Cos Culture Magazine - February/March 2016 by Cos Culture Magazine

cos culture MAGAZINE FEBRUARY 2016

N EFEN I COSPLAY t u t o r i a l : s ky r i m g l as s a r m o u r

YELAINA MAY COSPLAY

t u t o r i a l : s ky r i m f o rsw o r n f o r a g e r

Costographer

T E AS E R T R I O P H O T O S

TUTORIAL: A RT I C U L AT E D P I N K R AT H I A N W I N G S BY S E A O F R A B B I T Z

MIKE WU

PHOTOGRAPHY FEBRUARY 2016

TA B L E O F C O N T E N T S

COSTOGRAPHER LV: TEASER TRIO

NEFENI COSPLAY + GLASS ARMOUR TUTORIAL

22.

YELAINA MAY COSPLAY + FORSWORN TUTORial

38.

mike wu photography

46.

COSPLAY wings tutorial by sea of rabbitz

COS CULTURE MAGAZINE

Editor/Creative Director: Nikko Marie Assistant Editor: Patrick Webb FRONT cover image:

Nefeni Cosplay Photography by Nefeni Cosplay

back Cover image:

Yelaina May Cosplay Photography by Curtis Kusch

Cos Culture Magazine is owned and operated by NH Creative Inc. Disclaimer:

Copyrights of all included text, photos and other material used in this edition of Cos Culture Magazine are the property of their respective owners, and have been graciously provided to us for use in this magazine by the legal owner of each work. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us at info@cosculturemagazine.com.

CONTACT: info@cosculturemagazine.com www.cosculturemagazine.com FB: cosculturemagazine Twitter: @cosculturemag ISSN 2368-2582 PUBLISHER:

NH Creative Inc. Ottawa, ON Canada February, 2016 info@nhcreative.ca www.nhcreative.ca Photo by Mike Wu Photography FEBRUARY 2016 3

Teaser trio from Las Vegas based cosplay shooter:

COSTOGRAPHER lv www.costographer.com

COS CULTURE MAGAZINE

Costographer LV: A Supergirl selfie with the lovely Lauren Fogle as Supergirl. It took me five years to get her in front of my camera to pose for pics, and when she suited-up she was hooked! We have created some great images together and I hope to continue to do more in the future.

FEBRUARY 2016

Costographer LV: This is the Harley Quinn New 52 #2 cover by Connor Mounts with Charlie Starling as Harley. I found a fantastic muse for a series of Harley shoots, and this is just one of them. Charlie and I are both animal lovers and when I suggested this image as a project the excitement was immeasurable! Charlie is accompanied by her pup, Wookie the Chew, who just made the shot!

COS CULTURE MAGAZINE

Costographer lV: The Wonder Woman #200 cover by J.G. Jones literally jumped out at me to recreate for my friend Margie Cox. Margie is based in Atlanta so our first task was to get her to Las Vegas! We set up a packed two-day shoot schedule and went nuts. This image is but one of the many we shot that weekend including some wall-climbing Catwoman!

FEBRUARY 2016

BriLan Imagery blansangan84.wix.com/brilanimagery www.facebook.com/BriLanImagery 8

COS CULTURE MAGAZINE

FEBRUARY 2016

NEFENI COSPLAY

NEFENI COSPLAY New York, usa

CC Mag: Can you tell us a bit about yourself? Nefeni Cosplay: My name is June! My handle is Nefeni Cosplay and it’s derived from one of my favourite characters in the Fire Emblem video game series. I’ve loved playing video games since I was a child and eventually started drawing fan art for all the games that inspired me. I started with traditional media and eventually started colouring my artwork digitally, but then decided to focus on a business career and picked up cosplay soon after I graduated and started working full time. CC Mag: How many years have you been cosplaying? Nefeni Cosplay: I did a few cosplays when I was younger which consisted mostly of last minute sewing projects, but I decided to cosplay again when I started seeing armoured costumes emerging at conventions back in 2012. I did a ton of research on different materials used to make armour from social media sites and decided to craft my very first set in July 2013 - Skyrim’s Glass Armour. CC Mag: What first drew you to the cosplay community? Nefeni Cosplay: I went to a small New York City convention in 2005 and saw people dressed up as my favourite anime characters. I thought it was amazing

