Bossk
Well-Known Member
This costume is my debut into the realm of Science Fiction (as I define the Draconian as "fantasy"), and was created to become a member of the Midsouth Garrision of the 501st. I enjoy reptilian characters, something that goes back to a love of dinosaurs and collecting snakes and lizards since I was a kid. (And even today I have several large Tegu and Monitor lizards, and a pair of alligators!).
Bossk is rarely depicted in costume, despite his popularity as action figures, busts an statues. And while there are some good masks and limb casts, I never saw what I thouht was a 'screen accurate' Bossk costume.
The greatest shortcoming in most Bossk costumes is the flightsuit, and this subject has its own topic here on RPF. Most suits used in costues are simply yellow cotton coveralls, and simply look, and are, wrong. In fact, it.I was while seeking information as to the actual suit Bossk was wearing, that I was first introduced to Replica Prop Forum. Down in Flames did an excellent job of tracking down the true origins of the real RAF flight suit that was the costume Bossk wears.
This was another reason I wanted to do Bossk, for his costume was a real 1960's vintage pilot's pressure suit, and since I collected aviation gear anyway, it was more interesting recreating something 'real' to me, than making a purely fantasy flight suit.
My suit, (which several people thought was a real piece of aviation gear), is a modified vintage USAF flight suit which had many of the same characteristics as the Bossk flightsuit. At first glance, the color and construction suggests it is a hard hat, deep sea diviing suit, and in fact, the Company that made the Windak flight suit, also made diving suits and the resemblance is no coincidence. All of the outer seams of the Bossk suit appear to be covered in a cloth tape, while a blue windak suit worn by Bo Shek in Star Wars has visible stitched seams. I believe the blue suit is a later model, while Bossk's suit, made like the company's diving suits, wasprobably the earliest version. My USAF suit had taped seams on the inside, so it was turned inside out and dyed the same mustard yellow-tan of Bossk's suit.
Like a diving suit, there is a black rubber planchard around the neck that some costumers have mistaken as a vest. I believe the Windak suit of Bossk had the same kind of horizontal breast opening, as can be seen in my Bossk Avatar image.
All metal fittings on the original costume were made in real metal. A longtime member here, "Tambo" made the D-Rings and U - ejector out of aircraft aluminum on base. All pieces were copied as closely as possible.
I selected what I thought were the best head and arm castings, each from different sculptor. The "see through" eyes on all of the Bossk costumes I looked at didn't seem very convincing, so instead of looking out of Bossk's eyes, I had high quality glass taxidermy eyes made, and instead opted to look out of Bossk's mouth. This, and the large feet incresed Bossk's height from my normal 6 foot 2 inches, to about 6 foot 10 inches, making the character look very intimidating. None of the commercial Bossk feet were big enough for my size 13 feet, so I scratch built them over some rubber overshoes, buiding up the toes with hot glue, and molding the claws from latex. Each scale was cut out by hand and glued to the feet.
I was able to fit a bicycle helmet inside the mask, which makes wearing it more comfortable, and also fills the mask out better.
The weapon is built around an old paint ball gun with the barrel made from a U.S. Army camouflage netting support pole. Tambo gave me the two cast resin scopes. The stock is from an Iraqi AK-47, taken off during the Persian Gulf War before we burnt a bunch of weapons.
These are the first photos I obtained since the costume debuted in its finished form last Saturday. I am expecting some better photos including a 'battle' with an excellent Chewbaca reconstruction, and will post additional photos on this thread as they are obtained.
I will be bringing this Costume to the Star Wars event at the Huntsville Space Center, and also the Celebration V this year, if I am able to make it.
Bossk is rarely depicted in costume, despite his popularity as action figures, busts an statues. And while there are some good masks and limb casts, I never saw what I thouht was a 'screen accurate' Bossk costume.
The greatest shortcoming in most Bossk costumes is the flightsuit, and this subject has its own topic here on RPF. Most suits used in costues are simply yellow cotton coveralls, and simply look, and are, wrong. In fact, it.I was while seeking information as to the actual suit Bossk was wearing, that I was first introduced to Replica Prop Forum. Down in Flames did an excellent job of tracking down the true origins of the real RAF flight suit that was the costume Bossk wears.
This was another reason I wanted to do Bossk, for his costume was a real 1960's vintage pilot's pressure suit, and since I collected aviation gear anyway, it was more interesting recreating something 'real' to me, than making a purely fantasy flight suit.
My suit, (which several people thought was a real piece of aviation gear), is a modified vintage USAF flight suit which had many of the same characteristics as the Bossk flightsuit. At first glance, the color and construction suggests it is a hard hat, deep sea diviing suit, and in fact, the Company that made the Windak flight suit, also made diving suits and the resemblance is no coincidence. All of the outer seams of the Bossk suit appear to be covered in a cloth tape, while a blue windak suit worn by Bo Shek in Star Wars has visible stitched seams. I believe the blue suit is a later model, while Bossk's suit, made like the company's diving suits, wasprobably the earliest version. My USAF suit had taped seams on the inside, so it was turned inside out and dyed the same mustard yellow-tan of Bossk's suit.
Like a diving suit, there is a black rubber planchard around the neck that some costumers have mistaken as a vest. I believe the Windak suit of Bossk had the same kind of horizontal breast opening, as can be seen in my Bossk Avatar image.
All metal fittings on the original costume were made in real metal. A longtime member here, "Tambo" made the D-Rings and U - ejector out of aircraft aluminum on base. All pieces were copied as closely as possible.
I selected what I thought were the best head and arm castings, each from different sculptor. The "see through" eyes on all of the Bossk costumes I looked at didn't seem very convincing, so instead of looking out of Bossk's eyes, I had high quality glass taxidermy eyes made, and instead opted to look out of Bossk's mouth. This, and the large feet incresed Bossk's height from my normal 6 foot 2 inches, to about 6 foot 10 inches, making the character look very intimidating. None of the commercial Bossk feet were big enough for my size 13 feet, so I scratch built them over some rubber overshoes, buiding up the toes with hot glue, and molding the claws from latex. Each scale was cut out by hand and glued to the feet.
I was able to fit a bicycle helmet inside the mask, which makes wearing it more comfortable, and also fills the mask out better.
The weapon is built around an old paint ball gun with the barrel made from a U.S. Army camouflage netting support pole. Tambo gave me the two cast resin scopes. The stock is from an Iraqi AK-47, taken off during the Persian Gulf War before we burnt a bunch of weapons.
These are the first photos I obtained since the costume debuted in its finished form last Saturday. I am expecting some better photos including a 'battle' with an excellent Chewbaca reconstruction, and will post additional photos on this thread as they are obtained.
I will be bringing this Costume to the Star Wars event at the Huntsville Space Center, and also the Celebration V this year, if I am able to make it.
Last edited:
