2015 Cosplay "HELP Me..." thread

[Admiral Donuts]

First, a reference to what I am looking for is in this picture: http://th05.deviantart.net/fs70/PRE/f/2013/170/3/1/jill_valentine_and_parker_luciani_by_plamber-d69t1km.jpg

now, the fellow on the right is parker, and I have everything else set for this cosplay EXCEPT the vest, as I can't find one that will look the same as this. Does anyone know where to look for a vest of a similar look, or if they know of any of the plastic vest of the 80's that I can sew into something similar to this jacket? as with most cosplays, i'm trying to keep it budget levels of price.

You might be able to find a used lifejacket and recolor it.

[AiKii]

I've had a lot of luck using Kryolan Color Spray on wigs. Otherwise there are split color wigs available!!
Here are a few that I think would work - it looks like you want to keep it short so this one might be the best (it also has a less scary shipping time, haha) - these also look good 1 2 3 4 - they're all similar items but from different sellers!

As far as the buns go, I'd recommend buying them separately - they're pretty inexpensive!
These look decent but I'm sure there's something better out there (I'm rly tired right now, sorry)

Thanks! That was a lot more information that I had expected to receive.

Although, I'm debating between buying that short wig and attaching buns or buying that long wig and styling it into buns.

I am thinking of buying the short wig, but I am not sure how the outcome will be if I were to dye a black bun extension white using the color spray. Do you think it would work? Or would the white barely be able to cover up the black? I've never worked with wigs and any type of dye before so yeah.

My other option is buying that long wig and styling it into buns. If it's too long for my liking, I believe I can either trim it or even thin it if it's too thick. I've never styled a wig before either. Would this method work as well?

Thanks for the help. I'm sorry that I'm a total wig noob.
; ~ ;

[SquishyK]

I've had a lot of luck using Kryolan Color Spray on wigs. Otherwise there are split color wigs available!!
Here are a few that I think would work - it looks like you want to keep it short so this one might be the best (it also has a less scary shipping time, haha) - these also look good 1 2 3 4 - they're all similar items but from different sellers!

As far as the buns go, I'd recommend buying them separately - they're pretty inexpensive!
These look decent but I'm sure there's something better out there (I'm rly tired right now, sorry)

Thanks! That was a lot more information that I had expected to receive.

Although, I'm debating between buying that short wig and attaching buns or buying that long wig and styling it into buns.

I am thinking of buying the short wig, but I am not sure how the outcome will be if I were to dye a black bun extension white using the color spray. Do you think it would work? Or would the white barely be able to cover up the black? I've never worked with wigs and any type of dye before so yeah.

My other option is buying that long wig and styling it into buns. If it's too long for my liking, I believe I can either trim it or even thin it if it's too thick. I've never styled a wig before either. Would this method work as well?

Thanks for the help. I'm sorry that I'm a total wig noob.
; ~ ;

If you've never styled a wig before I would HIGHLY recommend getting the short wig and adding the buns separately. And you wouldn't have to color the buns. You would just buy one in black and one in white. (styling a long wig that is not specifically designed for up-dos will almost always require adding wefts along the base to make it look good and that may be difficult if you inexperienced with styling wigs).

[AiKii]

If you've never styled a wig before I would HIGHLY recommend getting the short wig and adding the buns separately. And you wouldn't have to color the buns. You would just buy one in black and one in white. (styling a long wig that is not specifically designed for up-dos will almost always require adding wefts along the base to make it look good and that may be difficult if you inexperienced with styling wigs).

Mmkay. Sounds like a plan. Although, my only problem now is that I've had difficulty finding a white straight bun extension of the type I'm looking for.. So far, all of the ones I've seen consist of braids and knots and such... I don't want that..

If I can't find a white hair bun extension, I'm thinking of either dying another hair bun extension white (maybe a really light blond one), or perhaps attempting to create my own bun extension through the use of white hair extensions and a sock bun. I have no idea how either method will work out though :/

EDIT: Perhaps these extensions might work?.. I could just attach them to the wig and roll them in to buns. If it's too long, I can always just trim them, right?

http://shop.cosplay.com/straight-clip.html

[keitoghostie]

Perhaps these extensions might work?.. I could just attach them to the wig and roll them in to buns. If it's too long, I can always just trim them, right?

http://shop.cosplay.com/straight-clip.html

Those look workable! I thought the ones I linked had both black and white but then again I was fairly tired, haha.
If that's your plan, make sure to get a BUNCH of bobby pins in both black and white so u don't have slippy buns.

Either way, if you plan on spraying them with the color spray it won't be 100% effective in covering it up, especially going from dark to light (I'm doing a gradient on my wig so it's a bit more variable, but yeah)

[SquishyK]

Perhaps these extensions might work?.. I could just attach them to the wig and roll them in to buns. If it's too long, I can always just trim them, right?

http://shop.cosplay.com/straight-clip.html

Those look workable! I thought the ones I linked had both black and white but then again I was fairly tired, haha.
If that's your plan, make sure to get a BUNCH of bobby pins in both black and white so u don't have slippy buns.

Either way, if you plan on spraying them with the color spray it won't be 100% effective in covering it up, especially going from dark to light (I'm doing a gradient on my wig so it's a bit more variable, but yeah)

The ones Ghostie linked DOES have white. They just call the color "613# linen". But they have 7 available and it looks white to me.