COS CULTURE MAGAZINE

to be able to express your love for your favourite characters and to be able to embrace the personalities that make everyone unique. Since then, I’ve at least made something simple to don at conventions whenever I attend. But it wasn’t until I went to Katsucon 2012, when I saw a cosplayer in an amazing Diablo 3 armoured Demon Hunter costume, that I decided I was going make my own armoured cosplay. The characters in the video games I play all wear beautiful armour, and to be able to bring a set to life was a big motivation for me. CC Mag: How many cosplays have you made so far? Nefeni Cosplay: I’ve only made two armoured costumes so far. I like to test out new mediums, new techniques, and new materials with every one of my cosplays. I end up doing a lot of experiments including coming up with new priming and painting styles, molding and casting complex pieces, and working with lights and then programming them with Arduino for special effects. As someone who works full time and balances cosplay as a nights-andweekends hobby, it’s always going to be hard to find time to invest in crafting. But if you are motivated, inspired, and put in just a little bit of work, you can be surprised in what you can achieve!

Photography by Nefeni Cosplay FEBRUARY 2016

SKYRIM GLASS ARMOUR TUTORIAL ON PAGE 16. 12

COS CULTURE MAGAZINE

CC Mag: Who or what is your biggest source of inspiration? Nefeni Cosplay: My biggest source of inspiration is playing video games! I love the excitement of anticipating a game that’s just about to be released and then getting to play it for the first time. Making my character and then taking her on a journey makes me feel like I am a part of her. When I’m crafting an armour set, I get a sense of accomplishment whenever I see progress, and visualize what the whole set would look like when it’s all completed. Then, to be able to wear it to a convention or photoshoot just makes me feel like I’ve stepped out of the game, and it’s the most rewarding feeling. CC Mag: Which cosplay has been the most challenging so far? Nefeni Cosplay: My most challenging cosplay so far is my very first armoured cosplay, the Glass Armour set from Skyrim. I used Worbla, a thermoplastic material for the first time. It was such a big project with so much sentimental value. I was scared to work on a project where I would be covered from head to toe with a material I’ve never used before, so I did a lot of research, made a bunch of blueprints using Adobe Illustrator, and cut out paper patterns from my blueprints for sizing before I even ordered the Worbla. It took me eight months to complete the costume and prop, and I’m so proud of what I was able to accomplish. CC Mag: So far, what are some of your favourite materials to work with? Nefeni Cosplay: My most favourite material to work with is Worbla for its ease of use and durability. I like using Gingher brand scissors to get clean edges when making Worbla sandwiches. I also like to prime with Gorilla brand wood glue, and wet sanding with 400 grit sandpaper to get a smooth, even surface. I would love to try making a full foam armour set using L200 foam, and also to make wings or props that move using Arduino and servos.

Photography by Nefeni Cosplay NOVEMBER 2015

BriLan Imagery blansangan84.wix.com/brilanimagery www.facebook.com/BriLanImagery 14

COS CULTURE MAGAZINE

CC Mag: What has been your favourite moment or experience since first getting into cosplay? Nefeni Cosplay: My most favourite moment is always meeting the people that I’ve talked to over social media in person at conventions. Because of cosplay, I’ve made so many new connections and friends. It’s our love of fandom and cosplay that brings people together at conventions and I’m so fortunate to be able to connect over our experiences, tell stories, and make more memories. CC Mag: What cosplays do you have planned for this year? Nefeni Cosplay: For this year, I’m planning on going to DragonCon and Blizzcon again. They’re towards the end of the year, so I’m planning a big cosplay for them. I’m not yet sure what I’m going to make, but I want it to consist of lots of armour, lighting effects, and maybe even stilts or a voice changer. CC Mag: What is your absolute dream cosplay? Nefeni Cosplay: My dream cosplay is the Platinum Angel from Magic the Gathering. She’s fully clad in stone-like armour, has vast stone wings, and a huge sword and shield. I will probably attempt this cosplay in the near future and maybe I’ll be able to make my dream come true. You can find more of Nefeni Cosplay’s work here: www.facebook.com/nefenicosplay www.twitter.com/ nefenicosplay.blogspot.com

