Marthony
Well-Known Member
Hello,
I seek to make classic comic red & gold Iron Man of '68-'85 (the longest-running version) for Halloween. While I've been whittling away on details for this project for a couple months, this Monday I'll have a torso mold made (head cast coming as well) and physical work will begin. I'm working from comic book references only, and scaling everything to fit my body. I've a plan but also questions to check parts of it please.
My biggest design challenge at this point is the approach to the torso & its abs section, and how I plan to transition into the codpiece 'wrap':
- 1. I am tempted to create an airspace between my body and the torso of 3/8" (same as the EVA foam I'll be using) for ventilation. The method will be to create a foam layer on my torso dummy to represent this space, and then pattern the actual costume torso on top of that. Once created, I'd add lengths of open-cell foam (or other? Please suggest) on the inside of the torso to keep it roughly 3/8" from my bodysuit (layer on dummy not used beyond this use). I am aware different types of open-cell foam will compress and testing is needed; foam will likely need to be 1/2" or greater to effect a 3/8" spacing.
- Q - Has anyone tried this? Does it sound like a practical method for better ventilation or more trouble than its worth? I won't have enough space for a computer fan.
- 2. Regardless of above airspace vs. trimmed under-layer of EVA under the actual torso, I plan to have the actual torso built out from my body slightly for sake of the abs. The abs are slightly behind the ribcage (while mine are slightly in front to be honest), so I want the torso to taper in for the abs section. Abs section foam is to use 1/4" EVA vs. 3/8" EVA to assist spacing and for more flexibility while worn. My thought here is that a torso piece that goes all the way to the codpiece will be fairly inflexible and restrict movement. My avatar's Iron Giant torso has a gap between the torso & codpiece and was agile.
- Q - Should I accept the torso's limits on flexibility, or arrange the abs section to be a separate section that floats and can glide under the torso? This would mean angle-cutting on the back and might still be visibly separate.
- 3. I plan to do Iron Man's codpiece the same way I did Iron Giant's: The front, rear, and side pods would effectively be on a horizontal belt secured together with Velcro (possibly tethered to parts of abs to keep in position), with elastic between the bottoms of the front & rear codpiece. This approach is to make it simple to use a urinal, and I also wouldn't want the mobility loss if front & rear were attached to the abs section. Bottom of abs section would be angle-cut at bottom, and codpiece belt may overlap by 1" to cover golden-metallic bodysuit.
- Q - Can you think of a better way to connect/transition the codpiece to the abs, as I want them separate?
- 4. Transition from torso to helmet: I do have some metallic red bodysuit material that I could make a dickie with, and then figure out how to add the black lines. Alternative would be to use thin EVA to make a wrap around my neck, but some skin would likely show. Bodypainting my neck could work too, and not restrict movement or ventilation.
Q - How would you approach this section?
- 5. Helmet. Range of view looks rough! I can angle-cut the mouth to have a chance of looking down through it, but it looks like I'd need the eye openings as close as possible for better field of view. Bottom below chin would remain open. FYI eye slits would be uncovered - no need to cover for this version. (almost unrelated - outer circle of ear covers will be cut away and replaced with mesh (painted) for ventilation & hearing.)
Q - How might I get the best field of vision for this version?
- 6. Gauntlets. Plan is to paint-test leather, with the idea to wear painted leather gloves that connect to the EVA forearms. Black lines would be hand-painted on the gloves, and on the EVA I'd score & heat to create the notches and hand-paint those black as well.
Q - Should I be looking at other glove materials other than leather to best get a reasonable paint match and cover the transition from glove to forearm?
- 7. Top of torso ring. As I doubt I'd be able to fit my head through there as-is, considering a length that would be added to the torso after putting it on, connecting to the torso at its edges and to itself at the back. Velcro or magnets (haven't used magnets before) would be method to connect.
Q - How have you approached tight neck hole characters? Am I on the right track?
- 8. I'm aware that the shoulder rings/pauldrons will have to be open at the bottom for fair range of movement.
- 9. I've bought a metallic gold spray paint that matches my body suit fairly well, for the front of the helmet & chest uni-beam. I'm still sourcing out metallic red spray paint. Depending on how I approach the neck, I might seek a color close to the metallic red fabric I already have.
Sorry for so many questions, but with 3 months to get this right, now is the time! =)
Thanks for any suggestions!
