Kolchak: The Night Stalker - His Gear

[FANATICO]

Revisiting the Adapter Hardware Stack between the Flash and Tripod Adapter

Today, I received another flash shoe adapter to try out (pic top right). What I am trying to achieve is roughly the same width (height), between the bottom of the flash unit body, to the top of the camera body surface as Kolchak shows with his fingers snugly between the flash unit and camera.

So using different iterations of hardware (shown below) attaching and stacking.…I have settled on only using the Small Rig flash shoe (eBay), fastened with the hex 1/4 thread screw provided, directly onto the tripod adapter.

What’s great about being able to screw the flash shoe onto the tripod adapter, is the ability to tighten the flash shoe down while aligning it parallel and straight of the camera body and tripod adapter.

The other adapters won’t always align with the camera once they are tightened onto the tripod adapter. So that once you attach the flash unit….it’s misaligned and the flash unit is ****** either forward of the camera body or further back then the camera body.

It is what it is…..of course if one has thicker or bigger fingers, then a taller stack of adapters/hardware may be needed for your fingers to grasp in between the flash unit and camera.

Peace

 

[FANATICO]

Revisiting the Zombie Needle Book Pocket Sized Prop
Welp, I dove in and took my own suggestion, and DIY’d my own version of the the Kolchak Zombie Needle Book.

As you can see there are similarities. You can get everything pictured below at Michael’s, Hobby Lobby, Walmart (doesn’t have the leather piece nor the brown lace thread).

It turned out I used the needle from the needles kits I bought, so I could do the sewing with it.

For sure, buy the needles at Walmart (cheapest price)

My previous measurements went out the window based on the size of the leather piece that was available 9.5x3.5…
I used the entire piece. It’s ok…it fits comfortably for my hand size.

For the sewing….I pre-drilled the holes for the lace thread to be weaved in and out, the same diameter of the needle I was using…this way I didn’t have to struggle to punch through the felt pages and leather thickness with the needle itself. Doing it that way would surely have me misalign a straight sew line.

I realize the Kolchak version doesn’t have a felt pages stitch line in the leather at the fold, that I can see or notice. I suspect the felt pages were sewn together first and then the fold of the pages together was glued to the leather on the inside.

I can’t do regular sewing…I would have botched that too. Drilling and weaving was easier.

I’m HAPPY with how it turned out! Now all I need is a Zombo The Zombie to try out the needle. Perhaps at WonderCon

Note: In the scene where Kolchak is next to the Zombie’s body and prepping for sewing his mouth shut, he places a threaded curved needle temporarily straddling across the lips of his own mouth while preparing with the salt as well. The size of the curved needle is bigger than the biggest needle in the 4 pack. In fact it looks like for that scene, the needle looked exaggerated in size to the point it looks like a large piece of bare silver wire ….curved to appear as a needle from the needle book in the office scene. imo.

The largest and second largest curved needle in the 4 pack shown above will be big enough to straddle a human mouth. Depending on the size you make the felt pages, and by association the leather cover….you may not be able to store the largest needle onto the felt page..it’s huge. For my sizing, I’m able to use the second largest curved needle, on down through the rest of the needles, and that’s okay for me. It achieves the effect for both the office and Zombie body in the junkyard hearse scenes….

Peace

UPDATE: With some patience and little finesse, I managed to get the largest circular needle onto the felt page with a little rearranging. I’ve also added the white stitching thread/cord/lace, for greater effect…imo.

 

[FANATICO]

Kolchak matching Kolors essentials for any Kon

In this day and age, those that have been to any Kon know that your going to need something to carry some things. Also added to that, because of Covid, there are Kon’s still requiring that Masks are to be worn…..

Below are some Seersucker material options to consider from places such as Etsy, eBay, etc.

Myself, I’ve ordered the backpack (full-size) with the optional monogramming to read N. Kolchak in a Times font.
Of course the initial N. is for Nelson….. as previously posted, Nelson Kolchak is a Carl Kolchak family member (nephew) persona I created for myself to follow in Kolchak’s footsteps.

I’ll be at WonderKon, Seersucker suited up …. for April Fool’s Day!

Peace

 

[FANATICO]

Is the pen mightier than the sword? …..it is when your a Reporter!

Another Pocket Prop….

Below are screenshots of Kolchak’s Pen? Felt Pen? or Mechanical Pencil?

What writing implement could have been what Kolchak was using? Because of the circular white tip at the cap….I suspect it’s a black mechanical pencil with a white eraser or a Paper Mate Flair felt pen with the circular white tip on the cap.

In my searching first for the mechanical pencil by different brands to was to no avail. Some mechanical pencils have a metal cover you pull off to expose the eraser. If that’s the case….then it could be any mfg. So far as I can tell Pentel put out mechanical pencils showing white eraser’s….still no luck as to getting close to matching Kolchak’s.

