Mel Gibson The Patriot impersonation cosplay costume

[greenmachines]

The following thread will chronicle my attempt at an impersonation level cosplay costume recreation of Mel Gibson's, "The Patriot", character, Benjamin Martin.

I will attempt several poses but, due to the numerous weapons and outfits used in the movie, I will likely keep poses to a specific scene (time frame) or may have the wrong prop in another.

This is the inspiration picture of my main, intended, pose:

I will post an update to post one with my final comp after the costume is complete.

 

[greenmachines]

Main elements for this Mel Gibson pose:

1) Shirt

2) Pants

3) Belt

4) Rifle

5) Pistols

6) Tomahawk

7) Knife and sheath

8) Shoulder strap (this one is highly unique and may be left out if time does not allow)

9) Hair (mine is receding severely and will not suffice without effects)

10) Blood stains, bruising and other makeup effects

Update 5/16:

11) Boots

 

[greenmachines]

8) Shoulder strap - I usually do my best thinking while not thinking. There is this sketchy little librarian in my head that sends a message to the Jedi Librarian to do a quick reference search for me. This happens without my knowledge, being how the force seems to work for me. Later in the day, usually while joking about something JediMichael has posted (yes, I totally love all that nerd humor) and, suddenly, there is this little slip handed to my conscious mind. I try to stop the person who handed it to me but they are already gone. Hmmm, what is this?

Your query:

How to replicate...
'good at ten feet'
over the shoulder strap
for a pose of Mel Gibson as Benjamin Marten
next to the tree
from incomplete screen captures
low cost
not time intensive
sturdy (not something that tears or is destroyed easily)

Returned the following results, gathered from previous experiences, available in the library:

Using a photo program
Clip a section from the screen capture that clearly illustrates the repeating pattern needed
From a full color, possibly 'sun-lit', scene of high resolution
If no correctly aligned version is available, use envelope warp to create a rectangular image
Create an 8.5x11 document holding multiples of this repeating pattern at the physical width they are on Gibson's strap
Have this sheet printed twice on "waterproof paper" / Tyvec
Cut out these prints and sew them end to end, butt end, closed seam facing forward
Attach this finished, printed ribbon to an appropriate strap
Possibly using contact glue to adhere both prior to edge binding (sewing/stapling)

____________________

Wow, sweet.... now to annoy JediMichael with my witty reply to his post.....

 

[JediMichael]

8) Shoulder strap - I usually do my best thinking while not thinking. There is this sketchy little librarian in my head that sends a message to the Jedi Librarian to do a quick reference search for me. This happens without my knowledge, being how the force seems to work for me. Later in the day, usually while joking about something JediMichael has posted (yes, I totally love all that nerd humor) and, suddenly, there is this little slip handed to my conscious mind. I try to stop the person who handed it to me but they are already gone. Hmmm, what is this?

Your query:

How to replicate...
'good at ten feet'
over the shoulder strap
for a pose of Mel Gibson as Benjamin Marten
next to the tree
from incomplete screen captures
low cost
not time intensive
sturdy (not something that tears or is destroyed easily)

Returned the following results, gathered from previous experiences, available in the library:

Using a photo program
Clip a section from the screen capture that clearly illustrates the repeating pattern needed
From a full color, possibly 'sun-lit', scene of high resolution
If no correctly aligned version is available, use envelope warp to create a rectangular image
Create an 8.5x11 document holding multiples of this repeating pattern at the physical width they are on Gibson's strap
Have this sheet printed twice on "waterproof paper" / Tyvec
Cut out these prints and sew them end to end, butt end, closed seam facing forward
Attach this finished, printed ribbon to an appropriate strap
Possibly using contact glue to adhere both prior to edge binding (sewing/stapling)

____________________

Wow, sweet.... now to annoy JediMichael with my witty reply to his post.....

I tend to also use photoshop on people for reveng....I mean, "creative", purposes....

 

[greenmachines]

4) Rifle: I posted so often in totally random threads about this that I am getting dizzy trying to remember the steps. My uncle had gone to visit some relatives around Tennessee, last summer. While there he found a pile of old things in a heap in the yard/barns, a muzzleloader rifle stock. The lock, trigger, and guard were missing so there was no clear indication if it was previously a flintlock or caplock but the shape was one of the two. Some brass was still on it but the barrel was removed. He found the barrel in the same pile, broken mounting tang. All of this he brought to me in the hopes it would suffice for a costume build as he was not certain if it was an original or just an unfinished kit rifle.

I cannot find the original picture of the full stock but this image shows the gick and corrosion level:

After much cleaning:

 

[greenmachines]

4) Rifle cont. - I cleaned up the barrel a bit but the standard of the day was a brown (rusted) and oiled finish so polished clean would not be screen accurate nor period.