FEBRUARY 2016

TUTORIAL Ken AD Photography www.facebook.com/KenADPhotography 16 COS CULTURE MAGAZINE

by Nefeni Cosplay When Skyrim came out, I spent many sleepless nights wandering in dungeons and exploring vast cities. Needless to say, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a game thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s close to my heart, and when I was able to craft the Glass Armour in the game, I fell in love with the set. After attending a few conventions and seeing all the talent cosplayers had in creating beautiful armour sets, I decided to make my very own Glass Armour set!

I started with the reference picture by the amazing Ray Lederer (www.raylederer.com):

I then began to pattern all my armour pieces in Photoshop. I printed out numerous versions of my drafts and did test fittings with paper. I went back into Photoshop multiple times to re-scale it for a better fit, and redo some curves for a more aestheticallypleasing look. Here is an example of the bracer I did with 4 different layers:

FEBRUARY 2016

I used Worbla and craft foam to sculpt the bracers. I used the sandwich method for the bracers and doublelayer Worbla strips for the detailing. The Worbla sticks to itself, so there is no need for glue or any other adhesive here. Simply heat the Worbla with a heat gun, and place the pieces together.

These images show the basic steps I took to create the form of each armour piece. I first shaped the base, and then added the detailing over top.

I made indications of where I wanted to press the Worbla into multiple sections by marking the Worbla with a pen. Then I heated the Worbla (the pen markings still stay even when heated up) and then I took the a butter knife and pressed firmly to make an indent in the Worbla. Since it still looked very flat and lifeless, I used metal chopsticks and made them rounded and 3D. After, I carefully used a parring knife to go over the indented sections again. When I flatten it out again it keeps the wonderful 3D texture.

COS CULTURE MAGAZINE

I repeated this process for my leg armour. On the detail of the upper leg armour, I cut out a v-shaped design out of craft foam and covered it with Worbla. I then carefully placed each one on the armour, starting from the top. This created the leaf-like pattern on the leg pieces.

I then moved on to the breastplate (which was pretty difficult to figure out the cups!) I picked up a 6-inch acrylic globe used for lighting from Home Depot, and draped a heated-up double layer of Worbla over it over it. After it cooled, I attached it to my base and used a bra to shape the top. After the base was done, all I had left was to add a bunch of detailing! The cutouts were made by taking a panel of double layer of Worbla and cutting away the triangle shapes to make grooves and etches. The same technique was used for the details on the breastplate cups.

I finished the cosplay by moving on to fastenings, and did a trial & errors on how I wanted the glass part to look. I primed everything with 4 to 5 layers of Gorilla wood glue. I then used green iridescent paint over a dark blue/ green/gold acrylic paint base and added acrylic gel medium to get the shiny/glossy glass look.

FEBRUARY 2016

Photo by Nefeni Cosplay 20

COS CULTURE MAGAZINE

FEBRUARY 2016

Photo by Curtis Kusch 22

COS CULTURE MAGAZINE

FEBRUARY 2016

YELAINA MAY COSPLAY

yelaina may cosplay c a l g a r y, c a n a d a

CC Mag: Can you tell us a bit about yourself? Yelaina May Cosplay: My name is Yelaina May, and I am a Canadian cosplayer from Calgary, Alberta, Canada. CC Mag: How many years have you been cosplaying? Yelaina May Cosplay: I started cosplaying in April of 2014 and have been hooked ever since! CC Mag: What first drew you to the cosplay community? Yelaina May Cosplay: I attended my first convention ever in 2013 and saw everyone dressed up there. I was so impressed with the creations people had made that i just had to give it a shot! I have always been a creative person so it was a natural progression of my geekiness. CC Mag: How many cosplays have you made so far? Yelaina May Cosplay: About eighteen, if I’m remembering correctly. A few of those still need photo shoots done of them, though.