More pondering….what about erasable pens? from the 70’s….nothing came close.

Lastly was the Paper Mate felt tip pen that’s always been known for the white tipped cover end…..

Below..I found this on eBay….

Barring an exact match, by someone else, to what Kolchak is using, I think this is close enough to looking like Kolchak’s. So I got it…

Below, In comparison most folks remember the white X tip version, but before that, there was the white full circular inset version made in the late 60’s to mid 70’s if I’m correct. It certainty has the Kolchak pen “look”.

Peace

 

[publiusr]

They used to be ribbed.

 

[FANATICO]

They used to be ribbed.

It is …..

Peace

 

[FANATICO]

Kolchak Kosplay Pocket Props

Below is what I have gathered in the last few months. Enough for any Kon I’d say.

The only Pocket Prop that is an exact match to an On Screen Kolchak Used prop, is the Aliens hunting Boy Scouts of America compass. The rest are Close Enough’s…

There’s possibly other Kolchak Pocket Props, I’d have to binge the episodes again…

Below are my Kolchak Kosplay Pocket Props with associated episodes (some props are in multiple episodes) that provided the most zoomed in detail…. in my opinion.

Black leather cover for spiral memo pad - The Werewolf
Brown leather cover and green felt needle book with curved needles and stitching lace - The Zombie
Boy Scouts of America compass - They Have Been, They Are, They Will Be
Penlight - The Devil’s Platform
Black bifold double windowed leather wallet, Press pass, and Business card - They Have Been, They Are, They Will Be
Keys (Car?) (with unseen key fob?, serial number tab zip tie?) - The Vampire
Shirt pocket Pen with white tip on cover (Paper Mate Flair felt tip pen?, erasable pen?, mechanical pencil?) - The Ripper

Peace

 

[FANATICO]

Today was a BLAST at WonderCon….

People who remembered Kolchak were calling out his name when seeing me walk the isles. I was stopped several times for my picture to be taken….of course, I would strike poses.

Talk about 15 minutes of fame…..of course, once back home, Reality set in.

Some folks where unaware of this year being the 50th Year Anniversary of the Kolchak: The Night Stalker TV Series.

Welp… I present my alter ego, Nelson Kolchak….Nephew of Carl Kolchak.

Someone approached me who is involved in Kickstarter having to do with an Anthology of Kolchak. You can also enter a storyline about Kolchak. See the link for better details: Kolchak Book Kickstarter

Next Up? Comic-Con

I’ll be there.

Peace

 

[animator]

You look fantastic!

 

[FANATICO]

You look fantastic!

Thanks!

It took some research, gathering work, and more $$$ than I ever spent on a costume. But…..it was worth it for me to see the smiles on people’s faces, to jog their memories of the Original Monsters Hunter!

I had also played back audio clips for some folks, that I compiled from some episodes, and then recorded them onto the cassette tape of Kolchak’s recorder,……they thought that was so cool to hear Kolchak’s voice on the TC-55.

Kolchak has name recognition.

It will be my kostume for Kon’s to kome

Long Live…..Kolchak: The Night Stalker!

Happy 50th Anniversary! (TV Series), Uncle Carl.

Your Nephew,
Nelson Kolchak

Peace

 

[Jintosh]

You put the time and money into that costume, and it shows. Awesome costume, and that is so cool that the fans recognized you. That's the icing on the cake.

 

[FANATICO]

You put the time and money into that costume, and it shows. Awesome costume, and that is so cool that the fans recognized you. That's the icing on the cake.

Thanx!

Icing on the Kake is satisfying.

Thanks to all on this thread for the motivation, insight, and previous experiences of the members… for me to use, to achieve my goal.

I still need to post, at some point, my journey with the Seersucker suit and some specifics.

Peace

 

[FANATICO]

As for the hat

I purchased the Raffia straw hat ($33) at Elis Western Wear….unfortunately, not only do they no longer carry it, their supplier/MFG M&F Western no longer makes it.

This particular hat, had a suede hatband that was rubber glued to the base of the crown.
It was a tedious task to partly cut away and also rub the glue off. I had to be extremely careful not to cut and fray the straw. Time consuming it was….

I managed to find a haberdashery (hat maker) in San Diego that was able to re-block the hat and then also make the hatband. I was told that the hatband material needed had to be made of 100% rayon, as it is the best material to bend with heat to form the curvature needed to conform to the coning shape of the hat crown. Also, some of these types of hats, have a certain type of brim wire going around the entire circumference of the brim just were the brim edge straw is bent over and stitched …..once shaped, they can be unforgiving to bend any other way…it’s like memory wire, it tends to bend back to its original manufactured shape. Hence achieving a brim that is turned up somewhat near the edge of the brim like Kolchak was not totally accomplished….but as we already know, Kolchak wore different hats with different brim shapes.

The overall look of my hat was not reflected in my Kon pictures in my previous post…..below is the Before and After.

