My Mad Hatter Thread - Mickey's Trick Or Treat 10-29-2010

[BRRogers]

Re: My Mad Hatter - Work In Progress

Lol, I love your research and progress threads mate!
You have a tenacity about your projects that actually make me squirm a bit!

I'll probably never do the Mad Hatter since it's not my style... but your detective work makes it loads easier for other folks to nail those intricate details that are otherwise overlooked... if people ever even get that far ;

Good luck in your endeavor! It's looking awesome so far

 

[Capn_Jack_Savvy]

Re: My Mad Hatter - Work In Progress 11-25-09

Well it is 2:00am PST but who cares! I don't have to work tomorrow!!!!:lol

Updated the bandoleer to more or less the same as the "hero" version with the exception of the back chain. CC display uses the same chain as the one in which the spools are attached however Nickytea was correct (as he always is.....:thumbsup) it is chain. It looks like a vinyl strap but it is just the links of the chain that is doubled up.

My improvements with the toggle clasp:

New chain on back is smaller links. I also shortened the "zoot suit" chain that hangs down past the hem of the frock coat.

Adding the toggle clasp required some major rearranging of the spools of thread. Note: The spools in the "hero" bandoleer form HD screen grabs are in a different color sequence than the CC pics. More discrepancies to be noted at the end of the post.

New chain view from the toggle clasp end.

Revamped the shoes because they didn't seem right. I added the engravings into the leather. It may not be 100% accurate but it gets the point across. I also created the toe tips from aluminum (easier to cut and bend). I created the square shape to give the illusion that the boot is a square cut toe. I am not sure how I am going to stitch those suckers to the boot because my hand can't get all the way up to the toes. Right now the toe tips are epoxied to the boots. Once they are sewn into the shoe I will engrave (Dremel) the design into the metal.

Again the outer part of the left boot is "NEKKID" because I don't know what to engrave.....:unsure

Toe tips were easy to create. Once the basic form was created I used the cobbler hammer to shape the metal to the boot.

I am now on the lookout for cobbler nails for the base of the shoe and the reddish brown shoelaces. I will probably hit the leather with antique black and try to fill in the engravings to darken them.

 

[tkmarti]

Re: My Mad Hatter - Work In Progress 11-25-09

This is looking great...Watching this with great interest ! Well done.

 

[Jodo]

Re: My Mad Hatter - Work In Progress 11-25-09

Very awesome mate!

I don't have any craft stores like Michael's,etc. around me so I have to wait for a trim to St Louis before I can start on my stuff...But I'm hands down going to be going through this thread to see how you did yours. :lol

 

[Capn_Jack_Savvy]

Re: My Mad Hatter - Work In Progress

Wow...This is getting to be a bit more complicated. :wacko

Yes! JDs roles and character costumes tend to be very complex and highly detailed which unfortunately leads to variations throughout the post production work, promotional phase, and actual movie release.

1. Different colors in the thread spools meaning the sequence of colors. Not critical but maybe for editing purposes and promotional items they should be the same order.

2. Different colors in the peacock hat pin. Hero vs. displayed at SDCC 2009.

3. Etchings in the boots display at SDCC but the HI RES trailer you don't see any markings in the boot. The one scene when the MH picks up his hat you don't even see the metal toe tips as well.

4. Same scene as #3 you will see that the scarf / kerchief is black but in promo shots it is now a bright dark pink.

5. I also believe in the same scene as #3/#4 the lace at the ends of the sleeves are black but at SDCC they are pink color.

6. Vest at SDCC display doesn't have the black and white checkboard pattern in the diamonds but the main promo shot we all reference (we meaning MH costumers) you see the pattern. The one in which MH is holding the large brown bunny!!!:lol

7. Same promo pic as #6 we see a black ribbon with white "X" attached to the large pin on the right pocket of the frock coat. HD trailer and other promo shots you don't see it.

8. The first HI RES promo pic of the MH you see a hat pin with a blue faceted stone but it doesn't show up anywhere else. Perhaps the Hatter lost it when he threw his hat like Odd Job Tosh Togo from Goldfinger?lol:lol
Just a few issues I have found so far or have heard of from others.

 

[Capn_Jack_Savvy]

Re: My Mad Hatter - Work In Progress 11-25-09

Very awesome mate!

I don't have any craft stores like Michael's,etc. around me so I have to wait for a trim to St Louis before I can start on my stuff...But I'm hands down going to be going through this thread to see how you did yours. :lol

www.michaels.com :thumbsup

 

[Capn_Jack_Savvy]

Re: My Mad Hatter - Work In Progress Hat Opinions?

Opinions? MH hat. Is it leather stretched over a wire frame or is it leather glued onto another surface shaped into the hat?

These pics with the seam makes be want to believe that it is a wire frame but the CC pics lead me to believe that it is leather glued and stretched over an existing material?

Thoughts?

 

[Capn_Jack_Savvy]

Re: My Mad Hatter - Work In Progress Movie Hat Opinions

I guess none.:cry

 

[nickytea]

Re: My Mad Hatter - Work In Progress

I don't know if there's any way to tell at this point.
The leather SHOULD be self-sustaining in that shape, but it very well could have been reinforced with a wire frame.

 

[Mojo_Turbo]

Re: My Mad Hatter - Work In Progress

my 2 cents, I think it's a real hat.... but I dont know, so I found you an article from someone who saw the hat in person

http://cottagewayoflife.blogspot.com/2009/09/hat.html

and she gives you her own opinion on how it's made.

massive hat pic
http://raysofdisneyland.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/mad-hatter-hat-fixed.jpg

hey, have you see these pics?