COS CULTURE MAGAZINE

CC Mag: Which one has been the most challenging? Which one are you most proud of? Yelaina May Cosplay: My most challenging so far would be my first. I chose the Nightingale armour from Skyrim, and to match me, I made my husband a Dragon Priest. I had never made anything before so everything I did - including sewing - was brand new to me. It took me almost a year to finish my first costumes, but in the end I was extremely happy with them and they went off great at the con! My “most proud of ” is hard, because I love them all for different reasons. Currently, I am extremely proud of my Yennefer from Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. That one was a speed build that I did after work in four days to get it ready for a short notice convention. I am most proud of the fact that I really took my time with it, even though I was in a huge rush. I redid parts that I normally would have just left when I messed up a bit. It’s super easy to just sort of give up on something that is not working or not looking right,rather than taking the extra time to redo it.

Photo by Curtis Kusch FEBRUARY 2016

CC Mag: Who or what is your biggest source of inspiration? Yelaina May Cosplay: As far as “who”, it’s really just the entire community. It’s such a big group of extremely talented people that it’s next to impossible to pick just one person who inspires me! My other sources of inspiration would have to be the movies/ TV shows/video games that I choose my costumes from. When a character you love has a really amazing outfit that you just need to have, that is what makes me want to make it. CC Mag: So far, what are some of your favourite materials to work with? Any materials you would really like to try, but haven’t yet? Yelaina May Cosplay: I just love sewing. It’s relatively easy, and there are so many luxurious fabrics and variations that I just want to have in my wardrobe. That being said, fabric costumes draw a lot less attention on the con floor. So I would really love to work with more Worbla/foam to make bigger armour builds. I am actually trying that out now with some costumes from Destiny. CC Mag: What has been your favourite moment or experience since first getting into cosplay? Yelaina May Cosplay: That is almost impossible to answer! But one that stands out a ton for me is the first day of the first convention that I cosplayed at. I suffer from extreme social anxiety and was on the verge of a panic attack going into the convention hall that first time. But when you get in there, and it takes you half an hour to walk across the hall because everyone wants your picture, or to ask you questions about your outfit or character, it’s unforgettable. For me, it validated that I was doing something worthwhile and that I wasn’t just wasting my time sitting in my basement. I will never forget that.

COS CULTURE MAGAZINE

Photo by Curtis Kusch FEBRUARY 2016

CC Mag: What cosplays do you have planned for this year? Yelaina May Cosplay: Way too many! Just going through my cosplanner app and looking at the ones I have “In Progress”, I have Destiny Guardians (Hunter for myself and Warlock for my husband), Showgirl Moltres (in a Pokemon group with Alana Waffles and Nobel Actions), two versions of Lara Croft, Hawkgirl with massive articulating wings, Melissandre (Game of Thrones), Lady Loki (my own version with a ball gown), Merida (Brave), Mira (Spartacus), Harley Quinn (my own version), an Assassin’s Creed costume, and more! And I add new things to the list every day!

COS CULTURE MAGAZINE

CC Mag: What is your absolute dream cosplay? Yelaina May Cosplay: Probably the Hawkgirl with six-foot-plus articulated wings. It’s my goal to make that one this year, and to make it really, really impressive. But that answer always changes, because generally if I have a “dream cosplay” I make it right away! You can find more of Yelaina’s work here: www.facebook.com/yelainamaycosplay www.twitter.com/yelainamcosplay

Photo by Curtis Kusch FEBRUARY 2016

TUTORIAL 30

COS CULTURE MAGAZINE

by Yelaina May Cosplay Photo by Curtis Kusch FEBRUARY 2016 31

forsworn forager from skyrim Supplies Faux Fur Vinyl Fabric Thread Acrylic Paint Leather Strips Worbla Glue Insulation Foam Craft Foam

Tools: Sewing Machine Scissors Heat Gun Paint brushes Carving Tools

by Yelaina May Cosplay

Photo by Curtis Kusch 32

COS CULTURE MAGAZINE

INTRO I decided to make this costume after the success of my Nightingale. I really wanted to choose something that there weren’t a ton of out there, but was still really recognizable. Plus, if it was from Skyrim, it could still match the Dragon Priest I made my husband!

