Kayla's Mini Build (Comikaze First Hunt/playdate Last Page)

[HAL1138]

Originally, DarthWill and I were going to have our two daughters as Marines to compliment our Yautja when we trooped around. Although our oldest, Zoe, is very excited to be stomping around in camo with a huge gatling gun at her side and fighting the "evil" predators, our youngest wanted to follow in her parents footsteps. (In truth, it was watching Predators dancing to Gungnam Style on Youtube that did the trick) In her words, "I want to be Predator.... I am awesome!" Being a pushover to my 3 year old's dream of being a brutal alien hunter when she grows up, I gave no resistance. Does that make me a bad parent?

Anyhoo... here is Kayla's mini build!

I decided to make her costume simple. No muscle suit, although that would have been adorable, but way too hot with added armor for a 3 year old. I will be making her an airbrushed suit but will do that later after I find a comfortable light material that won't over heat her.

This is Kayla

Fun with craft foam (two different thicknesses 2mm and 6mm)

Shin guard with velcro closure

Shin guard and chest armor primed

Kayla's trying on her armor

Chest armor painted. I was going to do it in the hammered silver, but decided to let Kayla choose considering it is for her. In the end, she chose the hammered brown with silver highlights. I will also put blue detailing on the finished product due to it being her favorite color.

Not sure if I will be making a cannon for her. William thinks I should wait and see how the dreads workout before we add on more bulk. I may make one for photoshoots, but that easily comes off to troop around.

 

[MiamiSett]

Great detail on the mini armor.  It's gonna be a big hit when complete.  Looking forward to seeing more pics.

 

[HAL1138]

Really productive week! Got so much done and hoping to get more to show tomorrow.

Doing a sort of mock half-mask for Kayla. out of craft foam and fabric.

In the kitchen cooking dreads today. Really started getting the hang of it by the middle of the session. I am feeling more confident for when it comes to William and my Predator.

Added holes for the dreads today. Total of 40 with 5/8" backer rod

Starting to get that Preddy feeling!

I was going to make Kayla an airbrushed bodysuit, but decided to cheat and just buy some printed knit fabric. She wanted to be a blue Yautja so got some blue leopard for her. I may add some light gray-white to her tummy later, but for now I'm happy with it.

Tomorrow I'm hoping to get the Bio done.

 

[HAL1138]

So got the bio done today and.... It wasn't exactly as I planned.

There were some great surprises and some not so great. But the ending product is growing on me so I think I may keep it as is and not repaint.

Anyway.... here's the journey of Kayla's Bio.

The pattern was pretty simple, most of it was trial and error and I wasn't going with any cannon bio. Just having fun and experimenting.

Wanted to do a little tribute to another one of Kayla's passions... How to Train Your Dragon. So I made some simple dragon scales out of oven hardening clay. And found a neat little thing at the craft store. Textured craft foam... Awesome!

Super late last night William was browsing through the How Toos on Youtube and stumbled upon an instruction video on heating and molding craft foam. Never thought it would be that effective but the video was impressive and I had to try. Needless to say, I was thrilled with the result on the bottom half of the bio. Super easy and really made the Preddy look! HAPPY DANCE!! I was going to put some vents under the cheek bone of the bio but loved the rounded look the heated foam made so much, I didn't have the heart to cut into it.

Primed and painted...

Added copper highlights and little detailing. William laughed at me because even though I never plan it, I always seem to lean towards the color combo of gold, copper, and black. Don't know why... just happens whenever I built something...

Now the bad part...
I knew it was a mistake. Something inside me told me not to do it, and I had an inner battle for at least 45 minutes. The brown, copper, and gold paint job just looked so pretty I didn't really want to mess it up. Keep it all clean and pretty for my little girl. But the grime monkey in me won the battle and I went to work of giving the bio a little weathering.

I don't know if it was the heat from the lamp, the awful windy weather or the fact that I didn't put enough water in the black wash but...... It turned out frightfully dark. YIKES!!!!

What do you guys think? Should I leave it as is or repaint?

 

[HAL1138]

Small update this time around. I was hoping to get both wrist armor done this past weekend but it took me a whole 6 hours just finishing one. YIKES! Here it is put together and primed. I also finished Kayla's dreads but will take a picture after I have decorated them. She looked rather cute though, sporting them will riding her tricycle!

 

[A Hunters Moon]

Well, this is just cool.  Awesome that you're girls want to be involved as well.  Very neat build and great work so far.  Got to love foamies!

 

[oxtheii]

That is so cool and super cute. She reminds me a lot of myself when I was that young, she looks so excited and her costume is amazing. You're an awesome parent can't sit to see more updates!

 

[HAL1138]

It's 1:00 in the morning and like any normal costume Vet, I am still up putting the final touches on Kayla's Preddy before her debut at Wonder Con today. Some habits never die...

I still haven't made shoulder armor for her costume, but have decided that can wait for another time. That and perhaps a bone necklace. I was able to solve her little "too heavy of dread rings" problem, and am pretty happy with the costume. I will post some pictures of her trooping the Con Sunday night for anyone who is interested.

Until then, here are some pictures of the items I completed this week.

Baby Preddy Feet

Her loin cloth and chest straps

Finished helmet and dreads

Happy Hunting everyone!

 

[Chasing Coyote]

wow that is awsome good work 

 

[Lowdmekon]

Looking good matie, can wait to see some pictures of the finished suit. You'll have to share the secrecy to bending and moulding the craft foam.

 

[AlphaTech686]

Ok this is one lucky little girl. This is an awesome build, tiny but awesome.

 

[HAL1138]

Hey everyone! WonderCon was great fun and Kayla was a HUGE hit! We were there late Saturday and by Sunday morning we had learned that she was all over Twitter and Instagram. People were actually searching the Con Sunday in hopes of spotting her.

Here are some highlights...

These are the pictures that are all over the internet if you GOOGLE baby predator.

Look at Da cheeks! They brought unified "ahhhh"s from the crowds every time she disengaged her bio.

The guy that took this picture is an incredible Cosplay photographer and offered to do a free session with both kids at the Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden. Should be awesome!

Sneaking up on WALL-E

In Daddy's arms (DarthWill)

Kayla with my droid HAL-1138

Kayla IN William's droid...

Richard Hatch ran out of his signing booth to get a picture of baby Preddy.

These guys are awesome... They gave Kayla a signed set of one of their children book sets. And one of them is even inspired to write one of "Kayla, the baby Predator". Hoping to see it happen!

This was pretty much how it was everywhere she went...

Random fun and awesome

And they are all so cute until they start collecting your skull.....

So sleepy

Baby Predator and her most prized trophy of the 2 day hunt... A deflating balloon that she caught outside.

Happy Hunting!!!!

 

[HAL1138]

Just to let everyone know, I am not done.

I still will be making her a Combi Stick, skull necklace, and detachable shoulder cannon. 

May or not add netting and shoulder armor.  

 

[A Hunters Moon]

This is all kinds of awesome.   Really great work.  It looks like you guys had a fantastic time and she enjoyed herself.  Not to mention the little huntress was a hit.  So going up on our facebook. 

 

[Justin sic]

This is awesome! Love it!

 

[ancientpredator]

Aww... indeed a baby predator. And.. she had a great hunt and prize 2!

 

[Mr Fett]

The cutest little Pred I've seen! Well done!

 

[Chasing Coyote]

awsomeness happy she enjoyed her first hunt with many more to come i guess

 

[KmikzeKen]

Such a creative build, glad to see it was such a big hit!

 

[Kithunter]

this build is so badass....she looks amazing