Star Trek II Engineering Radiation Suit - Complete!

Jedifyfe

Master Member

RPF PREMIUM MEMBER

• Feb 14, 2012

• #21

Re: WIP - Star Trek II Engineering Radiation Suit

SSgt Burton said:

He's has a reputation of being a "miracle worker."
Kevin

Click to expand...

Seriously, Eric works at lightning speed and makes it looks so easy!

 

GeraldBarnacle

New Member

• Feb 15, 2012

• #22

Re: WIP - Star Trek II Engineering Radiation Suit

I'm seeing plenty of drool-worthy output here today. This is on my cool list!

 

Felgacarb

Sr Member

• Feb 15, 2012

• #23

Re: WIP - Star Trek II Engineering Radiation Suit

Taggart said:

How do you make the pattern from scratch? It looks like magic. How do you know what size to make each piece?

Click to expand...

Sadly, no magic, I use what is probably the 'hard way'-

I start with some existing clothing that fits about how I want the costume to. Then I study the screen caps and any information I can find to figure out where the seams should go.

Next I trace the clothes outline onto paper, and move the seams to match the costume. I use these patterns to make a mockup out of scrap material (leftovers from previous projects, cheap muslin- even old bedsheets once!) and I hang the mockup on my paper-tape sewing dummy.

I then can pin and adjust the mockup until it hangs right, and I use that to alter the patterns. I repeat that until I'm convinced my patterns are good.

The very last step, once the costume is all done, is usually to go back and alter the patterns one more time- so that if I do something similar in the future, I'll have a better starting point.


Not too much done during this week- I managed to make and attache the shoulder boards on Monday, and the zipper flap and butt panel last night. But the neoprene is on order, so I should be able to post some exciting neck ring pictures soon!

 

Last edited: Feb 15, 2012

T

terryr

Sr Member

• Feb 15, 2012

• #24

Re: WIP - Star Trek II Engineering Radiation Suit

That's a good looking and believable suit. Sort of a Space Mechanic. Good job on it.

 

C

Cadeian

Active Member

• Feb 15, 2012

• #25

Re: WIP - Star Trek II Engineering Radiation Suit

I just wanted to repeat the sentiment I've already seen expressed:

I LOVE watching your threads!

Someday I wanna learn to sew this well.

 

reaper63

Sr Member

• Feb 16, 2012

• #26

Re: WIP - Star Trek II Engineering Radiation Suit

Dude, Seriously, is there anything you can't put together and make it look easy (I did say make it LOOK easy lol)

Great job man!!!

 

Felgacarb

Sr Member

• Feb 17, 2012

• #27

Re: WIP - Star Trek II Engineering Radiation Suit

Thanks, guys!

Cadeian said:

Someday I wanna learn to sew this well.

Click to expand...

It's doable- grab a sewing machine (an old thrift store find, for example) and go for it. It's just a matter of getting in the practice. My stuff is still pretty rough up close- I've got a ways further to go-


So, this week I got some mostly small stuff done. I did the shoulder boards:

And hand stitched on a lot of other stuff- such as the rank pin 'pillow'

I then convinced myself that the front panel was not wide enough. It just didn't look right, proportionally. So made a new one, and replaced it. (Making a new one is pretty easy- undoing and redoing all the hand stitching to replace it is not... D'oh!)

So here's where we are now- the jumpsuit is pretty much done:

I'm thinking all that padding at the hips is making me look fat. The solution to that is usually to pose with a phaser...

Next I'll need to get going on the big rubbery neck part. I'm getting the neoprene early next week, and I should have time to make the pattern this weekend.

I'll also need to make the boots- here's the target:

It seems like the best approach would be to do what I (believe) they did for the films- find some early '80s moon boots and cover them with material, piping and those circles. But I have not had any luck on ebay or etsy finding any in my size yet- any clever ideas here are welcome!

 

STpropguy76

Well-Known Member

• Feb 17, 2012

• #28

Re: WIP - Star Trek II Engineering Radiation Suit

I'd say go with the slippers, It gives it a casual Friday look...

 

AMP

Well-Known Member

• Feb 17, 2012

• #29

Re: WIP - Star Trek II Engineering Radiation Suit

AWESOME work so far!

 

P

peter1701

Sr Member

• Feb 17, 2012

• #30

Re: WIP - Star Trek II Engineering Radiation Suit

Absolutely fantastic work. Seriously I love your work. Please for the love of god start selling!

 

Felgacarb

Sr Member

• Feb 20, 2012

• #31

Re: WIP - Star Trek II Engineering Radiation Suit

STpropguy76 said:

I'd say go with the slippers, It gives it a casual Friday look...

Click to expand...

(That's it, next time I'm posing wearing the BSG Sidi Fullbores...)

Thanks Amp & Peter!

