Lady Sif Thor: Dark World Build

[AbiSueCosplay]

I've started my build for Sif, the Thor: Dark World movie version!



To start with I had a leather coat I found at the thrift store that I have only worn once that is exactly the right color for Sif. I seam ripped and cut that up to start creating the leather parts of her costume.



I patterned, draped and cut out the skirt pieces and vest part for starters. Then I started sewing the edging to the skirt pieces, cording in the outermost layer and just the leather itself for the inner ones, it laid flatter that way.

I also found perfect boots from Sheikh Shoes online. The wig is a lace front from Jenny's Hair Sense on ebay.

 

[AbiSueCosplay]

Next up I started working on the chainmail parts. I need a dickie, skirt, bottoms of the skirt and sides of the shield.

I got rings from theringlord.org, I decided to go larger than what she has to save myself the headache and it'll still look cool. I'm still going to use the right size for the bottom of the skirt bits and the shield.



With the skirt and dickie finished I move on to the tiny rings at the bottom of the skirt!



I've got about half of them done, need to attach, had to buy more rings as I didn't order enough. I sew the rings onto the back of the skirt pieces.

 

[AbiSueCosplay]

I've built part of the bracers so far, I will be using craft foam and worbla for this part. I'm thinking I will add the detailing with puffy paint. I have made the base for the bracers out of the same leather as the tunic. I still need to attach all the pieces and add rivet-like things. Much to do, but progress!

 

[AbiSueCosplay]

Started on Sif's shield last night! Cut 5 layers of craft foam, I free handed the patterns and designs drawn on using reference pictures.



I plan on cutting out the designs using xacto knife or sharp scissors and gluing it all together. Then I'll cover the whole thing in worbla!

 

[James Kenobi 1138]

Ambitious project, looking good so far.

 

[AbiSueCosplay]

Thanks James! It's been a little insane to say the least. I've gotten a lot more done now, I'm compiling the pictures and will be posting more soon!

 

[AbiSueCosplay]

More progress has been made! I cut out all the details in the craft foam shield layers using an xacto knife, I glued them together while doing this so I would lose where all the pieces needed to go.



Then I cut out a piece of worbla slightly larger than the top layers and started heating a shaping. I used a butter knife because I couldn't find the tool I normally use, it worked well enough. This part took quite a bit of time to get the worbla heated and into all the tiny little details, I just did it a bit at a time as I went around the shield until I finally got it all. Next I clipped the curves, heated and wrapped the extra worbla around the back of the shield top.

I had forgotten the details in the triangle thing at the top of the shield so I added those after with scraps of worbla. The chainmail detailing is made out of the same tiny rings as the ones on the bottom of the skirt panels.

I then wrapped worbla around the bottom piece of the shield. I need to attach the two pieces together with the chainmail sandwiched in-between, I'll figure out if I'm doing that before or after painting a bit later, for now it looks super awesome and ready for sealing and painting!

 

[AbiSueCosplay]

I finally started the actual armor parts! I used my duct tape dress form to drape and tape pattern paper, trying to figure out the best places to add darts for shape. Then I cut up that pattern and transferred to craft foam. I cut the darts and oh so elegantly closed them on the back with duct tape so there wouldn't be anything to show through the worbla on the front. I probably should have super glued the lines closed, but I'm the only one who will see the inside and it's not moving, so it works! I created the front and back layered pieces, drew some lines for the later detailing.



I added worbla the same way I did with the shield, cut a piece slightly bigger and wrap the edges once I've got it lay how I want. Then I combine the layers by heating up both sides I want to place together. I also created the other various armor pieces she has for shoulders and boots.



Finally I got out all my reference pictures and painstakingly started recreating the final line and filigree details using puffy paint, it was a bit tedious and hard to find all the right angles to see everything, so I ended up fudging a bit on the filigree, but I tried to be as accurate as possible where I could.

Everything is pretty much ready now to start sealing with layers of wood glue and paint it up! I also have to figure out how to attach all these pieces to my body. I'm trying to get this all finished up for a photoshoot this weekend!

 

[The JIX]

looks really good. keep up the good work

 

[PukkaLemons]

i second that great work

 

[AbiSueCosplay]

Thank you!!

 

[AbiSueCosplay]

In a flurry of crazed wood glue applications, spray paint, and glue, I have finished my Sif build for Saturday's photoshoot!

I sealed with 4 layers of wood glue, letting each layer dry for about an hour. Then I used a black primer on all the worbla pieces. I sprayed two coats of silver on top of that. Finally I weathered with a black acrylic and dry brush/wipe off method. I still need to seal everything, but I can do that now that I have time.



I glued everything together using Barge's Contact Cement, then E6000 when I ran out of Barge's. Then I had forgotten a few things the next morning, so hot glue kept a few things together for the photoshoot. I did find out that hot glue is perfect for snaps on worbla, the other glues didn't stay, hot glue kept those snaps on like crazy. The leather straps seemed to stay on the worbla/craft foam with Barge's just fine though.

I was fortunate to be able to borrow Coregeek Cosplay & Creations (www.coregeek.net) Sif sword for this shoot, my brother hasn't finished building mine yet. When he's done I'm going to be able to pull apart the sword into two and make it into the double sword.



Minimal makeup and styled my awesome Jenny's Hairsense wig and voila, insta-Sif! Well, not insta lol, more like an hour. But I'm so happy to be done! The photoshoot made me realize the parts that needed to be fixed and reinforced for con, so yay for that!

Finally, I give you the first of many Sif photos from the photoshoot with Luna Anne (www.LunaAnne.com)

 

[KJC]

Odin's beard! That is good. I can't wait to see the new sword and find out how it splits apart. Every time I see what can be done with Worbla I want to do something with it. I have only a small quarter sheet I got to test out and never used. Did the layers of glue and paint get rid of all the texture on the worbla?

 

[AbiSueCosplay]

Thank you KJC! My brother's going to be using magnets somehow, I'll be sure to post when I have it!

Worbla is so great yeah! Yes the layers of glue are the method I use to get rid of the texture of worbla, make it more smooth. There are many other methods out there to smooth, I tend to use this one because I don't have a shop so I don't really want to sand layers of gesso on my living room couch hehehe. I then prime with spray primer to get a nice dark base that makes the metallic pop more.