Mini Darth Vader costume completed: page 6 pics, pg 7 new con pics

[poopymcbutthole]

Re: Electronic help-thanks. Vader belt boxes-almost done. mini vader costume progress

this is probably my favorite rpf project so far ... that is the most adorable little boy i ever seen! rofl

 

[TK171]

Re: Electronic help-thanks. Vader belt boxes-almost done. mini vader costume progress

Thanks. I'm running into a wall with the helmet. May have to get some makeup tips or hire you to come make Nick look like the old burnt Anakin.

 

[poopymcbutthole]

Re: Electronic help-thanks. Vader belt boxes-almost done. mini vader costume progress

Thanks. I'm running into a wall with the helmet. May have to get some makeup tips or hire you to come make Nick look like the old burnt Anakin.

hahaha omg i would love to!!!!! it would be extremely hard to ever un-adorable him ... its pretty impossible

 

[TK171]

Re: Electronic help-thanks. Vader belt boxes-almost done. mini vader costume progress

By george, not boy george... I think I've got it. At least an acceptable solution on the helmet.

I've cobbled together various masks and either they are just too big (hasbro/rubies voice changer), or what I wanted to use for the mask (pail) just looked too small with the larger dome from the rubies. Went down a few paths where nothing I was doing looked all that great.

Now...I think I may have the winning combination. The Mask is the Child size deluxe costume mask. Smaller face plate than the rubies, but again the dome doesn't go all the way around and is just a half or maybe 3/4 mask.

While this fit him (slightly big)- it didn't make Nick look too terribly bad.

Because this is bigger than the pail, the Rubies dome actually looks "OK" with it. I just velcroed this on after some minor cuts/trimming.... but I think I've got it.

course, I may glue it all up and make it a one peice mask. this will hide the dome thickness a bit and I can bondo the two peices together to hid the "double lip". I'd also make the lower upside down triagle smaller, trim up the neck a bit so it doesn't get in the way of the armor, and repaint it up.

prelim shots... but I think this is going to work.

next to the rubies:

winning combo...

closer up shot:

Thoughts on the size? Vader helmet has to be a little big. I think that was the main problem with the pail. It fit his face well, but wraped it pretty tightly... need some room to be the mighty vader.

I'm happy with this look though. Easy mods and some paint, and I think it should look pretty good.

 

[TK9120]

Re: Electronic help-thanks. Vader belt boxes-almost done. mini vader costume progress

This is so cool. Somehow I missed this thread. That is amazing work. He's so cute too. That trooper was great as well.

 

[tictoc]

Re: Electronic help-thanks. Vader belt boxes-almost done. mini vader costume progress

Yes. I think you are right. It looks good. It's the eyes that make it work. They even "disguise" the double dome a bit, although the pics are grainy.

For some reason, the larger eyes on that voice changer faceplate throw the dome out of proportion. Makes the voice changer face look like Vader is gagging on Mars like Arnold in Total Recall.

I think you made a good choice.

 

[indiefilmgeek]

Re: Electronic help-thanks. Vader belt boxes-almost done. mini vader costume progress

I'm not a Vader expert, but your winning combo looks in perfect scale. Without reference, I couldn't tell how big/small this is - which is an awesome compliment! Great solution!

Can't wait to see it all together!

 

[TK171]

Re: Electronic help-thanks. Vader belt boxes-almost done. mini vader costume progress

" Makes the voice changer face look like Vader is gagging on Mars like Arnold in Total Recall. "

totally hit the nail on the head!

The nice thing too with a 3yr old, is people will be looking down at him. This will also hide the double lip dome effect a bit..... as it's not so noticable if not looking up or straight at him.

I didn't get to much modding, as the boys have been at the grandparents for the last few days and I've been cleaning out the garage, my gosh we have alot of crap. I also wanted to test fit this combo before any bonding of the two peices together- otherwise I may need to leave it as a two peice bucket.

I did start some mods though in my spare time (break from clean up). Remade the lower section of the faceplate with a smaller triangle. Added that- and now in bono process to smooth it out.

Had some metal mesh laying around and played with a few combinations. I think for the top grill, I'm going to add two layers with some black door screen behind that. Didn't take a photo- but it looked pretty good.

On the bottom- one layer of the mesh, with some silver screen behind that.

I just can't decide on the paint. Two tone it up and with what colors, or just go with All black.... or maybe two tone with just a satin black and a Gloss black.

Thanks for all the kind words..... it's getting closer. Couple of weeks before the Con- so need to get cracking.

 

[TK171]

Re: Electronic help-thanks. Vader belt boxes-almost done. mini vader costume progress

very minor WIP.

Cut the plastic grills, added a new lower section- and in process of smoothing that up.

Testing some mesh thoughts:

 

[Stormshadow]

Re: Electronic help-thanks. Vader belt boxes-almost done. mini vader costume progress

I love the dedication, Keep up the Great work!!!

 

[TK171]

Re: Electronic help-thanks. Vader belt boxes-almost done. mini vader costume progress

Well, it's that time again... Test fit time :lol

This go, test of the new detailed shins with padding and straps I added, and a test to see how the helmet will work. I'm actually really happy with how it looks. Proportionally, it looks pretty good. He can see out of it, which is a plus :wacko. Just needs me to mod it and paint it, and even add some foam for a good fit and some comfort.

So... on with the pics. Sorry again for the grainy crappy pics. Once all done I'll shoot some with one of our good cameras.