I started out by finding as many reference photos as I could and inspecting the few other forsworn cosplays out there.

The next step was finding the faux fur and leather. The fur was hard, because it’s so expensive! But eventually, I found the darker two-tone brown and the longer hair cream-colour at a little local place (Fabric Depot Calgary) and then went looking for faux leather. I ended up ordering the vinyl online, but what I got was awful! So gross, and not the right colour. But I spent $60 on it and couldn’t afford to start over with it, so I had to make it work. I am actually planning to refurbish and update this costume in the coming months to be more accurate and durable.

First, I started on the undergarments. I took an old bra and covered it in the vinyl. I cut off the straps and made some more fitting to the costume. Technically they don’t have any sort of straps in the game, but I wasn’t comfortable just leaving a flap of fur covering my chest and then walking around at an expo.

FEBRUARY 2016

Next, I made the fur parts of the costume, which was actually the easiest part of the whole thing. All I did was cut out triangles of the faux fur fabric and then sew them together. The fur was easy to put together, because it is such a forgiving material to use. Your cut and sew lines donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have to be even, because itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s all covered in fur!

Once I had that all finished I started working on the boots, which in itself was quite a process! I started by getting some old comfy shoes and making the base shape with fabric and craft foam. I put a zipper in the side of the fabric so that I could get the boots on and off easily without ripping them. After that, I just glued strips of the ugly vinyl all over it until I got a boot! After that it was time to add the fur strips! I cut strips of the fur and then glued those on. Notice all the glue? Those things are super fragile! Then, to finish it off, I glued one more strip of the vinyl above each piece of fur so that it had a nice, clean edge. I was quite happy with how they looked after that! Other than of course wanting to get more accurate and better looking vinyl.

COS CULTURE MAGAZINE

The next thing I worked on was the gloves. I used a very similar method as I did in making the boots. The base was craft foam with a zipper sewed in, then layers of vinyl and faux fur were added to cover the layers of craft foam.

After those were done I made all the little spikes and bone pieces that the costume has. I used my Worbla scraps and moulded them by hand. I did this by heating up the scraps with a heat gun, and squishing them together. Be careful not to burn your hands, as Worbla holds a lot of heat! I then poked holes in shaped Worbla while it was still hot so that I could thread through them and sew them onto the costume. All these little details are what made me love this costume so much!

Then, all I had left was the necklace. I got some feathers and some leather lacing and then sewed them all together. I moulded the bird skull the same way I did all the other little pieces: Worbla and paint!

