Creature Costuming [Part 3]: Tools, DTDs, and Foam

Ever wanted to start making monster or animal cosplays? Tom and Riley lead a panel discussion about Creature Costuming for beginners.

Part 3 of 6: Tools, Duct Tape Dummies, and Working with Foam
An overview of tools and their uses, tips and the use of a duct tape dummy, and different techniques to use while building with foam.


September 11, 2011 at NDK 15 in Denver, CO
Filmed by ReyTiger (YT ReyRunTiger)

deviantART usernames: Tom- sgtknifeman, Riley- CanineHybrid



---Helpful Links---
The fursuit community on LiveJournal: http://fursuit.livejournal.com
Tons of resources and tutorials, ask questions, share projects, get inspired

Riley's Pokémon costumes, thousands of step by step photos, to help you analyze the building process: http://www.flickr.com/caninehybrid

Work of the artists featured in the video:
Monoyasha- Dream Vision Creations http://www.monoyasha.com
NightTwilightWolf- http://youtube.com/NightTwilightWolf
Cassini Closet http://cassinicloset.deviantart.com

Skaros (Blue Dragon)- Animatronics http://www.youtube.com/blueskaros444
Umbreon (Built by Tom)- http://leap207.deviantart.com
Groudon (Built by Riley)- http://rektheartist.deviantart.com

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• Creature
• Costuming
• Fursuit
• Monster
• Cosplay
• Anime
• Convention
• Character
• Suit
• Tutorial
• Resource
• Guide
• Help
• Panel
• Discussion
• lesson
• Costume
• How-To
• Tips
• Beginner
• Getting
• Started
• How Do I Make
• NDK
• 15
• Nan
• Desu
• Kan
• 2011
• Denver
• Colorado
• Groudon
• Pokemon
• Mascot
• Michelle
• Riley
• Carbaugh
• CanineHybrid
• Tom
• sgtknifeman
• advice
• instruction
• materials
• foam
• polyurethane
• upholstery
• tools
• construction
• example
• reticulated
• demo
• techniques
• duct
• tape
• dummy

[karufox]

i am now sxared of my hot glue gun O___O

[CanineHybrid]

@karufox Hot glue guns don't tend to have problems unless you misuse them (ie leaving them on for too long) and almost always caused from loose wires or a short circuit. The chamber that heats the glue cracks, molten glue leaks inside the gun and then the gun short circuits. This is usually followed by electrical arcing, smoke, and sometimes flames. All glue guns have the potential to explode, but I find the cheaper made ones usually have more incidents. Something to be aware of. Unplug often.

[DarkReshiram1]

Oh yeah you should consider making a quad suit of a pokemon like absol. I'm making a quad suit from InuYasha. It's kilala and I can't believe it's only my second costume!

[CanineHybrid]

@DarkReshiram1 There are a few quad suits I would like to try eventually, but I purposely put the projects off because I believe quad suits should not be attempted until the creator has years of experience or practice mastering the essential techniques, should be in relatively good shape to take on that kind of strain on the body, and ensures both safety and understanding of the mechanics involved. For me, a quad suit fails if it does not look good while in motion- or proportions are incorrect.

[inuebony]

I’ve been working on trying to finish Bowser all day, and my motivation was dragging along slowly but I thank you for taking the time to upload this video Riley! I’m very honored you decided to use the shell pictures ^^ But to credit, my father came with the idea to use the sled as a base and I figured the engineering to build the dome shape to make it more concaved Not the best way, but thinking outside the box does help ^^.

[CanineHybrid]

@inuebony You're most welcome! I really can't wait to see Bowser completed :3

Well then, thanks to your dad for the idea! Hooray for thinking outside the box.

[DarkReshiram1]

Oh yea, where would you get the black foam?

[DarkReshiram1]

Yay! Joann fabrics fan like me!

[hawkclawwind]

@Alesandros356 the dummy is used like the thing on the footpaw tutorial. It's just for a more personal fit, so that it specificly fits you.

[Alesandros356]

hey i got a question which i cant really get started with anything before i get it answered (exept for the fact that no store i can find sell the open cell polyurethane foam) but how do you actually USE the dummy once you are done with it? do you stick cloth on it and try to cut the cloth off as precisly as possible or do you use it as you used the tape on your paw and feet tutorial? please help ;]

[knucklesgirl09]

Bowser was about to be my first costume but i couldn't figure out how to make the shell!! So this video helped me out when i'm going to make bowser, in the future!! Right now I'm almost done with my other one which is Zoroark!! I'm having trouble with the fabric and how to make the body suit and the ponytail of zoroark, also how to make the cone shape and put the fabric on the claws!!

[StormyHowl]

ah, I just noticed that your wearing the clever girl shirt! I love that shirt! :D

[CometTheMicroraptor]

Ugh, I feel you on the hot glue. We were the Amnesia Grunts from NDK and I swear to god we went through all of our 50 stick bags just trying to glue stuff onto us and repair stuff. x______x