Red Hood Pre/New 52 Hybrid WIP

[SuperSkeptik]

Yet another Red Hood build! This will be my first cosplay and I've been thinking about doing it for about a year now. I just got back from college a little less than a month ago, so now I have the time and space to work on it. I love the character of the Red Hood and everyone knows he's been through a variety of changes throughout the years. I love the old helmet from Under the Hood as well as the looser, more urban look. However, I also enjoy the armor of the New 52, as well as a few other small things that made him seem more like a super-hero.

Here are a few of my reference pictures:



This is the kind of costume I would like to work on for years, constantly improving it, but my main goal is be finished with it by NYC ComicCon in October. I'm going on Saturday and also on Sunday, with my fiancee who will be dressed as Batgirl. I enjoyed the idea of the couple being the two Batman sidekicks most hurt by the Joker.

I started by assembling the helmet. I got a cool pepakura file from BlackKaos. Hit some difficulties my first try at the helmet (since it was my first time working with pep), namely because I started at the top of the helmet. As a result, getting the more complicated spots around the eyes and nose weren't working.

I figured, screw it, and started a new one, this time beginning with the more complicated spots. I literally just finished assembling it and hit a problem. It won't fit over my head. Not sure what to do, because as I said, it's my first time. I double checked the file and my head measurements and it says it should fit 23-24" and I have right in between, but my head won't fit at all. So now I'm not sure if I messed up enough that it would narrow the opening so much or if I'm supposed to trim something immediately or what.

Any advice on that, or anything at all in this process, is greatly appreciated. Especially with this helmet. I'm eager to start fiberglassing and bondo'ing, because I know how much time that will take. Thanks, everyone!

 

[Vox]

The helmet is designed to house a 23"-24" head, not necessarily fit around one while putting it on. You have a couple options here. You can either modify the folding of the bottom rim so that it is wide enough to fit over your head, but I do not recommend that since you risk compromising the shape.

The best way I have seen people circumvent this problem is to fiberglass/resin the entire piece, up until they are ready to paint, and then cut the helmet from side to side about 2/3 of the way back from the "face." From there, the helmet can be put on in 2 pieces, and the pieces are attached with a method of choice (i.e. hinge, slides, strong magnets attached to tabs, etc.).

First things first though: I would use this pep that you have done as a test run, and actually cut away the bottom to see how it fits on your head. Better to have to pep one more time for your final, rather than applying all of the fiberglass and bondo only to realize that, once it is on, it does not quite fit as you had hoped.

Hope that helps!

 

[SuperSkeptik]

Thanks, Vox! I appreciate it. I've been following your build, it's definitely been an inspiration to me.

 

[Luis Rodriguez]

i had some troubles with the size of my helmet, but i realized that if the helmet is well fitted,you are going to have a hard time when you put it ... , try to force your head in the helmet before you do all the resin/fiberglass thing... if you can get in the helmet, you will be fine, because once you put the fiberglass and the bondo yo can make bigger the hole in the helmet with a dremmel or a similar tool.... that's what i did in my red hood helmet, and i just struggle at the beginning, but i'm very comfortable when my head is totally inside the helmet.

good luck with your build !

 

[SuperSkeptik]

Awesome, Luis, thanks. And I've been following your build. Helpful stuff!

So tonight I've slit open a few parts in the back and put in paper inserts to widen the back. Now it fits! I'm sure it'll look a bit funny in the back now, but I figure I can even it out once I get to the bondo stage. Plus, the back part isn't my priority. Depending on how much fun I have with this, I'll probably go back and build a new, better one later.

 

[SuperSkeptik]

One of the things I want is a utility belt. Since this isn't any particular Red Hood, I figure I can do that. Partially because I think it would look more realistic, but partially because I just think it would be cool.

Initially I was planning on building a functioning batman belt. But then when I was at an army surplus store at the Englishtown Auction, I found these.



They're these leather pouches that your belt can loop through. I got one big one, and then two of those smaller double ones. As you can see, one of the buttons snapped off the leather. I'll have to glue it back on or something, easy.