FEBRUARY 2016

COS CULTURE MAGAZINE

Photo by Curtis Kusch FEBRUARY 2016

Earldenvoi as Shinya Kogami, Psycho Pass 38

COS CULTURE MAGAZINE

WU PHOTOGRAPHY MIKE

FEBRUARY 2016

Mike Wu as Batman (self portrait), Dark Knight Trilogy 40

COS CULTURE MAGAZINE

CC Mag: Can you introduce yourself for us? Mike Wu: My name is Mike Wu and I’m a photographer from Vancouver, Canada. I occasionally cosplay, and realize how much effort and time goes into creating costumes. It gives me a lot of appreciation for the hard work of other cosplayers, and motivates me as a photographer to visually showcase their efforts as best I can. CC Mag: How long have you been doing photography? Cosplay photography, specifically? Mike Wu: I’ve been doing photography for two and a half years and cosplay photography for just under a year. I love meeting talented cosplayers and am always struck by how well they bring a character to life. Some of the imaginative costumes and intricate props they create are simply visionary. CC Mag: Tell us all about the shoot you did with Sea of Rabbitz! Mike Wu: It was my pleasure working with Sea of Rabbitz to photograph her unbelievable Pink Rathian costume from Monster Hunter. We did our photoshoot on a warm sunny day by a waterfall in British Columbia, Canada. The surrounding forest suited Pink Rathian really well, and the waterfall just made it all the more epic. Both of us are avid hikers and frequently trek into the wilderness, but this was the first time I did cosplay photography in such a setting. The hike to and from the location was seven kilometers and took approximately two hours. Since we carried everything we needed for the shoot, a big challenge was packing minimally yet making sure we had all we needed. It would be bad to arrive at the gorgeous location and then realize that I had forgotten a camera battery or memory card! Sea of Rabbitz brought a change of clothes and footwear along with her costume, and I had my camera gear, water, safety essentials, and bear spray. Working with Sea of Rabbitz was really fun. She had plenty of energy even after hiking. It wasn’t easy moving with the wings through trees and along the river, yet she never complained and was dedicated to doing everything she could to get great photos.

FEBRUARY 2016

Kasi Altair Cosplay as Grumpy Cat 42

COS CULTURE MAGAZINE

CC Mag: Do you have a favourite image from the shoot? If so, why? Mike Wu: It’s so hard to choose - this question is like asking which of my nephews I love the most! I love all the photos from the shoot, but if I had to pick, I’d gravitate toward photos that my subjects use, like the ones that they upload as their profile picture on social media. It’s not the only indication, but in my eyes that’s a photo that they identify with and love.

CC Mag: What other cosplay shoots have you done? Mike Wu: I’ve been honoured to work with so many wonderful cosplayers. A few shoots that were very memorable include an original Grumpy Cat cosplay by Kasi Altair Cosplay where we wanted to make every photo a meme, Shinya Kogami (from Psycho Pass) by Earldenvoi, Kakashi (from Naruto, one of my favourite series) by Itoko Cosplay and Gwen Stacy (from the Spider-Gwen comic) by Meeschka Cosplay.

Meeschka Cosplay as Gwen Stacy, Spider-Gwen FEBRUARY 2016

CC Mag: Tell us about your dream shoot! Who/ what would it be? Mike Wu: I saw some stunning Norse cosplay photos last year by a team that went to Iceland - what a great idea! My dream shoot would be to travel to a location with breathtaking scenery - such as an ice cave, a bamboo forest, or even a desert - and then do a photoshoot with cosplayers and others to create photo masterpieces. CC Mag: Where can we find more of your work? Mike Wu: I share most of my work through my Facebook photography page and Instagram. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m also on all the other social networks. Additionally, I post my photos to a unique online group called Cosplay Connect that I created and manage with the help of some awesome friends in Vancouver. If you visit any of my pages, please say hello and let me know that you found me through Cos Culture! www.mikewuphotography.com www.facebook.com/MikeWuPhotography Instagram: @mikewuphotography Cosplay Connect: www.facebook.com/groups/CosplayConnect

Sea of Rabbitz as a Pink Rathian from Monster Hunter 44

COS CULTURE MAGAZINE

COSPLAY TUTORIAL ON FOLLOWING PAGES FEBRUARY 2016

TUTO 46

COS CULTURE MAGAZINE

ORIAL by Sea of Rabbitz

Photo by Mike Wu Photography FEBRUARY 2016

Articulated Pink Rathian Wings from Monster Hunter Supplies PVC pipes 14 nut/bolt sets for the joints 2 door hinges 4 screws Plywood 3 foam pool noodles 5 metres of preferred fabric LOTS of craft foam EVA foam for padding Worbla thermoplastics Hot glue Duct tape Small backpack Thin polyester cord

Tools: Drill Heat gun Hot glue gun Screw driver Hand saw

by Sea of Rabbitz

Photo by Mike Wu Photography 48 COS CULTURE MAGAZINE

INTRO It took about three months on and off to make my Pink Rathian cosplay. The armour and chest pieces were made out of Worbla’s Finest Art thermoplastics, craft foam, and Friendly Plastic. The most challenging parts were probably the wings and deciding on how I would make the rest of the outfit. I used AlexiusSana’s fan art of a Pink Rathian gijinka (humanoid dragon) as inspiration. I only made some alterations to the design based on how possible it would be to recreate in a costume.

