Ready, Set... CW Flash WIP (Pic Heavy)

SMP Designs

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RPF PREMIUM MEMBER
I've got a new project started (and it's not a Captain America!). I've been looking around and getting reference from the client and was able to jump into getting this one going last week. Here are a few of the reference images from the library I have.

flash-ref-2.jpg
flash-ref-6.jpg
flash-ref-8.jpg

Like most projects, this one begins with the creation of the fitting mock up. In order to create this, I get the client to fill in a measurement card and send it back along with several pictures. I then create a basic pattern based on that information. The new seams are drawn on and this will become the pattern for the mock up. Somewhat ironically, this base pattern is being created using a pattern I drafted a couple of years ago for a Smallville/comic hybrid version of Booster Gold.

flash-pattern-1.jpg
flash-pattern-2.jpg

This piece is cut apart, traced onto paper and used to cut the mock up and will serve as the first draft of the actual garment patterns. Those patterns are then used to cut similar fabrics to the final - we need heavy-weight fabrics in some places and stretch fabrics in others - and the fitting mock up is sewn together. Since this mock up is in bright red and the camera kind of blew out the color, I've added some lines onto the images to highlight the seams and where the gold lines will eventually go.

flash-mock-1a.jpg
flash-mock-2a.jpg

Seam lines at this point are not final. Some will be moved, some will be eliminated and some will be added. The main point at this stage is to ensure that the fit, proportions and planned structure will be correct for the client. The next step with this mock up is to add the collar and make a simple pant mock up. Then, these will go off to the client for a fitting.

In the meantime, in conversations with the client, we decided that we wanted to print some sections of the suit to get the pattern and color down. So, we collaborated on the pattern and have got it 90% finalized.

flash-fabric-draft-1.jpg

Once finalized via a test swatch, the printed yardage will be ordered.
More to come...
 
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Looks awesome! Where do you get the fabric printed? Will it be high density screen printing?

Thanks! I'll be going to Fabric on Demand. I'll get a sample first and see how it comes out. I'll have it printed on their spandex and then will fuse the pieces to a jumbo spandex or ponte to give it more thickness and body.

I missed this post! This is looking great! :D

Thanks! The mock up is almost done - I'll be posting more pics over the weekend. :)
 
Finally back on this project and have enough to share a decent update. So, picking up where I left off...

Once we had the design finalized, the fabric was printed by Fabric on Demand and the faux leather was purchased. Here are the final fabrics for the suit.

flash-fabric.jpg


The fitting was completed with the client and the mock up was returned with notes and markings for some sizing adjustments that needed to be made. I began with the jacket and revamped the pattern to both accommodate the alterations and incorporate some adjustments to the seams based on my research library for the costume.

flash-mock-3.jpg
flash-mock-4.jpg
flash-pattern-3.jpg


With the new pattern completed, I began constructing the body of the jacket. The printed fabric is a 4-way stretch and is fairly thin, so I decided that the costume needed to be backed with ponte to give it some extra body. However, simply backing each piece and then assembling the jacket made the seams too bulky - especially where the gold piping was being inset.

The answer to this was to make some sections of the jacket as a single layer shell and then line that section with ponte. Going with this strategy, I decided it was best to assemble the jacket back-to-front.I began with the center back pieces - single layer- and then the lower sides with the gold detail and the mid-sides.

flash-jacket-1.jpg
flash-jacket-2.jpg
flash-jacket-3.jpg


This entire section was made in just the shell fabrics and then a ponte version was made and flat-lined that to it.

Next, I moved on to the rib section.I wanted to try to emulate the dimensional effect of the ribs on the actual costume, so I tacked some headliner foam to the shell pieces with Super 77 and stitched the detail lines through the layers. The back section of this piece was cut from the shell, lined with ponte and attached at the side. The entire rib piece was then attached to the main back piece of the jacket.

flash-jacket-4.jpg
flash-jacket-5.jpg


The next pieces to add were the chest pieces. These pieces were cut from the faux leather and backed with headliner foam to give them some added structure to support the zipper and resin emblem.

flash-jacket-6.jpg


These pieces also feature an overlap on the zipper and a curved edge on the left side for the emblem where the zipper is centered down the rest of the jacket. More on that to come...In the meantime, the chest pieces and the center front stomach pieces are added to the rest of the jacket body.

flash-jacket-7.jpg


Here's the jacket at this point.

flash-jacket-8.jpg
flash-jacket-9.jpg


Next up - waistband, zipper, collar and sleeves.


flash-fabric.jpg


flash-mock-3.jpg


flash-mock-4.jpg


flash-pattern-3.jpg


flash-jacket-1.jpg


flash-jacket-2.jpg


flash-jacket-3.jpg


flash-jacket-4.jpg


flash-jacket-5.jpg


flash-jacket-6.jpg


flash-jacket-7.jpg


flash-jacket-8.jpg


flash-jacket-9.jpg
 
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Freaking Amazing.... Subscribed

Finally back on this project and have enough to share a decent update. So, picking up where I left off...

Once we had the design finalized, the fabric was printed by Fabric on Demand and the faux leather was purchased. Here are the final fabrics for the suit.

http://smpdesigns.com/smp/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/flash-fabric.jpg

The fitting was completed with the client and the mock up was returned with notes and markings for some sizing adjustments that needed to be made. I began with the jacket and revamped the pattern to both accommodate the alterations and incorporate some adjustments to the seams based on my research library for the costume.

http://smpdesigns.com/smp/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/flash-mock-3.jpg http://smpdesigns.com/smp/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/flash-mock-4.jpg http://smpdesigns.com/smp/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/flash-pattern-3.jpg

With the new pattern completed, I began constructing the body of the jacket. The printed fabric is a 4-way stretch and is fairly thin, so I decided that the costume needed to be backed with ponte to give it some extra body. However, simply backing each piece and then assembling the jacket made the seams too bulky - especially where the gold piping was being inset.