They're a bit tiny so they can't hold too many useful things, but hey. I'm thinking I can at least fit some spirit gum (for my mask), some spare glue, stuff like that.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[SuperSkeptik]

One of the iconic things about the Red Hood is his guns. I was gonna get some prop pistols for it (because I work in film I end up needing them anyway), but I need some for NYC comic con. The rules are that the guns should be clearly not real. So like cardboard, foam, etc. Any suggestions on what to make them out of or how? Thanks!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Vox]

Perhaps double check with people that have gone. Chicago's c2e2 has very similar rules, but people get in with air soft guns all the time. The key seems to be the orange tips, lack of any ammunition in the guns or on your person, and zip ties holding the triggers in the firing position against the gun handle. Maybe ask around to see if that will work?

With the unfortunate number of shootings in Chicago this year, I would be surprised if anything more than a water pistol makes it in next year

 

[SuperSkeptik]

Well, my asking here was my way of asking around people who have cosplayed at NYC comic con. None of my friends really go/cosplay


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[SuperSkeptik]

I've been working on the endless Bondo/sanding process. I cut the eyes out as well, and was finally able to get enough of the bottom of the helmet open that I can wear it.

I also ordered a leather jacket off eBay and it works pretty great. I'll try to get some pictures up soon.

Things have been slowing down with work and my summer courses, but once I get the proper foam to make the armor, I'll be able to work faster again. It'll be easier when I have things I can work on in my room in front of my laptop.

 

[SuperSkeptik]

As promised, pictures of the jacket. It looks kinda black in these pictures, but in person it's a lot more dirty brown. As you can see it's a little baggy, but I figure the armor will help fill it out some. I happened to be wearing one of my dozens of batman shirts as I was taking the pictures, so that was convenient.

Especially since one of the New 52 parts I want on my suit is the bat emblem. It'll help tip off all the people who don't know who the Red Hood is, that at least they'll know he's in the Bat Family

 

[SuperSkeptik]

Here are a few pictures of me in the helmet and jacket. Clearly, I've still got some work ahead of me. Any bits of advice on the helmet welcome!

 

[rasendori04]

Excellent work. Very nice helmet. I love the custom Red Hoods, He seems to be a fairly versatile character where you can do what you want with him, and still look great. Keep it up.

 

[HyruleInfantry]

Just a suggestion use white mesh material for the eyes. It can help with air circulation and might make it easier to wear for long periods of time.

 

[SuperSkeptik]

Just a suggestion use white mesh material for the eyes. It can help with air circulation and might make it easier to wear for long periods of time.

Absolutely, man. I tried it on earlier with just the shell you see and I was dying, lol

 

[SuperSkeptik]

GUNS GUNS GUNS.

I got two of these bad boys for cheap at Kmart and now I'll spraypaint them black except the tips. Also take the batteries out. They're just cheap plastic noise making guns so I'm sure they'll be fine for Comic-Con. I'm happy to not have to worry about them now.

 

[SuperSkeptik]

So earlier I mentioned that I was also working on a new Batgirl costume for my fiancee. We just got the jacket, which is basically the cornerstone of the costume. I'll be making a separate thread for it, but I was too excited to not tell people yet. We would have taken pictures of the jacket, but after Katie's play, she wanted froyo

 

[Randy Guhl]

great start

 

[SuperSkeptik]

A problem I've noticed with a lot of Red Hood's I've seen is their neck. Or even their wrists. I don't know what it is, but seeing the unprotected skin for this armored cosplay has always just pulled me out of it. To make sure I don't get any of that, I got this compression shirt with a hoodie.



It fits quite well and I can pull the hood down easily when I want to take the helmet off and just wear the eye mask.

 

[SuperSkeptik]

Hey, gang. I'm trying to also work on the armor on days I can't get around to working on the helmet but I hit a snag. I'm not sure where to get my foam. I've been looking at billions of different kinds, but I'm nervous about buying the wrong kind. Any ideas on where to buy the good kind online?