Saber Forum

I just got here but I have been looking at bunches of threads...not too many costume appliances.

Is this strictly a matter of logistics and finances or do you prefer the human look?

I am torn between Togruta, Twi'lek, and Nautolan but I may take the plunge and go with Ithorian.

I tend to favor Jedi Artisan as a path...specialty craftsmen of light sabers, musical instruments, sculptures, etc. so Ithorian fits nicely.

Quite the challenge to construct it in a way that fighter practice does not take too much of a toll.  Most likely a fiberglass form with a thick flexible skin...not to mention the sound effects with the dual voices and the sonic blast that can be force augmented...imagine sparring with me in my Ithorian costume and I let loose with a hugely loud horn hammer, then quickly take advantage with a disabling strike!

Just a thought...how about for you?

I think people generally stick to human out of functionality. It might not be very fun going to a con, being in your costume for 3 or 4 hours, sparring, and just generally socializing while wearing a heavy, uncomfortable, itchy, scratchy, restricting mask or make up. Doesn't sound fun to me.

I thought about it once, but nobody around here likes jar jar...just kidding.  I thought about it once, but would want professionally made head/hand peices that looked real and not made of rubber.  Being a human jedi/sith reduces the cost somewhat I would think.  I would imagine that professionally made head and hand adornments that are reusable would cost a large amount of money.

I think you should pursue the idea if it is your desire to do so.  I know the rebel legion has twi-liks, plo koons and kit fistos, so it can technically be done, and not just by the movie makers.

Good points.

Agreed that a poorly designed or ill fitting appliance would be something of a nightmare.  I had first considered the less modified alien species to allow for potential of making more...I am sure I could find homes for a 100 Twi'lek for every 1 Ithorian   :o

The draw for me with the appliances is more of the challenge that comes with each type...adding a degree of life and movement to the head tendrils without the common droop and drop you see with homemade Twi'lek for example.

The Ithorian is about as complex a challenge as I could come up with.

But I have already designed the head and shoulder mounts...to allow for even weight distribution as well as allowing for primal head movement...a segmented neck so one move of the wearer's head will allow a shift with a secondary tremble or cant to the middle neck.

The real trick is not the appliance itself but rather making it viable for fighter practice...which in the end it does not need to be, but in for a penny...

*****

If you could manage a reasonable appliance, let use say a lease for a con ($50 at the most with makeup labor included),  would you be interested?  Or would you stick with your current costume?

Note, I am not looking to offer leases...lol...just thinking out loud.

It WOULD be sick to do an alien.... I've often thought due to my height a wookie would just be sick, but I know personally I avoid the aliens for the same reasons as most: cost and comfort. I've never seen cheap alien appliances that look good (except Bajoran noses from Star Trek lol), and from what I understand being an alien is like being a stormtrooper: if you have to go to the bathroom, eat lunch, or just get out of the thing in a hurry... you might be in trouble. lol

An Ithorian though? GO FOR IT! That would be amazing, simply for the fact that there CAN'T be many out there, if any at all. My only worry would be how the heck you'd SEE out of that head piece. Other than that, I think it sounds like you've got it worked out pretty well.

Wookie would be a fun one...surely there are many examples out there.  Just the materials, not counting the head appliance with jaw connections etc. I would say would be in the neighborhood of $175-200 for high quality faux fur.  The real issue here is the total body coverage...which is strictly logistical one.

So I would think a really good Wookie costume would be $500 or so.

*****

The Ithorian one is intriguing an many levels.

I had considered the vision aspect and luck for me I have vast experience with video, cameras, and mobile processes...if I went down this route it would be for conventions, a 360* viewable.

But most likely I would create mesh view points that blend into the mottled skin pattern.

I am working out the dual voice amplifier and mixer right now.

The air hammer I have on hand already...though I need to turn it down as it is in the dB danger zone currently.

I seen the same person (I hope anyway) in a pretty realistic big foot costume for the last two halloweens.  He was fairly tall, but when talking to him he also used built up shoes to resemble hairy legs and feet to increase his height to 7 feet.  I remarked to him that with a belt sash like chewies he could be chewbacca.

I actually favor Plo Koon as a charactor and I think his hands would be easier to do than Kit Fistos.

When you get it done you'll have to post pics to let us all see

Indeed.

You know... I've thought on occasion that perhaps it would be interesting to see someone do Ooryl Qryg, the insect wingmate of Corran Horn in Rogue Squadron. Wonder what you'd do for the flight helmet....

Funny you mention it, but Gand are one of my favorites.

I would certainly consider a Gand as an alternate choice.  The flight helmetwould not be that huge a deal except keeping the bulk down...human head + appliance + flight helmet = huge head!

For this particular direction I would ditch the flight helmet and focus on a jedi aspect, but if I had to, then I would create a thin shell for the flight helmet...avoid the heavy padding and guts.

I'd imagine if you already had the full head Gand mask, you could forgo the liner to the standard helmet completely and use a regular Richie's kit with little to no modification. Probably be pretty sweet!

And yeah, gotta love the Gand. Something about a species that can punch a hole THROUGH a Stormtroopers helmet AND head in one hit.... just demands respect. Not that Ooryl wasn't cool before that....  8)

I'm human in my Jedi costume because that's what girls are attracted to.

I'd like to see your alien costume when it's finished though!

Yeah...Ithorians are not bringing home the ladies  :)

As for the Gand, I never heard about this stormtrooper dim mak ability...is this a reference to a book or video game?

