General Starting Zam

[mirval]

Hi, I've been collecting information about Zam costume since february. This web is amazing, full of informations and ideas, and I want to thank you all for your share.

I bought almost all parts, pieces, plastic... and now I'm working on the costume.

It's time to post my progress, I need all your advices and opinions... :$


I ordered to my tailor the bodysuit and the vest; the fabric is from Jabbadashery and the vest is really a jacket. Now I'm working on the skirt. My idea is make this parts first, with the cummerbund, to dye all the leather and get harmonious colors.

 

[mirval]

The skirt squares:

I use centimeters, so the measure is:
4 rows with squares 5x5 cm
3 rows 4,5x5 cm
3 rows 4x5 cm
3 rows 3,5x5 cm

I used fiebing's products to dye the leather: the reducer, purple and burgundy. I mixed the colours in several proportions to find 5 or 6 different tones. I played with the back of some pieces too, because the colours are different.

 

[silvermitt]

I think your start looks really good. My husband prefers fieblings dye as it's far more permanent than the water based. I used water based because there tends to be more variety in colors to choose from. Keep chugging along. It'll come together and be done before you know it!

 

[beyora]

Awesome job so far! Keep up the good work and keep us posted!

 

[mirval]

I've got a fiebing's Leather Sheen spray to protect the skirt. I'm tryng in leftover leather, I will tell you about the experiment

 

[mirval]

It's done! Just a few details, like using the Leather Sheen spray and finish the laces with the belt. The spray don't make the leather so shining, I actually can't see a big difference, so I'm going to use it.

 

[silvermitt]

!!!!


Also, I have a little surprise for you, a kind of payback, if you will. I've been working the chest plate and I've got a nice little page to scan with measurements on it for you. It's the lower plate that goes under the hoses. You might already have it done for all I know, but it's the least I can do for you and everyone else who's shown interest in Zam. Later this evening, I'll post it in the chest armor thread.

 

[mirval]

Thank you so much, if we all share the information, this complicated costume will be a little easier

 

[mirval]

I' ve got my handplates, thumbplates and toearmor, but how can I get this weathering effect?

 

[silvermitt]

What's it made of? If it can take spray paint, then I'd use a dry brush technique. Or just rub on with your hands. If you're using the rub n buff like I did, then smear it on, wipe it off. The crevasses will keep the darker color in and the smoother areas will wipe clean. I also used a dry brush on them as well. Rub n buff is easy to use and if you don't like it, can be cleaned off and redone.

 

[mirval]

They are made of Kato polyclay. It's a little bit uncomfortable to work with, but the result it's so sturdy. And the silver colour is amazing!, doesn't need paint.

Thanks for advice, I'll search this product

 

[silvermitt]

Hmm, have you thought about using a very, vvery fine sandpaper and gently going over places you want the "dirt" to stick to? Then go over with the black/grey/brown (your choice)? I honestly don't know how well paints or waxes stick to polyclay. Another though it to check out the RPF site. They post about prop and costume materials. Good ino there . the RPF

 

[mirval]

Thanks, I'm going to search information about polyclay. And, OMG, there's no rub'n buff in Spain. Hi, amazon...

 

[mirval]

3 jobs running...

stuff in oven

the pepakura party

the chest armor project (THANKS, SILVERMITT, IT'S JUST PERFECT)

 

[silvermitt]

Told you when it starts rolling, it'll snowball! It's a great feeling! :cool

It's those lulls in between that suck for me. I'll get tons of progress, and then have to halt it for a while (weather uncooperative to outside work, can't spray chemicals around the kids-- so they have to be gone to grandma's, etc.).

 

[mirval]

Yes, child don't help so much... :facepalm

 

[silvermitt]

Just wait till you hear:
Mom! I want to be Boba Fett! Since you're making Zam already, you can make me a Boba costume for Halloween this year, right??!


I had to lay it out plainly that IF I were to make him a Fett costume, it wouldn't be done until he was 10 and wouldn't fit him.
He's reconsidering the loss of 3 years worth of Halloween candy.

 

[mirval]

Good idea... now I know that my ace up the sleeve is the ironman helmet.

So, talking about Zam's helmet...I hope cardboard works better than paper, it's been terrible to build it!

 

[silvermitt]

I've been using spray adhesive. I get sticky fingers, but that's easy to get off. After I get a section done, I overlay it with tissue paper. Anything thin and easy to lay in over the sprayed areas will work. I do it for a couple of reasons: It covers sticky places that I need to grip to put on other pieces, and because after you get it all together, you'll have multiple layers of reinforcement to hold that cardboard together. I'll let you know how it goes with bondo and fiberglass over it. If I hadn't had the troubles I'd had, I'd already be able to tell you my opinion about the car repair stuff.

 

[mirval]

Now I'm working with gloves and handplates.

I'm using adhesive velcro, but I'm not sure about the result. Leather does not glue as I was thinking. Tomorrow will see the results, but I have in mind the plan B, leather cement.