TMNT: Original Mutant Ninjas

[saiofwrath]

Greetings all. I've been a costumer for the past 3 years, and now it's time to take another step into a new costume. A group of my friends and myself have undertaken the challenge of doing something I've personally yet to see any group, or single person do: The original Laird & Eastman comic Turtles. We have our plans drawn up, and currently have started steps towards creating one of the four brothers. I don't want to give too much away yet, but the concept we're going for is to look as if the creators reached into the pages and ripped the green dudes out. We're basing our outfits on the NECA toy line and, if all goes as planned (knock on wood), it'll be something I've yet to come across with this group.

As progress is made, I'll be posting updates with pictures. Any advice on undersuits for foam muscle pieces and shell material that is affordable is very much so welcome. Our budget is small considering our group has different financial situations, so we're trying to keep everything under $400 total. So far we've found an affordable foam source as well as one for the weapons. Tomorrow I have a meeting with a seamstress regarding our outer suits. Hopefully I'll be able to give progress photos and updates by Friday evening.

 

[Shadow]

Look forward to this ...

 

[Vivalaraab]

And so... The Adventure begins.

 

[saiofwrath]

So, we've run into a small road block. Cutting out the shapes from foam with electric carving knife: easy. SCULPTING the shapes to be more refined and accurate: Not easy. Anyone have advice on an alternative method for this?

 

[Baron]

you're going to need a serrated blade to make it easier. I've been carving foam the past week, and xacto knives have yielded little to no results, but a small hobby hand saw with a serrated blade cuts through it with ease.

 

[Candlejack]

Hey, saiofwrath. What kind of foam are you using? I'm looking into carving foam for the head of a costume. It'll be fairly oversized like a mascot head about the width of my shoulders. I'm having trouble identifying/finding the foam they used in this How It's Made - Mascots video, YouTube - How It's Made-Mascots , but the guy seems to carve pretty well with that utility knife and the foam seems very rigid. He's got some really nice rounded edges. Any help identifying it would be appreciated. Really looking forward to your progress.

 

[charlie30]

Can't wait to see this take shape

 

[saiofwrath]

Candle, we're using medium firmness upholstery foam. It's light and flexible enough to be comfortable. Unlike a lot of people who do this, we're doing muscle sections rather than entire portions, such as the arms and legs being like a shirt and pants. Here's some progress pictures.

Arm muscles. Biceps and triceps, underneath are the forearm muscles.

 

[CustomPropSculptorGuy]

See if you guys were using clay I could try to help ya LoL

 

[MjolnirArmor]

Ye Olde "coming soon" thread.

I LOVE the original movie costumes. I still can't get over how well they wear and move.

 

[saiofwrath]

Only reason I'm not telling what the outer layer is right now is so that it'll be a (hopefully good) surprise. As far as movement, we feel we're going to have a wide range with our arms and legs because of the super lightweight of this foam. And since we're not going with a full wrap on any of our limbs, our dexterity won't suffer either. Hopefully by tomorrow I'll be able to post shots of the lower legs, hands, feet, and head. By the way, the guy in the 2nd picture is our Leonardo.

Edit: We've actually determined that overall, since we're only making 4 outfits, that this method is cheaper than going with the clay>mold>castable foam route. Foam wise, this is only $73 per person, whereas the other way ends up at least $150, not to mention splitting the cost for materials to make the molds. And it increases our production time.

 

[saiofwrath]

TONS of production photos, finally! Well...not tons...but more than I've posted so far and much overdue to all of you who are interested in the progress. Ever since Norm (aka Leo) has been coming over, we've been getting a lot done since his mind is really crazy, in a good way...mostly...yeah...and he's our leader...ANNNNYWAY, not to keep you waiting. I'll put explanations of pics above each one.

Me cutting out the base layer of the front shell. We're going with multi-layered cardboard that will be coated in fiberglass.

Front shell base, cut out complete.

 

[saiofwrath]

Drawing the foot.

More drawing.

Foot cutout. Template was made after, yes, odd, but to phrase in a way of one of my other personalities (If you can figure it out, you get a metaphorical cookie), "There's a method to the madness...I just don't know what it is! I'm not really a big 'plan' guy, ya know?"

 

[saiofwrath]

Testing my foot placement inside the turtle foot.

Foot slot cut out, used twine to tie on the leg pieces to give an idea as to how things will look. For the foot, this is pre-shaping and detailing. Also need to add a little to the inner calf.

Since these were only tied onto my leg, definitive placement not possible, but the idea is there. And yes, the Godzilla tattoo is real.

 

[saiofwrath]

Showing dexterity with the seperation of the muscles with a roundhouse chamber in jeans, no stretching, normally my posture is better.

And I don't need to lean on a pillar...

 

[Mole]

Laird & Eastman turtle suits?

I love you!

 

[saiofwrath]

Yup. We're basing them off the NECA figures, which luckily I have, no need to search reference photos and guess at scaling on every part. Only differences in sculpts will be the heads, and I love mine:

 

[CustomPropSculptorGuy]

So - wait - what kinda look are you going for w/these suits??

 

[CustomPropSculptorGuy]

nvm - posted as I was posting Lol

 

[Mole]

Sweet! Going to be watching this thread. Can't wait to see how this works out.