[MomPacksMyLunch]

Those fur chaps on his thighs. Any ideas and tips folks?

[SquishyK]

Those fur chaps on his thighs. Any ideas and tips folks?

What are you having trouble with regarding the chaps? How to find that color? How to sew fur? How to get them to stay on without having obvious or obtrusive straps?

[Mrsbrightsidebz]

Hey guys could you help me out with this!? This is my second cosplay, first time with props and i cant figure out the best way to do the backpack.



Its a little over 2 feet long and about a foot and half wide.  I was planning on putting the support in the middle and possibly a smaller one on the bottom, its rather heavy.

[Admiral Donuts]

Its a little over 2 feet long and about a foot and half wide.  I was planning on putting the support in the middle and possibly a smaller one on the bottom, its rather heavy.

What's it supposed to look like when done? What character/series is it from?

Either way, outdoor store or army surplus places usually have straps and things to make backpack straps.

[Mrsbrightsidebz]

Nightblade irelia from league of legends. I need it done by fanime this year. I looked into a harness design like from attack on titan but its getting it attached to the prop that im worried about.

[SquishyK]

Nightblade irelia from league of legends. I need it done by fanime this year. I looked into a harness design like from attack on titan but its getting it attached to the prop that im worried about.

If you are worried about the prop being too heavy for adhesive velcro or getting glue to adhere strongly to the traps I should suggest crewing the straps onto the prop using a drywall anchor system at shown on this Home Depot page: http://www.homedepot.com/p/E-Z-Ancor-Twist-N-Lock-50-Drywall-Anchors-with-Screws-25-Pack-25200/100133106
I would make a square pattern with four screws wherever you want an anchor point from the prop to the straps (putting the anchors into the prop and then stewing through the straps into the anchors).

and reinforce the straps where you are screwing through them. Maybe even use a thin square of plywood or stiff plastic. So the strap is wedged between the prop and the plywood. (so the crews don't pull through the straps).

[SquishyK]

This is pretty cool, not sure how much it will help but worth a watch I think: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vb6CXGortrQ

(I happened to be watching it without sound and I could still pretty much follow along what he was doing)

[SquishyK]

I plan on cosplaying as Rei from Free! and he has those bright violet eyes. I have light blue-green eyes and most of the contacts I've seen so far might end up showing my natural color around the pupil depending on how dilated my eyes are. Basically I'm looking for contacts that will blend a little so that they look natural but still be opaque enough that it will show a bright vibrant violet color and not just a hint of violet. I would really like a diameter of 14.5 mm or less as I'm not looking to make my eyes appear any bigger. I would also really like them to have a prescription option as I do need vision correction. Any suggestions? If you have cosplayed characters with purple eyes (Rei or otherwise) what contacts did you use? (reference photos would be appreciated)

[Kite]

I wasn't sure about this one. But I'm planning for my cosplay to release some smoke.

However rules dictate no fog machine.

So I'm not sure if it's OK or not.

[Imperial]

wow, that alone sounds nifty. Ill have someone ask at the meeting tomorrow for you.

[SquishyK]

I wasn't sure about this one. But I'm planning for my cosplay to release some smoke.

However rules dictate no fog machine.

So I'm not sure if it's OK or not.

I'm just curious, if you aren't using a fog machine then how do you plan on creating the smoke? dry ice? something else?

[Kite]

Actually it is a fog machine or rather a very small one that'll be fitted into the robotic arm of my cosplay.

Really all a fog machine is, is just a heating element and fog juice (1:3 ratio of glycerin to distilled water).

I have most of the design written down and ready to build. I'm just waiting to see if it'll be OK to do so.

The real trick I'm trying to accomplish is creating different color smogs to simulate a magic like effect. 

[Hikari Renge]

Hey there, sorry if this is the wrong forum, but I had a question!

I'm trying to figure out how to make Nelliel's (Bleach) Espada mask, and I'm not sure what the best medium is. I'm a brand new cosplayer, so something for beginners would be best. Or, if anyone can recommend someone to commission, that'd be great!

Thanks again!

p.s. it's something like this: http://i01.i.aliimg.com/wsphoto/v0/544473281/Bleach-No-3-Privaron-Espada-Nelliel-Tu-Odelschwanck-Mask-Crack-Version-Cosplay-Mask.jpg

[SquishyK]

Actually it is a fog machine or rather a very small one that'll be fitted into the robotic arm of my cosplay.

Really all a fog machine is, is just a heating element and fog juice (1:3 ratio of glycerin to distilled water).

I have most of the design written down and ready to build. I'm just waiting to see if it'll be OK to do so.

The real trick I'm trying to accomplish is creating different color smogs to simulate a magic like effect.

Reading over the rules it looks like Fanime prohibits any kind of "smoke, fog, or odors" to be generated by a costume (insert witty joke about con goers with poor hygiene). It is probably a health/safety concern with enclosed spaces and large crowds. I know people with severe asthma that would be triggered by the smoke generated from fog machines. I wanted to be able to direct you to an email address where you could direct such concerns because these forums aren't always looked over by officials but I couldn't find one that exactly fit. Maybe rovers, and if not they might be able to direct you to the right people ([email protected]).