I wanted to make articulated wings so that I could open up and outwards like real wings. I took a large sheet of paper and lay down on top of it, and had my body outline drawn on it. This way, I could eyeball how big I wanted the wings to be. I drew them out and built the frame out of PVC. I attached the frame to the piece of plywood with door hinges so that the wings could move back and forward. The piece of plywood was then padded and attached to an old, small backpack that I had. I don’t have a huge budget so a lot of it was secured by duct tape. This wasn’t really a problem since I would add scales and a back piece that hide the harness. Make sure to try on the harness many times so it adjusts and fits to your back comfortably.

I then drilled holes to where I would run the polyester cord through the frame, and had to attach a short PVC pipe on the top of the harness for the cord to run through. The cord would hang down, and when pulled, the wings would open! This took quite a few tests before I had it moving properly. I bought a few foam pool noodles and shaped them over parts of the PVC frame so that the wings would have more muscle definition. This took a bit of carving so that the edges looked more roundedoff like real muscles and tendons. I attached it with duct tape since hot glue would have melted the foam, as it wasn’t going to be seen, anyway. You can choose to use another type of glue if you wish, but for me, duct tape is boss!

FEBRUARY 2016

As for the fabric, I then laid it out under the open frame so that I could trace out how I wanted the wings to look. It was important that I had the wings completely open so that the fabric would not be stretched and there would be no tension when everything was attached. Once I had the shape I wanted, I cut the fabric out in two sets with the “bad” side of the fabric being glued together later. I was lucky enough to find the perfect fabric that had a scaly look and colour to match the colour of the dragon. The “fingers” of the wings were made out of craft foam rolled up and hot glued down onto the fabric so that it stayed in place. Again, make sure to attach the fabric to the frame when it’s open! Since my fabric didn’t stretch, I also left some open areas on the fabric so that it would move along the frame and be loose enough not to rip when the frame would move up and down.

COS CULTURE MAGAZINE

I made the “claws” out of craft foam and covered and heated them with the Worbla thermoplastic so that they were strong and sturdy. I made eight on each side of the wings in different sizes, using the reference from the game model. I made sure they were attached the right distance apart by first taping them on and then marking where they would go. I didn’t want to prime the Worbla since I wanted the claws to have a rough texture, like real bone. I painted them black with a few layers of spray paint and let them dry. After that, I was ready to glue it onto the frame. I left holes between the fabric and the frame in these areas so that the claws were on a solid surface and not attached to the fabric itself. Once they were glued on, I glued the fabric over the bottom edge of the claws.

The scales were quite simple. However, it was a time consuming task, since I had to cut out each scale individually by hand. I considered getting a paper cutter frame like a cookie cutter, but I really wanted each scale to be different from the next. Once I had cut enough (it took a while, I had to cut more scales five times throughout the process), I took all the scales outside, laid them on top of a sheet, and spray-painted most of them a rose pink colour, and a few of them a light tan colour. The paint was uneven for each one, which I was fine with since I wanted each scale to be different from the other. Once they dried, I started gluing on the scales one at a time over the frame of the wings. It took many hours. Once that was finished, I made a stencil of the pattern I wanted on the wings and sprayed it right on. And that was it!

I should warn that if you want to make this, you might want to experiment with different materials for the frame. I wanted my wings to be strong and very detailed, but the end product ended up being quite heavy, and the pulley system I created to easily open the wings became very challenging. But in the end it was adjustable, which made it nice for different poses for photo shoots! You can find more of Sea of Rabbitzâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s work here: Facebook: www.facebook.com/seaofrabbitz Instagram: @Seaofrabbitz Twitter: @Seaofrabbitz

FEBRUARY 2016

COS CULTURE MAGAZINE

Photo by Mike Wu Photography FEBRUARY 2016

february 2016 C O S C U LT U R E M A G A Z I N E

COS CULTURE MAGAZINE