Peace

 

[Jintosh]

I'm putting together an 8 inch Kolchak figure. I can't find a Seersucker suit, so I bought a white one, and am going to dye it a light blue.

 

[FANATICO]

I'm putting together an 8 inch Kolchak figure. I can't find a Seersucker suit, so I bought a white one, and am going to dye it a light blue.

That ought to look koooool …. looking forward to seeing your Kolchak Mini Me! Blue material works when you can’t find doll making materials exactly for that scale….I’ve seen for 1/6 figures pinstripe suits, but not in Kolchak striped colors either.

Blue is a color that can connect to Kolchak.

Btw….Google search words …..

Blue and White Ticking Stripe Fabric​

Perhaps you can find a tight density of very thin stripes.

Here’s a factoid:

What is ticking stripe fabric?

Ticking is usually made from 100% cotton or a blend of cotton and linen yarns in a herringbone weave…
In a ticking stripe you have the central coloured, broad stripe with a thin stripe either side usually in the same colour - this gives the illusion of a wider stripe without it being too bold.In a ticking stripe you have the central coloured, broad stripe with a thin stripe either side usually in the same colour - this gives the illusion of a wider stripe without it being too bold.

Good Luck

Peace

 

[Jintosh]

There's a website : classictvtoys.com and I got an 8 inch poseable figure. (headless) a white shirt and tie, white pants and suit jacket (which I'll dye a light blue)

On eBay, I got white tennis shoes and a 3D printed Kolchak head. (I have to color the Kolchak head, as it is currently all one color)

I'll probably 3D print a camera and recorder at this scale.

 

[FANATICO]

There's a website : classictvtoys.com and I got an 8 inch poseable figure. (headless) a white shirt and tie, white pants and suit jacket (which I'll dye a light blue)

On eBay, I got white tennis shoes and a 3D printed Kolchak head. (I have to color the Kolchak head, as it is currently all one color)

I'll probably 3D print a camera and recorder at this scale.

There ya go….now your talking.

I’ve seen the blank Kolchak head and have been tempted, unfortunately I no longer have a steady hand to do some fine detailed painting. With my luck, he’ll end up looking like Quasimodo!

Peace

UPDATE: Additional factoid…….

1:9 Scale (approx. 8")​

This scale is pretty much exclusive to the Mego toy company's World's Greatest Heroes line of eight-inch action figures that ruled the toy aisles in the late '70s and early '80s. Other toy companies were quick to follow, such as Ideal with their famous monsters and Evel Knievel lines. This size became so popular that G.I. Joe himself shrunk down to this size (although a petroleum shortage needed to make plastic didn't help, either).

Source: The Scoop on Action Figure Size Scales

 

[publiusr]

Or his brother Paramodo…Semimodo…Bimodo?

 

[FANATICO]

I'll probably 3D print a camera and recorder at this scale.

At one time it appears someone did a 3D model of the recorder …. but the file is no longer available that I can find.

Actually, it’s simple to print a small rectangle shape……then find pictures of four sides ….scale them down, and laid out side by side so they can be printed to be wrapped around the rectangle shape using adhesive. The top would be scaled down to be cut out and adhesived to the top of the rectangle shape. Viola! Then find soft black material to cut in a strip thin enough to be the shoulder strap….

Same same for the camera and flash….
You can print onto white blank address labels which are already adhesive backed, essentially your creating decals….then cut to fit.

Something to think about.

Peace

 

[FANATICO]

Below is both a 1:1 png image file of the TC-55 and a 1:9 (for 8” figures) version png image file to save as.

The 3D dimensions of the 1:1 TC-55 case is at best W 1.75” x L 4” x H 5.5”

The overall 1:1 2D layout below, then is W 11.5” x H 9.5”

The 1:1 2D layout, scaled down to a 1:9 layout below, then is W 1.3” x H 1.1”

At best the 3D printed rectangular block should be W 0.22” x L 0.44” x H 0.64” or slightly less on the WLH dimensions.

To compensate for the paper folds as you wrap around the 3D printed rectangular block shape…you’ll have to 3D print the block shape slightly smaller.

Give it a try and adjust as needed….at least the 1:1 layout is a baseline to start from, for all smaller scales. Now, if this website automatically reduces images files to be able to fit within the webpage, then when printing out the layout, the dimensions may be off for both the 1:1 and 1:9 below.

Of course if you have the recorder, Photoshop, and the 3D printer you’ll figure out the dimensions on your own.

Btw….if someone wants to mock-up a TC-55 1:1 Scale…..the 1:1 layout should print out 8.5 x 14 paper for the wraparound and 8.5 x 10 for the buttons top separately.

You don’t have do the wraparound method, you can just cut out the individual panels (sides) and adhesive to the surfaces. Don’t forget that using scissors, etc. to cut with, will always remove some of the dimensions

Peace