I seek to make classic comic red & gold Iron Man of '68-'85 (the longest-running version) for Halloween. While I've been whittling away on details for this project for a couple months, this Monday I'll have a torso mold made (head cast coming as well) and physical work will begin. I'm working from comic book references only, and scaling everything to fit my body. I've a plan but also questions to check parts of it please.
My biggest design challenge at this point is the approach to the torso & its abs section, and how I plan to transition into the codpiece 'wrap':
- 1. I am tempted to create an airspace between my body and the torso of 3/8" (same as the EVA foam I'll be using) for ventilation. The method will be to create a foam layer on my torso dummy to represent this space, and then pattern the actual costume torso on top of that. Once created, I'd add lengths of open-cell foam (or other? Please suggest) on the inside of the torso to keep it roughly 3/8" from my bodysuit (layer on dummy not used beyond this use). I am aware different types of open-cell foam will compress and testing is needed; foam will likely need to be 1/2" or greater to effect a 3/8" spacing.
- Q - Has anyone tried this? Does it sound like a practical method for better ventilation or more trouble than its worth? I won't have enough space for a computer fan.
- 2. Regardless of above airspace vs. trimmed under-layer of EVA under the actual torso, I plan to have the actual torso built out from my body slightly for sake of the abs. The abs are slightly behind the ribcage (while mine are slightly in front to be honest), so I want the torso to taper in for the abs section. Abs section foam is to use 1/4" EVA vs. 3/8" EVA to assist spacing and for more flexibility while worn. My thought here is that a torso piece that goes all the way to the codpiece will be fairly inflexible and restrict movement. My avatar's Iron Giant torso has a gap between the torso & codpiece and was agile.
- Q - Should I accept the torso's limits on flexibility, or arrange the abs section to be a separate section that floats and can glide under the torso? This would mean angle-cutting on the back and might still be visibly separate.
- 3. I plan to do Iron Man's codpiece the same way I did Iron Giant's: The front, rear, and side pods would effectively be on a horizontal belt secured together with Velcro (possibly tethered to parts of abs to keep in position), with elastic between the bottoms of the front & rear codpiece. This approach is to make it simple to use a urinal, and I also wouldn't want the mobility loss if front & rear were attached to the abs section. Bottom of abs section would be angle-cut at bottom, and codpiece belt may overlap by 1" to cover golden-metallic bodysuit.
- Q - Can you think of a better way to connect/transition the codpiece to the abs, as I want them separate?
- 4. Transition from torso to helmet: I do have some metallic red bodysuit material that I could make a dickie with, and then figure out how to add the black lines. Alternative would be to use thin EVA to make a wrap around my neck, but some skin would likely show. Bodypainting my neck could work too, and not restrict movement or ventilation.
Q - How would you approach this section?
- 5. Helmet. Range of view looks rough! I can angle-cut the mouth to have a chance of looking down through it, but it looks like I'd need the eye openings as close as possible for better field of view. Bottom below chin would remain open. FYI eye slits would be uncovered - no need to cover for this version. (almost unrelated - outer circle of ear covers will be cut away and replaced with mesh (painted) for ventilation & hearing.)
Q - How might I get the best field of vision for this version?
- 6. Gauntlets. Plan is to paint-test leather, with the idea to wear painted leather gloves that connect to the EVA forearms. Black lines would be hand-painted on the gloves, and on the EVA I'd score & heat to create the notches and hand-paint those black as well.
Q - Should I be looking at other glove materials other than leather to best get a reasonable paint match and cover the transition from glove to forearm?
- 7. Top of torso ring. As I doubt I'd be able to fit my head through there as-is, considering a length that would be added to the torso after putting it on, connecting to the torso at its edges and to itself at the back. Velcro or magnets (haven't used magnets before) would be method to connect.
Q - How have you approached tight neck hole characters? Am I on the right track?
- 8. I'm aware that the shoulder rings/pauldrons will have to be open at the bottom for fair range of movement.
- 9. I've bought a metallic gold spray paint that matches my body suit fairly well, for the front of the helmet & chest uni-beam. I'm still sourcing out metallic red spray paint. Depending on how I approach the neck, I might seek a color close to the metallic red fabric I already have.
Sorry for so many questions, but with 3 months to get this right, now is the time! =)
Thanks for any suggestions!
