WIP - Original Dinotopia's Skybax Rider flight suit

[DrRodnayMcKay]

Hello all !

I'm currently working on a project I've been dreaming about for a long time ago, a Skybax Rider flight suit, from the original Dinotopia books by James Gurney, before making the ones as seen on the films.
So, this is the first part of my work, with a reference picture.

Enjoy !

Reference :

and my work at this time :

Next step : the long sleeved underneath shirt

Breath Deep, Fly High !!!

 

[Rens]

Not trying to be a jerk here, but it looks like the top might be more of a tunic-type design that is long enough to cover the crotchular area, with a belt, instead of a shirt/shorts combo. I haven't read the Dinotopia books though, so I could be wrong.

If you decide to keep the shorts, you may want to sew the leggings to the shorts, so as to get rid of the bulk of the pants underneath the shorts.

Also it looks like you're working with a knit fabric, you might have better luck with a more structured fabric like a cotton twill. You will have to sew a more structured garment, with some sort of closure, but the end result may be more flattering

That's my $.02, hope it helps.

 

[AJLoCascio]

**Agrees with RENS**

It kinda looks like you threw a tank top and underwear over your clothing here. I'm not saying this with the intention of being mean - but in order for a costume this simplistic to look great you really do need something more rigid and less fruit of the loom. Got any more reference pics so we can grasp this bettter ?

my $.02

 

[DrRodnayMcKay]

Sorry, but you're both wrong.

Here is the very beggining. I got other pictures that show there are two pieces, not only one long tunic, but as you didn't read the books, you couldn't know

For the shirt, it is cotton too, but need some little reajustment to fit me properly.

And in the original pattern, there is actually a pant under the short and not a leggin sewn for the legs.

But these shirt, short and pant are nly the three first pieces of the suit, and some other are coming, thx BTW.
I got some of my infos from James Gurney himself

Edit : See, the two pieces red shirt and short :

 

[AJLoCascio]

I would say take in the shirt more and give it more of a fitted look like the pics. It's a tough costume since its so very simple. You really need to get creative to make it pop.

- Moony

 

[DrRodnayMcKay]

Yes I know. I will recut the shirt later to fit me ^^

And I've planned to add some leather stripes, nametapes, etc, to complete it perfectly
Won't stop only with that.

 

[Darth Mule]

I will third the suggestion of a structured material. The "shirt" look more like a fitted jerkin to me in the reference you've provided. At any rate, it would be more flattering than the knit shirt.

Might also think about getting a pant pattern and adjusting it so that the red and green are sewn together rather than an overshort, and build them both out of the structured fabric, such as twill or cotton duck. You'd probably avoid that unfortunate moose-knuckle too. :lol

Could be a really cool costume. Looks like he has armored pauldrons. Any idea how you'll tackle those? Craft foam perhaps?

 

[DrRodnayMcKay]

High density foam actually ^^

 

[SkeletonMan]

love Dinotopia. never that of tackling a costume from it though.. thought they were a bit too outlandish. I never got to read the first book either.

 

[propologist]

not flattering at all is it...LMAO.

 

[DrRodnayMcKay]

Xcuse Me, LMAO stands for ??

 

[propologist]

Xcuse Me, LMAO stands for ??

Laugh my A## off....I can't wait to see it finished. That was a great series...

 

[AJLoCascio]

I'm looking forward to this progress - this is a very tricky design. It's like green lantern - you can hop into some green spandex and call it a day - but when people start building and adding is when it really stands out. This design if not taken literally and made with fabric that really gives you body some more form - becasue I like you am very skinny - would really help.

Us slender fold need a wee bit of padding and thicker fabric to really pull off the fitted look with some shape.

best of luck brotha'

 

[RebellionBarbie]

Hmmm. I've had a skybax rider uniform on my costume to-do list for a while now and I've been researching for a couple months myself...I can definitely tell you that the outfit is not a two piece. If you have the second book "World Beneath" you can definitely see Will Denison's outfit is a single leotard with a belt around the waist.

Really small pic, I couldn't find a larger version online, sorry. But do check out World Beneath, that's where I've been getting most of my reference images. It seems to be a red leotard with two vertical ribs running from the sides of the crotch up to the neckline, with a gold material inside the neckline at the top and dark grey piping around the neck. The epaulette designs are also clearly printed in the first Dinotopia book, depending on if you're aiming to do an apprentice or expert, so that might also be of help. [Edit: Also the belt buckle has the same skybax silhouette on it that is on the epaulettes.]

The bodysuit seems a little more difficult, since the top and pants are different colors. The pants have some red piping and he's got fabric wrap-around spats with more of the red piping.

Good luck with this! I'd love to see what others can make of the outfit. Breathe deep, seek peace! ^_^