While waiting for my neoprene I got a little bit more done. I made the pattern for the neck part-

And then used it to make a Foamy mockup to test how it lays on the costume.

I also convinced myself that my climbing harness loops were not convincing enough looking, so I did a second version of them.

The new shown with the old:

This is how things stand now.

I can't wait to start making the real neck part...

 

tim

Sr Member

• Feb 20, 2012

• #32

Re: WIP - Star Trek II Engineering Radiation Suit

Wow. Amazing!

Perhaps a little OT, but how do you clean your costumes? Spot clean surface stains only? Dry clean? If I were wearing a white costume, it wouldn't stay white for long.

 

Felgacarb

Sr Member

• Feb 20, 2012

• #33

Re: WIP - Star Trek II Engineering Radiation Suit

tim said:

Wow. Amazing!

Perhaps a little OT, but how do you clean your costumes? Spot clean surface stains only? Dry clean? If I were wearing a white costume, it wouldn't stay white for long.

Click to expand...

That is an excellent question. Normally, since I don't do much besides walk around and pose in these outfits, it isn't much of an issue. I just make a point to wear underclothes that can be easily washed, and spot clean the rest.

But this one has me worried, since it is white... Since it's all cotton, I could probably machine wash it if I had to, although I might have to remove most of the hand-stitched details first- (and I really would not like to do that. On the other hand, I think they did do that every time with the actual screen used outfits...)

My starting plan is to try to stay clean, spot wash anything I can, and hope for the best!

 

Luke Warmwater

Sr Member

• Feb 20, 2012

• #34

Re: WIP - Star Trek II Engineering Radiation Suit

I am always blown away by the level of detail and craftsmanship that you are able to achieve.

 

tim

Sr Member

• Feb 20, 2012

• #35

Re: WIP - Star Trek II Engineering Radiation Suit

Felgacarb said:

That is an excellent question. Normally, since I don't do much besides walk around and pose in these outfits, it isn't much of an issue. I just make a point to wear underclothes that can be easily washed, and spot clean the rest.

But this one has me worried, since it is white... Since it's all cotton, I could probably machine wash it if I had to, although I might have to remove most of the hand-stitched details first- (and I really would not like to do that. On the other hand, I think they did do that every time with the actual screen used outfits...)

My starting plan is to try to stay clean, spot wash anything I can, and hope for the best!

Click to expand...

Cool. Thanks for sharing a bit about how you handle these practical concerns. I wonder if the radiation suit could be hand washed without having to remove the adornments?

 

STpropguy76

Well-Known Member

• Feb 20, 2012

• #36

Re: WIP - Star Trek II Engineering Radiation Suit

Might want to add a pocket for a Bleach Pen.

 

enan

New Member

• Feb 20, 2012

• #37

Re: WIP - Star Trek II Engineering Radiation Suit

great work... the black collar helps alot it just doesn't look right without it...

As for cleaning I would try the home drycleaning kits that they sell, I use one for my Kilt and it works pretty good, it is a wool/ploy blend..I also use it for my RevWar regimental coat that is 100% wool and has white facings on it. They come out pretty clean, although I do a lot more than walking around in it so it does get pretty beat up over a campaigning season.

 

Felgacarb

Sr Member

• Feb 22, 2012

• #38

Re: WIP - Star Trek II Engineering Radiation Suit

My Neoprene arrived!

So, I've been working on the neck part.

It took a couple of tries to start to get things scaled in right. Pretty much, it's just a big hunk of neoprene, with a whole lot of neoprene stringers glued on, and a velcro closure on the left side.

You spend a lot of time gluing when you do this. I use contact cement, which works really well. (But don't put it in the wrong place, the neoprene comes apart if you try to un-glue it... ) Make a point to keep the windows open with this stuff- (Special Lady hates the smell...)

And that was it for the TMP version. For TWOK, they added a cloth neck roll at the top, and a plastic clasp of some sort.

I haven't figured out what they used- so far I'm going with a piece of plexiglass and some Chicago screws....

So we end up looking like this:

Next up will be the boots. I've ordered an inexpensive modern pair that I can take apart and modify.

 

SSgt Burton

Sr Member

• Feb 22, 2012

• #39

Re: WIP - Star Trek II Engineering Radiation Suit

You never fail to impress! :thumbsup :eek :thumbsup



Kevin

 

Felgacarb

Sr Member

• Feb 24, 2012

• #40

Re: WIP - Star Trek II Engineering Radiation Suit

My cheapo moon boots arrived!

They are not bad. I put them on and wore them for an evening- they fit decently and should work well for costume boots.

So I immediately took them apart!

They are clearly very cheaply made- but that's perfect for this project, as I don't feel at all bad completely dismembering them.

Now I'm making patterns for the white coverings- that will be followed by making the poofy fake trapunto details- and it will all end with tons of hand sewing, to re-attach the uppers to sole...