Nickelodeon's TMNT's 2015 Halloween Costume Contest Entry

[nbehling]

Hey guys,
I have to admit I have been struggling a little bit to come up with plan for my next project. I have always wanted a TMNT costume but felt I could never do it justice. With all the buzz about the new movie coming out (wether it's good or bad). I feel like now is the time to do one of my own.

a full 1990 movie suit is a bit out of the question for me but I have a couple ideas.
First Idea was to sculpt a mask arms and hands and do the trench coat look. It would still have movie likeness to the scene but have a lot less detailed parts.

The second option and possibly more fun would be the Nickelodeon TMNT version.

Looks like it would be a lot of foam and lycra and a plastic shell. They seem like they would be easy to move in and since they already made live promo versions of them I have a lot of reference photos.

Any thoughts, concerns, opinions, or tips on how \ which one I should tackle?

Thanks

 

[VilleLeskinen]

Re: Nickelodeon's TMNT Promo costume

I've been thinking about building one of the nick show suits too. They seem like they would be much easier to build and get to good look (easier then the movie suits anyway). Whichever you choose, I will be looking this thread with great interest!

 

[evilchiken469]

Re: Nickelodeon's TMNT Promo costume

i was looking at doing the nick costumes as well. im thinking of using couch foam to build the majority of it then of course skin it with another fabric of some sort. im guessing this is how these were made any other guesses at how?

 

[nbehling]

Re: Nickelodeon's TMNT Promo costume

I'm back, It has been almost a year since I last thought about this project. But I come bearing progress.
I was motivated to go out, create something, and share it. (thanks Eric)
So i figured why not work on my turtle concept

I took this toy head from a tmnt bubble bottle and covered it in painters taped. Traced the contour cut them out, scaled it up, and made foam templates. then i grabbed the plans to this ninja turtle papercraft that was for a 20 cm model and did the same. Neither one was perfect but the combination turned out ok.


I combined the two patterns and got a non de-script turtle head. I have some work to do on the face slope but some of that will be cured with the mask.
Right now it looks most like Donny. I am going to cover this in upholstery foam and skin it in material. If i like the size, shape, and finish i will use it as a guide to make all four heads. With some modification and facial expression I am pretty sure i can make it look like all four turtles.

 

[HopeHeroes]

Re: Nickelodeon's TMNT Promo costume

Replicant X makes a good Turtle Suit look him up on here....he can hook you up

 

[SonnyC]

Re: Nickelodeon's TMNT Promo costume

I am really interested in building a Nickelodeon TMNT suit too. Not sure where to start. Have you made any progress since your last post, nbehling? It looks like you have a great start.

 

[bondoking]

Re: Nickelodeon's TMNT Promo costume

If you want do a search for michaelangelo costume here. I did this costume for Halloween last year. Exactly what your looking for

- - - Updated - - -

http://www.therpf.com/f24/2014-halloween-costume-contest-entry-build-thread-michaelangelo-cartoon-version-226666/?highlight=Michaelangelo

 

[nbehling]

Re: Nickelodeon's TMNT Promo costume

Here is an update with a ton of progress.
Since I last posted I have completed to many tasks to mention but i will try. So here are some photos to help explain where I am. Feel free to ask questions.

Update in no particular order

Carboard reinforced with expanding foam shell.
Feet, hand, front shell patterns made and replicated.
Spandex cut sewn streched and glued.
One turtle to near completion.
Now in production mode to create three more before halloween.

 

[nbehling]

Another update. The most important part of this whole costume is that I can move in it.

No better way to test that then to dance in it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0s9sTNjfbfA&feature=youtu.be

 

[Michael Bergeron]

Good luck in the contest!

 

[nbehling]

Raph is nearing completion and now I am making the rest of the turtles. I have gone into mass production mode. I spent the night last night making 6 more arms.

I am going to provide pictures of my custom templates so others can maybe get some ideas and use them.

 

[nbehling]

Mass production of arms are completed. Also the side (ribs?) of the shell are cut out and ready to have the spandex glued on. I would say that I am a couple days ahead of schedule. I went ahead and put a tape measure on the picture in case someone wants to create on themselves. Hopefully they can use it as a reference.

 

[nbehling]

More mass production. The legs are done the front shells are done. Leo's head is finally complete. I wanted to show off my collection. Time to wrap it all in spandex.

 

[Alpha Proto]

This is pretty interesting.
Are you going to make them all the same shade of green?

 

[JmanTurtleMan]

That's awesome! Could you provide more information about how you made the pattern for head? Thanks!

 

[JmanTurtleMan]

That's awesome! Could you provide more information about how you made the pattern for head? Thanks!

 

[nbehling]

I spent last night making 3 more shells. After I finish the gluing it all together i will put some expanding foam on the inside to help reinforce it.

 

[nbehling]

Thanks JmanTurtleMan,
I found a papercraft Leo online and enlarged it. As it turns out, It was to blocky for a human sized head.

If you look at the second post I showed how i covered a toy in tape and cut the pattern off. I took a picture of the pieces and autotraced them in illustrator. It took a couple tries but i got the proportions i was looking for.

After I finished the first head (mikey) i made slight adjustments to the pattern in order to get different shaped cheeks, beaks, and head dome.

I will looks for my pattern. I got a new computer. If i still have it i will send you the file. If it's lost i will take a picture of the pattern.

 

[nbehling]

This is pretty interesting.
Are you going to make them all the same shade of green?

If I have enough time before halloween i plan on tinting each turtle.

Last night I cut and sewed all the patterns for the legs. Tonight The arms.

 

[Kid Omega]

Looking pretty good! I worked at Nickelodeon Universe in costumes and had to help put a couple people into the TMNT costumes, so seeing someone making their own is super rad!

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