Pics from the Alice in wonderland touring expedition

Wig

http://www.blogcdn.com/www.cinematical.com/media/2009/07/alicetour21.jpg

wig side

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2430/3755270468_6480567190.jpg

hat

http://www.blogcdn.com/www.cinematical.com/media/2009/07/alicetour18.jpg

hat side
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3503/3790727234_b2c82d9e76.jpg

hat top [start up screen graphic]
http://disney.go.com/disneypictures/aliceinwonderland/

hat detail
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__t_4I45-bX0/SrEKgZla0dI/AAAAAAAAEos/k1a22dxXMcw/s400/mad+hatters+hat+2.jpg

hat close detail
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__t_4I45-bX0/SrEKg0WzMfI/AAAAAAAAEo0/28gBJTBc4PQ/s400/mad+hatters+hat.jpg


costume

http://www.blogcdn.com/www.cinematical.com/media/2009/07/alicetour14.jpg

video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AG5K78_pKtw

and did you know….he has a A SWORD????

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3434/3754423717_2d2d51034b.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2522/3755223858_8551d1f2b4.jpg

massive high res pic
http://www.darkinthedark.com/wp-con...ter-johnny-depp-in-alice-in-wonderland_vf.jpg

i've seen a replica hat sell on ebay for over $600 already

 

[LooneyBin]

Re: My Mad Hatter - Work In Progress

the costume looks great that your making, its a bit much but I guess thats Tim Burton. But your nailing this thing dead on sir. But why, why why does the Mad Hatter need a sword? lol...bit odd

G

 

[Mojo_Turbo]

Re: My Mad Hatter - Work In Progress

not as odd as Alice having an entire suit of armor

http://www.jimhillmedia.com/mb/images/upload/ATE-2-web.jpg

 

[Capn_Jack_Savvy]

Re: My Mad Hatter - Work In Progress

J-a-b-b-e-r-w-o-c-k-y

 

[Mojo_Turbo]

Re: My Mad Hatter - Work In Progress

then is Hatter's sword the vorpal blade?

 

[nickytea]

Re: My Mad Hatter - Work In Progress

No.
Alice uses the vorpal sword.
It is considerably more ornate, was on display at the same exhibit.

 

[Darth Mule]

Re: My Mad Hatter - Work In Progress Hat Opinions?

Opinions? MH hat. Is it leather stretched over a wire frame or is it leather glued onto another surface shaped into the hat?

These pics with the seam makes be want to believe that it is a wire frame but the CC pics lead me to believe that it is leather glued and stretched over an existing material?

Thoughts?

Mad Hatter hats are pretty tough. It requires a special block to shape it on. The reason you see the seam IMO is that it would be nearly impossible to make one out of leather if it were a purely stretched and blocked shape. So you have to wrap the leather around the block and stretch it around the crown, then do the tip and brim separate.

Here's an example of a mad hatter block (this is a mini-block for collectors). It is what they call a "puzzle block." Those seams in the block represent different pieces. There is typically a plug in the base. When you pull it out, the entire block collapses. This is how you get the block out of the hat after you shape it. This is how all blocks in which the tip is wider than the base are made.

So who wants to lathe a hat block?

 

[Capn_Jack_Savvy]

Re: My Mad Hatter - Work In Progress

So here is why I am convinced that this is very thin leather (1-2 ounces) stretched over a wire frame.

You can see in these images how the leather around the edge of the brim and the edge on the tophat portion appear to stretched over wire. See how round the leather appears. Even the thread that is stitched to hold the leather to the wire has a very circular/wrapped appearance.

Also the from this image you can see how it appears that there are two pieces of leather stretched over the wire frame. The line appears to be where the two pieces meet.

Another question is does this paisley patter continue under the brim? This blurred screengrab shows it a little but who knows if the pattern matches the top. Need to find the repeating sequence of the paisley pattern. The top of the hat appears to be a reverse mirrored image of the pattern.

 

[Darth Mule]

Re: My Mad Hatter - Work In Progress

Let me see if I can clear this up. You are more than likely seeing a wire in the edge of the brim. This is not because it has a wire frame, but because most hats with especially shapely brims will use what is called "millinery wire" to edge them to help hold the shape. This way when you curve the ends up, the wire acts like an armature to help keep it in place. This isn't to say it doesn't have a wire frame as well, but what you're seeing is simply a wired brim.

In a hat like this where the tip also appears to be stitched on, they may also wire the inside of the crown, where the tips sets in, just to reinforce that area.

 

[Mojo_Turbo]

Re: My Mad Hatter - Work In Progress

wow, how similar in comparison is this whole costume with Heath's Joker?

 

[Capn_Jack_Savvy]

Re: My Mad Hatter - Work In Progress

MT! As far as a I can see there is very little similarities between Joker and Mad Hatter costumes. Maybe the only similarities is the level of detail we OCD types are putting into it. Although I know many Jokers that have tracked down the very pattern in their shirts for the recreation of the costume pieces.

Good luck finding MH's pants material. Unless you have it custom made it will not be easy to recreate the detail of the pattern. Same holds true for the necktie.

On a brighter note....boots are DONE! Pics tonight!

Also MT nice find and summary of the costume bits. The D23 hat pic is great!