First up.. some New shin shots:

Shot from the back:

side shot:

Front:

Showing off the leg armor. I'm just glad he can walk now:

Lord Nicholas:

And... my favorite. The Reason I've spent 3 months thus far.... THIS SMILE makes it all worth while. He's so stoked.

 

[mmgraphics]

Re: Electronic help-thanks. Vader belt boxes-almost done. mini vader costume progress

Fantastic costume Joe! And a very proud little boy!

Awesome! my little one has a self made boba and I know what it means if your child smiles that way! ;-)

 

[indiefilmgeek]

Re: Electronic help-thanks. Vader belt boxes-almost done. mini vader costume progress

That's awesome, Joe!!!

He's going to be a huge hit at the con... And, with that smile. you better watch him closely - the toddler girl at the con are going to ALL over him! LOL

 

[Graphic Jordan]

Re: Electronic help-thanks. Vader belt boxes-almost done. mini vader costume progress

OUTSTANDING! Bravo! This turned out amazing. You deff have the luckiest kid in the world.. next to Jonathan's kid that is.

 

[TK171]

Re: Electronic help-thanks. Vader belt boxes-almost done. mini vader costume progress

OUTSTANDING! Bravo! This turned out amazing. You deff have the luckiest kid in the world.. next to Jonathan's kid that is.

LOL.. I hear that. The Iron man is a thing of beauty!

I was starting to freak out about the helmet and so glad something finally came together. Now it's just going to take some time- since I can't lay on the bondo too thick. going to be a few days minimum, to get that lower peice all shaped up and dried to the point of priming and painting.

I'm torn now how to make the front buckle too. I'm not a metals guy and don't have any tools for making that. It may be plexi glass, styrene, or maybe a mylar tape cutout on a black buckle. Will figure something out I'm sure.

Thanks for all the compliments! Not that the smiles alone aren't worth it, but always great to hear feedback good or bad. What started as an idea and a black belt box project for learing how to install lights, she sure came a long ways from a few months ago. Only other problem that I knew i'd run into- is now I'm picking it apart to see what I can improve on and he's going to outgrow this.. I gotta let it go. hahaha.

 

[TK171]

Re: Electronic help-thanks. Vader belt boxes-almost done. mini vader costume progress

Not a ton to show- Prime, sand, bondo- repeat. Much of the same and waiting for coats to dry.

Couple of WIP shot, but they all look the same day after day

white plastic primer n bondo on faceplate:

after sanding... more primer:

repeat :lol

Dome.. primed, half sanded:

5 coats later (3 days)- gloss mirror black dome: Nice reflection:

 

[decaturvader]

Re: Electronic help-thanks. Vader belt boxes-almost done. mini vader costume progress

looking great!

 

[TK171]

Re: Electronic help-thanks. Vader belt boxes-almost done. mini vader costume progress

Couple of minor updates. I can see the light. Con in 1 week, and I'm to the point where she's good enough for me. Still putting all the finishing touches on the helmet... but here we go with a few more photos.

Belt- Not thrilled with the main belt buckle- but, it'll work. Mylar tape with a round disc added onto a black cuttout.

I added the green rectangles on each box over the green LEDs as well.

One on, one off as I didn't know how well the picture would turn out given the darkness in the garage early this morning:

Helmet Mods- Finished the Dome. Nice n Shinny... just waiting for the faceplate.

So- primed, painted and just needs some final clean up- but I didn't want to smuge the last coat of paint last night, so waiting for it to dry before I clean up the eye areas, add the foam inside for comfort and add the metal grill details and tusks back on. I did repaint the tusks and they look much cleaner and very shiny. Going to use the same paint for the nose detail as the final step.

Two tone added last night. Went with a flat Black and a Gloss Black choice. LMK what you think. The lighting works well.. In dimmer light- it looks all black. I took the photos near the florecent light in the garage to see the difference and shinny areas.

Pics still aren't the greatest-

Bottom- with nose still taped off:

Front view:

Left Side:

Right Side:

just wanted to see what she'll look like once I add in the grill mesh:

Will need to clean up around the eyes, do some minor sanding/blending and then add the details. Wanted to wait until the paint cures so I don't accidentally smuge anything- but tried to get the tape off as soon as I could, so it didn't stick or rip any paint by accident later on.

So close now.... just getting excited. Pre-Con Dinner tomorrow to make some plans for next week.

appreicate the compliments and feedback over the past few months.

J

 

[indiefilmgeek]

Re: Electronic help-thanks. Vader belt boxes-almost done. mini vader costume progress

It's getting SO close!!! Can't wait to see it all put together!

Take LOTS of pictures at the con! I'd love to see some forced perspective shots of Vader Nick with some troopers -- so they all appear to be in the same scale. :thumbsup

 

[TK171]

Re: Electronic help-thanks. Vader belt boxes-almost done. mini vader costume progress

I want to get one of Nick looking down at a trooper pointing his finger at him. Close up shot where it looks like he's taller.... then a panned out shot with Nick on a chair or something and the trooper also on their knees. :lol

It was pretty crazy the hours we spent getting photos taken last year just in the Jedi and Solo garb.... This year is going to be nuts I think. But I plan on being the handler for the most part, but will also be in imperial garb.

I got a great photo frame from the boys for Fathers day. It's a black frame and the bottom says "This will be a day long remembered.... Darth Vader"

Can't wait to get a good photo of us three in gear together for it!

Hallmark is where they got it...