Costume stuff

[luckykaa]

Seem to be spending a lot of time on costume related stuff recently.  There's a Serenity LARP thing this weekend.  I now own a nice hat, as well as a smattering of things I already have in my wardrobe.  I have no idea how my wardrobe became so filled with random costume bits...

It is a very nice hat.  All felty and waterproof and crumpleproof. 

Hope the new boots arrive in time.

Hopefully for the next event I'll be able to think of a character I want to play. 

The other costume thing is the Greebo costume for Discworld.

Still pondering making claws.  Have a pattern for the gloves.  Still not quite sure how claws are attached.   Or how to make them.  Milliput seemed like a good start.  Perhaps thermoplastic will be better.  Pondering whether I could make them out of rubber.  Anyone have any experience with this sort of thing?

Comments

[flannelcat.livejournal.com]

Claws: Can I suggest latex? When do you need them for? If you want, I could make you a set - I can knock up a mould easy and it would only take a day or so to dry...

[luckykaa.livejournal.com]

Well, I want them by August.

Kind of you to offer but I quite like the idea of making them myself. I'd be interested to learn how this sort of thing is made though.

[(Anonymous)]

- Make the mold in plastecine - find something claw shaped and make the impressions.

- Pour in liquid latex. (Availiable from most art / craft shops, or online.)

Wait overnight / 24 hours, depending on size and drying.

~Peel out latex claws.

[luckykaa.livejournal.com]

As an aside - How are you guys set for getting to Big Damn Heroes LARP? Have a car and plenty of free seats if you need extra transport

[emmzzi.livejournal.com]

acrylic nails filed to shape? Think you'd need a set of thumbs to get them wide enough, but you can then varnish them claw coloured.

[luckykaa.livejournal.com]

I have considered it but I have no idea what's available from an acrylic nails point of view.

[emmzzi.livejournal.com]

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/lot-of-4-2-Pair-acrylic-uv-talons-you-CH00SE-size_W0QQitemZ200172278337QQihZ010QQcategoryZ10969QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD2VQQcmdZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/500-PCS-CLEAR-ACRYLIC-FRENCH-STYLE-FALSE-NAIL-ART-TIPS_W0QQitemZ280172055179QQihZ018QQcategoryZ75055QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

[raygungothic.livejournal.com]

In LRP-prop land, dense foam wins for claws every time. It's easy to carve into shape (with patience and a really sharp knife - fresh scalpel recommended), weighs little and can be made to look good (latex paint). It can be sewn or copydexed to fabric.

Could this work for your costume too?

(something like Plastazote; though that stuff has specific heat-shaping properties not absolutely needed here, they could still be useful)

[luckykaa.livejournal.com]

Is that going to be good enough for some pretty small claws though?

They're only going to be a couple of centimetres and quite thin. How will it will compare with liquid latex? My slight concern there is they're going to be a bit wobbly.

Mind you - we do have a foam shop in Brighton (A city where, as far as I can tell, one can buy almost anything).

[raygungothic.livejournal.com]

Not sure how small becomes impractical for the method I had in mind.

I have seen foam claws about 8-9" long not wobble too much; similar designs at 2" should be more steady, not less. If you want them to be thin (like nails), though, neither foam nor latex is the right material.

Check out the denser, more rigid foams in the foam shop, they should let you prod-before-you-buy.