The answer to this was to make some sections of the jacket as a single layer shell and then line that section with ponte. Going with this strategy, I decided it was best to assemble the jacket back-to-front.I began with the center back pieces - single layer- and then the lower sides with the gold detail and the mid-sides.

http://smpdesigns.com/smp/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/flash-jacket-1.jpg http://smpdesigns.com/smp/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/flash-jacket-2.jpg http://smpdesigns.com/smp/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/flash-jacket-3.jpg

This entire section was made in just the shell fabrics and then a ponte version was made and flat-lined that to it.

Next, I moved on to the rib section.I wanted to try to emulate the dimensional effect of the ribs on the actual costume, so I tacked some headliner foam to the shell pieces with Super 77 and stitched the detail lines through the layers. The back section of this piece was cut from the shell, lined with ponte and attached at the side. The entire rib piece was then attached to the main back piece of the jacket.

http://smpdesigns.com/smp/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/flash-jacket-4.jpg http://smpdesigns.com/smp/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/flash-jacket-5.jpg

The next pieces to add were the chest pieces. These pieces were cut from the faux leather and backed with headliner foam to give them some added structure to support the zipper and resin emblem.

http://smpdesigns.com/smp/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/flash-jacket-6.jpg

These pieces also feature an overlap on the zipper and a curved edge on the left side for the emblem where the zipper is centered down the rest of the jacket. More on that to come...In the meantime, the chest pieces and the center front stomach pieces are added to the rest of the jacket body.

http://smpdesigns.com/smp/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/flash-jacket-7.jpg

Here's the jacket at this point.

http://smpdesigns.com/smp/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/flash-jacket-8.jpg http://smpdesigns.com/smp/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/flash-jacket-9.jpg

Next up - waistband, zipper, collar and sleeves.
 
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always in awe, I wish I could sew. I always got the thread stuck and it would bunch up on me. just plain gave up after that with fabric of any kind.

Thanks! Usually, thread bunching is either a tension problem or the needle is not the right size or is not facing the right direction.
 
You, sir, are a wizard, and this is awesome. I always enjoy your builds, and hope to employ many of your strategies if/when I tackle Cyclops's red Marvel Now suit next year. Keep up the phenomenal work!
 
You, sir, are a wizard, and this is awesome. I always enjoy your builds, and hope to employ many of your strategies if/when I tackle Cyclops's red Marvel Now suit next year. Keep up the phenomenal work!

Thanks man! Marvel Now Cyclops - that's a good one!
 
Time for a Flash update!

Picking up where I lift off on the jacket, the next step was to complete the facing on the upper left side. The zipper is centered down the rest of the jacket, but the left side of the chest has to have an overlap with a curved section to hold the emblem. The facing was cut to match the shape of the left side of the chest and stitched down, turned under and top stitched.

flash-jacket-10.jpg
flash-jacket-11.jpg
flash-jacket-12.jpg


Once the facing was in place, the zipper was set in. I then moved on to the sleeves.

The sleeves have a segmented section in the back that accommodates the bend in the elbow. To create this area, I created a template of the segments on the paper pattern and used that as a guide. I cut the entire sleeve section from a solid piece of stretch ponte. Then, I cut 2" strips of faux leather and, using Super77, tacked under the edges to create a finished 1" strip. The strips were then stitched down to the base working from bottom to top and all the faux leather was trimmed to the proper shape.

flash-jacket-13.jpg


The shoulder and back piping were added next and then the front of the sleeve and the front section of piping. Lastly, the cuff with the thumb loop addition was added and the whole bottom edge was finished with top stitching. There's also a 7" zipper in the back of each cuff.

flash-jacket-14.jpg
flash-jacket-14-1.jpg
flash-jacket-15.jpg
flash-jacket-16.jpg
flash-jacket-17.jpg


The last major component to the jacket was the collar. The collar was made of faux leather with a section of the stretch in the back. The collar is also oversized for the neck so that it will accommodate the cowl that needs to fit underneath.

flash-jacket-18.jpg
flash-jacket-19.jpg


Here is the jacket at this point.

flash-jacket-20.jpg
flash-jacket-21.jpg


The last things to do on the jacket are small finishing closures on the collar and chest flap, the velcro for the emblem, finishing on the zippers and the thumb loops and binding on the bottom.

Then, it's on to the pants!


flash-jacket-10.jpg


flash-jacket-11.jpg


flash-jacket-12.jpg


flash-jacket-13.jpg


flash-jacket-14.jpg


flash-jacket-14-1.jpg


flash-jacket-15.jpg


flash-jacket-16.jpg


flash-jacket-17.jpg


flash-jacket-18.jpg


flash-jacket-19.jpg


flash-jacket-20.jpg


flash-jacket-21.jpg
 
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This is just incredible! Love seeing how others work, even if it does make me feel so inferior with my own skills hah.

The jacket looks AMAZING! Can't wait to see the pants! :thumbsup

This is incredible dude :thumbsup

Thanks guys

I'm really pleased with the way it's coming out. Frankly, I was a bit frustrated at first with the dye sub Lycra on something this structured. It was too thin on its own, but just slightly too thick when backed. Plus, adding in the piping created some bulk issues in the seams and intersections. It did take some experimenting to get it to behave properly, but it's turning out quite well, I think.

Cheers!
 
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