That is one awesome Big Stupid Collar. (nm)

Subject: That is one awesome Big Stupid Collar. (nm)
Author: Matt Cipher
Posted on: 2016-02-24 10:32:00 UTC

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Cosplay Build: Time Lord Collar by Iximaz on 2016-02-24 03:35:00 UTC Reply

In which Iximaz and mom decide they're going to ~~try to~~ finish this thing in a week or less.

After ripping a pattern off the internet, we got to work. First things first was deciding how large I wanted the collar to be, and we settled on twenty inches across the shoulder so I would have enough excess space even while wearing my bulky robes ~~which have not been made yet but that'll be soon, shush, proper fabric is hard to find~~.

For whatever godforsaken reason, we decided to print the pattern off on regular printer paper and try to use teh mathz to scale it appropriately.

Funnily enough?

It worked.

(Also, the collar is a lot smaller than you'd expect a Big Stupid Collar to be. Weird. But when you look at it for a size comparison... yeah. Big Stupid Collars are still Big and Stupid, just not as big as I thought.)

We got a bit cleverer when making the front pattern; we blew up the pattern and printed it off on several different sheets, cut them out, and taped them together to get the needed shape. Much easier than eyeballing!

Mom had some leftover foam from her Iron Man build, so we dug that out of storage and traced the pattern on. Since the foam's got a funky textured side (and it's a bit floppy on its own anyway), we'll be double layering it.

Size check!

Aww yeah, looking good.

The aforementioned double layering.

For the front pieces, we used thinner foam to cover the textured bit because we need it to be flexible enough to fit together with the back. While hot gluing it together, we molded the pieces so they were nice and curved.

Like so.

There's the collar so far! Tomorrow we'll be attaching the pieces and smoothing down rough edges. I can't wait!

*scurries off to finish some more homework dear lord she doesn't have enough time for all this*

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Mrawh. by Iximaz on 2016-02-28 00:01:00 UTC Reply

Decided I wanted the collar to be bigger, so the first two days are going to be restarted tonight. Mrrp.

Current collar is probably going to end up getting painted white and get some nice stylized gears on it, since it'd be a waste of time and effort otherwise.

:( That's rotten. by Huinesoron on 2016-02-29 10:50:00 UTC Reply

Though on the plus side, I 100% approve of your revised design for the small one. What a very clever idea. ;)

hS

Day, uh, two of the build: by Iximaz on 2016-02-26 19:58:00 UTC Reply

Both mom and I came down with a stomach bug the last two days, preventing us from working on the collar. :/ But we're both feeling better now, and have spent most of the day working on the costume!

Our first task of the day was getting out the dremel to smooth down the rough edges of the foam. The dremel caused our hands to turn grey and red from the fine dust it was leaving in its wake—good thing we wore respirators.

(Obligatory "Are you my mummy?" joke goes here.)

We also needed to shave down the inner edge of the collar so it would fit together in a nicer seam.

I... did my best to get a picture of what we did there.

Anyway, after lots and lots of sanding, it was at long last time to get the pieces put together!

There was no way I could've done this by myself; forcing the foam to cooperate was definitely a two-person job. But we kept pushing on and at long last, prevailed!

I couldn't wait to try it on.

Needless to say, it didn't quite fit. So it was back out to the garage, where we got the heat gun and molded the pieces. Again.

Much better. :D

And now it's time to put on a thin layer of glue to seal the foam before painting! Without the glue, the collar would be riddled with tiny pockmarks courtesy of the heat gun. This will make it nice and smooth for painting ~~hopefully~~ tomorrow.

I used a regular brush to slap the glue on and a sponge brush to make sure there weren't any massive brush lines left behind when it dried.

And that's the exterior done!

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Very nice! by Sergio Turbo on 2016-02-26 21:48:00 UTC Reply

And dremels are smart little tools indeed. Got a cheap sub-brand one for 30 euros - and it came with all I need for grinding, cutting, sanding or drilling for scale models.

Can't wait to see the costume finished!

Gotta love dremels. by Iximaz on 2016-02-26 22:10:00 UTC Reply

My dad showed me how to use them when my brother was in Cub Scouts and the Pinecar Derby rolled around. Fun times.

Mom won't let me use the power tools because she thinks I'll get hurt. >.> So far, I have received:

1 accidental ruler bop on the nose, courtesy of her turning around and walloping me with it
3 minor finger burns from the heat gun, courtesy of her not looking where she was aiming
Too many more minor hot glue finger burns to count, again courtesy of her

I think I can handle power tools fine. :P

The remaining fabric for my robes should be coming in sometime this week, so once the collar is finished the robes will be next!

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Awesome! (nm) by eatpraylove on 2016-02-25 00:44:00 UTC Reply
That is one awesome Big Stupid Collar. (nm) by Matt Cipher on 2016-02-24 10:32:00 UTC Reply
That's awesome. by Sergio Turbo on 2016-02-24 09:27:00 UTC Reply

And kudos for actually goign through cosplay stuff.

