since this would be a bespoke/custom jacket, I decided to contact South Beach Leather about having one made to my specs. I've bought from them many times before since I feel like they offer the best value for money for leather (I know that others have had problems with them in the past, but I've ordered about ten items from them over the years, with few problems).
I needed a jacket with no pockets whatsoever, a single zipper up the middle, no seams on the back and a v-shape/athletic fit. One thing I like about SBL is that their items can be ordered to custom sizes at no extra charge (though custom-made items are not returnable, obviously). I ordered this jacket in a very tight fit, but it could easily be ordered a little looser.
SBL's prices have gone up a bit recently, but I still think the price I paid for this custom-made jacket was less than I could've gotten it for elsewhere, and the leather is very good quality.
Note about back seams: It can be rare to find an inexpensive leather jacket with no seams on the back, but I wanted it for this. It usually adds expense to a jacket because it means that a single very large piece of leather with no flaws must be used for the back of the jacket, as opposed to two smaller pieces of leather stitched together.
The jacket features a zipper that stops just below the stand-up collar (similar to how Dredd is usually drawn) and the collar is 1 1/4" high.
I am currently talking to SBL about adding this item to their website for other fans to order, so let me know if you would be interested in one.
They also offer leather pants that can be ordered with no pockets and no belt loops to finish off the faux one-piece leather outfit look.
I will soon be sewing some velcro onto the jacket in order to attach my shoulderpads and badge.
View attachment 52522View attachment 52523View attachment 52525
View attachment 52524
FACE:
I'm probably going to do a false chin for this costume as well, inspired by Mr. Bungle's efforts.
MORE INFO ON OTHER PARTS OF MY COSTUME COMING SOON...
Anyway, here's my Judge Dredd (comic book version) in progress. Updates will be sporadic and infrequent but I will have the whole thing done and ready to wear for this year's San Diego Comic-Con.
BILLY CLUB (aka "day stick")
I bought a genuine wood police baton online. Dredd is sometimes depicted with a more modern straight stick, but he usually has the more old-school shape so that's what I opted for. I've got one extra one too if someone needs one. (just PM me). The only thing I don't like about this particular club is the flat end, which I plan to sand to round it off.
BOOTS
Like the great costumes created for Judge Minty, I went with some motocross boots. Not the same boots they used for Minty, but very similar.
The problem with motocross boots is that they are not made for walking, they're made to protect your feet while you ride, and they're very uncomfortable to walk in for more than a few minutes (it's kind of like walking in ski boots).
I have a very talented shoe maker and leather expert that I work with and he showed me the problem: Between the sole of the boot and where your foot rests is a very hard plastic piece, with a metal shank. So we removed the sole of the boot, took out the hard piece and then put on a new rugged boot sole. The boots are still a bit stiff overall, but WAY more comfortable than they were before. We also added a little height to make me taller (more Dredd-like) without it being an obvious platform shoe.
Here are some photos of the boots as I bought them:
View attachment 52518View attachment 52517View attachment 52516
Some pictures of the sole removed, as well as the hard plastic midsole:
View attachment 52519
Another shot of the white midsole that we removed (you can barely see the metal piece inside):
View attachment 52520
The new soles, now much more comfortable and much more Dredd-like:
View attachment 52521
I will be removing the logos from the boots, putting on some Dredd-style toe caps and painting them green. More on those as they develop.
THE LEATHERS
Like the Minty costumes, I decided against doing a one-piece leather suit. They're more expensive, hotter, harder to get to fit properly, and harder to get in and out of.
Instead, I'll be using a leather jacket and leather pants combo, with the utility belt used to hide the seam between the two. With any luck, it will look like a one-piece outfit.
Since this would be a bespoke/custom jacket, I decided to contact South Beach Leather about having one made to my specs. I've bought from them many times before since I feel like they offer the best value for money for leather (I know that others have had problems with them in the past, but I've ordered about ten items from them over the years, with few problems).
I needed a jacket with no pockets whatsoever, a single zipper up the middle, no seams on the back and a v-shape/athletic fit. One thing I like about SBL is that their items can be ordered to custom sizes at no extra charge (though custom-made items are not returnable, obviously). I ordered this jacket in a very tight fit, but it could easily be ordered a little looser.
SBL's prices have gone up a bit recently, but I still think the price I paid for this custom-made jacket was less than I could've gotten it for elsewhere, and the leather is very good quality.
Note about back seams: It can be rare to find an inexpensive leather jacket with no seams on the back, but I wanted it for this. It usually adds expense to a jacket because it means that a single very large piece of leather with no flaws must be used for the back of the jacket, as opposed to two smaller pieces of leather stitched together.
The jacket features a zipper that stops just below the stand-up collar (similar to how Dredd is usually drawn) and the collar is 1 1/4" high.
I am currently talking to SBL about adding this item to their website for other fans to order, so let me know if you would be interested in one.
They also offer leather pants that can be ordered with no pockets and no belt loops to finish off the faux one-piece leather outfit look.
I will soon be sewing some velcro onto the jacket in order to attach my shoulderpads and badge.
View attachment 52522View attachment 52523View attachment 52525
View attachment 52524
FACE:
I'm probably going to do a false chin for this costume as well, inspired by Mr. Bungle's efforts.
MORE INFO ON OTHER PARTS OF MY COSTUME COMING SOON...
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