I found an engraving on the barrel.

It says "Canaday & Romines".

I searched for quite a while finding no gun makers of that name. However, I did find notice of a wedding. Moses Canaday married a Romines. Still more research to do but this may actually be an antique original if it was a gift at the wedding.

 

[greenmachines]

I am still working on getting the barrel stained properly for screen accurate but moved to making some 3d replacement printed parts for the pose. Having the freedom to match screen, as the original parts were missing, gave me the ability to scan, tweak and size the parts.

I got the scan of the flintlock mechanism from my Adam Ant pose gun.

 

[greenmachines]

4) Rifle cont. - Trigger guard and trigger assembly were next but I knew I needed the wedge pins to hold the barrel on so here is my pile.

And here, positioned but not mounted:

All of these 3d printed parts will receive weathering stains for final pose. When this cosplay is over, we are moving to a full restoration of this rifle with working parts.

 

[greenmachines]

I should have the rifle complete by this weekend.

 

[greenmachines]

1) Shirt- my good friend inherited a collection of frontiersman trappings from his uncle and passed many parts to me. The shirt will crossover nicely and will require only having the sleeves bagged and bound at the elbow:

 

[greenmachines]

2) Pants- although any black pair of pants would suffice (this pose has limited view of pants), my intention is to thrift for a Women's maternity stretch denim without pockets. Add to this a few rivets in the right spots and we are cosplay good to go. Will post again when pants are complete.

 

[greenmachines]

5) Pistols - Gibson used many different pistols throughout the movie but in this pose, only the butts/grips are showing so I will be sluffing a bit and using either my current Adam Ant flintlocks or a printed set of Jack Sparrow locks as they match the butt end closely.

Currently, I am seriously wondering how close Jack's pistol is to these used in The Patriot.

 

[greenmachines]

4) Rifle cont. - Got a little farther on the history of the rifle. Talking with my uncle this evening, telling him what I had found so far and he said ,"what county?..... What State?....." and as it turns out the Canaday & Romine wedding, in 1843, was the same city and county where my uncle was given this found and very sad condition rifle, last summer. Moses Canaday and Polly Ann Romines from Clark County, Illinois.

From what I can see, it seems to have been given a very large over charging that separated the barrel from the stock in one go. One wedge pin slit is missing, the tang was broken off at the mounting bolt and wood is missing from the portion immediately behind the barrel (lost when the barrel possibly left the gun towards the shooter).

 

[greenmachines]

4) Rifle cont. - I spent some time sculpt welding with a wire welder, adding enough to the tang to recreate the section with the mounting hole. It is too late this evening to finish it but some grinding and one hole and we will be mounting the barrel and ready for poses...... right after all the other bits are completed...

 

[greenmachines]

6) The tomahawk - here are some pics of supposed to be screen used items:

The number one missed characteristic of this tomahawk when sold as a replica is changing the back end of the axe head to a fully round part. It is not round but instead has flat faces like a hexagon or octagon.

From these I have made this as a printable 3d part:

Stl here in the attached file section.

 

[joberg]

You're going all out with this cosplay for sure I'm sure your pistols, from POTC, will do fine. As for the musket, lots to do still, but it's getting there by the update

 

[greenmachines]

You're going all out with this cosplay for sure I'm sure your pistols, from POTC, will do fine. As for the musket, lots to do still, but it's getting there by the update

I rhink the most fun I will have on this one is going driving and hiking to find the perfect tree. Another good excuse to go into the boonies and enjoy some scenery.

 

[greenmachines]

6) Tomahawk continued from post 15.

This was my first round print. I thought I would be OK with this level of accuracy as I had convinced myself to not hold out for screen perfect on an item not seen in the pose but for a 1/4 exposed section, at an angle, in shadow.....

but I couldn't take my eyes off the lump and incorrect angle on the top. It won't be screen accurate when done but I redid it to a level that will hide at 10 feet.

Only the handle remains. I am going to go for a ridiculously light wood, easy to shape, like hard foam. After shaping, trace the pattern and etch it in.

I will post some close ups of the blade etching and the handle etching when I get them.

 

[greenmachines]

4) Rifle cont. - So, back to the drawing board on the trigger guard for the rifle. Another angle clearly shows that it is silver not brass and has the enlarged spoon cover:

 

[greenmachines]

I regret to say that I have never seen the movie.... ya, I am a pathetic fanboy and only interested in the cosplay but I am getting a strong impression that there is a huuuuuuge backstory to the character's weapons, both edged and barreled. This silver and etched motif continues to pop up where other weapons of the time would have been plain and often brass.