Closest thing I did was sort-of-prepare stuff for a Shinichi Kudo cosplay (it involved letting my hair grow a bit more than usual to allow for the proper hairdo, I have pretty much the same hair color so why use a wig?), and I already had the right clothes, but the friend with which I wass supposed to go to the con with had family issues and we ended up not going.

SHame, as I can't do that in the future as I no longer have a green tie. My father might, though.

Sucks about the con. by Iximaz on 2016-02-24 13:56:00 UTC Reply

Hopefully you can go sometime in the future!

That's likely. by Sergio Turbo on 2016-02-24 21:56:00 UTC Reply

After all, that con is done every year, and smaller ones are more frequent.

Howere, lately I'm more into scale models, and races take a lot of my free time.

Whaaaaaaat. by Huinesoron on 2016-02-24 09:21:00 UTC Reply

[Searches pictures for signs of photoshop]

Whaaaaaaat. That is incredibly awesome.

(Morgan's response, naturally, is to sniff and say 'mine's better'.)

hS

After the Iron Man suit... by Iximaz on 2016-02-24 13:13:00 UTC Reply

...I think mom's up for trying just about anything.

More pics will be coming later today!

If you're looking for fabric... by Cyba Zero on 2016-02-24 08:54:00 UTC Reply

...try searching for 'Minerva Crafts'. They do loads of fabric and other sewing bits.

Also yes, I am still lurking round here. :)

Returnbie! by son_of_heaven176 on 2016-02-25 02:46:00 UTC Reply

I haven't seen you in AGES! How's Real Life been treating you? Any plans on getting Eagrus and Agent!Cyba out of mothballs?

Re: Returnbie! by Cyba Zero on 2016-02-25 09:26:00 UTC Reply

Real life has been up and down. Meanwhile, Cyba and Eagrus have been on hiatus because I have been diverting all creative power to an original project. The duo were originally missioning during a period of writer's block, which got ironed out. It would be nice to wake them up again in the future, though.

Also, I recently discovered some very good music. There's a group called "Two Steps from Hell" who do music for film trailers and the like. If anybody here likes epic orchestral hybrid music, I recommend them thoroughly. Also, it is very good for the creative juices.

So how have you been?

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Cursed keyboard shortcuts (ignore previous post) by son_of_heaven176 on 2016-02-26 01:05:00 UTC Reply

Let's try to make this post comprehensible before posting, eh? *ahem*

Funnily enough, I first heard their music via a Civilization V mod. The mod, if you're interested, is called the "Sky March".

(CIV V AND MLP:FiM JARGON INBOUND. FEEL FREE TO SKIP THIS SECTION.)

The Sky March is a domination-focused civ that is led by an alicorn OC. (I just figured out that it's based on a fanfiction by gatesmccloud on DeviantArt.) The OC's backstory in-game doesn't seem Sueish, but the Civilopedia entries for this civ would be served well by some major SPaG editing.

The civ itself has a good UA, reducing the gold cost for land acquisition and unit maintenance. However, its UU leaves the civ underpowered in naval combat for an era.

JARGON-FILLED SECTION COMPLETE)

Here's where the mod ties into 2SFH. The Sky March's peacetime theme is "Spirit of Champions" and its war theme is "Interceptors Duel."

P.S.: Does anybody else think that "

Really?! Another error?! Argh... by son_of_heaven176 on 2016-02-26 01:07:00 UTC Reply

The PS was supposed to be asking if anyone else thinks that "Interceptors Duel" sounds like it was inspired by "Duel of the Fates".

I've heard their music before! by son_of_heaven176 on 2016-02-26 01:02:00 UTC Reply

Funnily enough, I first heard their music via a Civilization V mod. The mod, if you're interested, is called the "Sky March".

(CIV V AND MLP:FiM JARGON INBOUND. FEEL FREE TO SKIP THIS SECTION.)
The Sky March is a domination-focused civ that is led by an alicorn OC. (I just figured out that it's based on a fanfiction by gatesmccloud on DeviantArt.) The OC's backstory is not Sueish, but the Civilopedia entries for this civ would be served well by some major SPaG editing.
The civ itself has a good UA, reducing the gold cost for land acquisition and military upgrades though its UU leaves the civ underpowered in naval combat for an era. (Forgive me if all that Civ V jargon went over your head.)

Here's where it ties into 2SFH, the Sky March's peacetime theme is "Spirit of Champions" and its war theme is "Interceptors Duel."

P.S.: Does anybody else think that "

Oh yes I know those guys! by Desdendelle on 2016-02-25 14:07:00 UTC Reply

I've been listening to their stuff for a while; they have some very good pieces and some very generic pieces.

Funnily enough, I already found some. by Iximaz on 2016-02-24 13:12:00 UTC Reply

For the cloth bit of the costume I'm making a heavy outer robe and a (relatively) lighter inner robe. Outer needs to have three layers: red stretch velvet (which I've sent away for samples), a muslin inner layer to add stiffness (those sleeve pleats won't hold themselves in place, after all) and a gold inner layer.

The under robe is going to be a lot simpler and just made out of this brocade and a thin lining.