It was in... gosh, it was one of the first couple books from the X-Wing series. Might have been the very first one, X-Wing: Rogue Squadron. I think it was. The Squadron gets ambushed in the middle of the night at base. Corran Horn and Ooryl had a tree fall through the wall of their barracks the day before, and had been re-billeted in a small shack outside the main compound. Ooryl being a Gand had odd sleep patterns and was out for a walk. Corran woke up at random sensing something was wrong. Finds a Stormtrooper walking by outside, kills him, meets up with Ooryl who saves his butt from another Stormtrooper by way of sneaking up behind the guy with the gun on Corran and punching him in the head. His exo-skeleton and strength put the fist through the helmet, through the skull, and into some icky icky goo.  ;D It was a seriously BA moment for Ooryl. lol

Zeltron, anyone..?  ;D

For something easy, try miraluka...

[img width= height=]http://www.oldrepublic.cz/Obrazky/obyvatele/miraluka/oldrepubliccz-Miraluka.jpg[/img]

All you need is some kind of eye covering that allows you to see while achieving the look of being blind, plus its fun to see who gets it.

You could also go Anzati (http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Anzat (http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Anzat)), with the feeding tentacles retracted...

Miraluka is another good choice.

No ideas for an Ee costume? Anyone who pulled that off would earn my undying respect....

I was thinking maybe a Chiss Jedi. All you'd need is red contacts, and some blue body paint.

Bright red skin and equally bright pastel colored hair?

The hair is easy with a wig/hair piece.

The full skin coverage is not bad, depending on how much skin you have showing.

 ;D

Ok, I will bite...what is an Ee?

http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Ee (http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Ee)

Lol...not much of a costume as they are 6cm long   ::)

My point exactly  ;D And what's a Zeltron costume without a bit of skin?  ;) One of my friends made a brilliant-looking Togruta costume a few years ago, but he said that the headpiece was the most annoying thing in the known universe.

Do you have any pictures of said Togruta?  The head piece is a big draw for my attention...most of the ones I have seen on the net and in person have been...uh, homemade looking?

I did put hands on one nice example but it was not for wearing.

The worst of the issue for this one is creating a natural look to the paint/finish work.

I'll see if I can find a picture, but I most likely can't, or at least not in a reasonable amount of time. The fellow that made it moved to India. I'll find his email and try anyways.

I'd love to see somebody try the Miraluka idea hahaha.  Wandering around a con bumping into stuff...

No, I guess you could use something that's semi see through.  It would make for a pretty good costume I think if you could pull it off.

The blind guy prop is a tough one to pull off unless the image is a known blind element like these

(http://images3.makefive.com/images/entertainment/television/star-trek-gadgets/geordi-laforge_s-glasses-7.jpg)

A solid matte surface with lots of small holes might help.

But while do they cover their eyes if they are blind?  I would think white on white contacts would give you the blind look.

They're not just blind, they're born without eyes... that one is a bit harder to pull off without a covering haha.  They are a near human species that has adapted to where they don't use their eyes, instead they use the Force to guide them.

Gotcha, that is what I figured.

Well in this case I would pursue a form fitting flesh appliance to cover the eyes with a thin layer...either very thin or with many small holes.

Either way a tough final product to pull off cleanly.

Well my wife has made it clear that she does not approve of my choice in character aliens

Ithorian being my first choice...the iconic look, the potential of the dual voice effect, and the sound-force deafening concussive sonic yell

(http://images4.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20081003145751/starwars/images/thumb/1/13/Ithorian_-_SWG_TCG.jpg/393px-Ithorian_-_SWG_TCG.jpg)

So I am looking at the potential for another appliance of a less dramatic build, yet still retaining a measure of fun and creative process for me.

I am looking at Lannik...although I am not the typical size, I would be a large Lannik to be sure

(http://media.comicvine.com/uploads/7/71790/1633447-lannik_negas_large.jpg)

Not sure why, but the old Jedi Master Even Piell struck me as interesting...perhaps a half-Lannik?

*****

Twi'lek would be a good option...in my flesh tone or a mottled skin color to avoid the grief of whole (exposed) skin coloring

Hopefully less Sith looking then our friend Bib here

(http://images1.wikia.nocookie.net/starwars/images/d/dc/BibFortuna_swenc.jpg)

He is not exactly bringing sexy back   :o

And less, pudgy than Orn Free Taa

(http://img232.imageshack.us/img232/2359/ornfreetaaaz2.jpg)

But in the end if the Ithorian is not an option than I am leaning heavily towards Togruta

(http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a269/Menku/Raanatayfull.jpg)

The contrasting colors and bands are quite appealing to my eyes.  Perhaps a bit of curled horn; the upper bits are horn (montral) and the lower bits are head tentacles (lekku).

*****

Any votes from the gallery?

Lannik?
Twi'lek?
Togruta?
Other?

i would love to see an ithorian jedi, but a twilek might be easier
heres my kel dor, during one of our performances.  the mask was a nightmare to fight in, i couldnt see a thing as soon as i lifted my arms up


(http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm182/darthhart/313422_277595105606636_100000684452711_902664_675356514_n.jpg)

Kel Dorians are an easy one to like.

Iconic look.

The cool antiox breath masks and amplifying goggles making up for the horror show faces...

"Kel Dors were, as a whole, considered an unattractive species due to their strange facial structure. Their noses were described as falling short of becoming a beak, with a gaping opening that descended to the mouth, a toothless chasm with drooping fleshy strands. In place of teeth, Kel Dor had an upper and lower hard-palate, visible only when they pulled their lips back. Framing their head were extrasensory organs which terminated in small black tusks"

ack!

lol

But fun...did you make it or is it a production piece?

What is the issue with limited vision?

it is actually a rubies mask.  i filled the inside with filler to make it sturdy.  replaced the rbber parts on his tusks with metal ones, covered the eye holes with black mesh and completely repainted it.  the issue wit vision is they are small eye holes so i cant see to the sides or straight down.  when i dueled in it as soon as i lifted my arm above my stomach, my chest and soulders pushed up on the ends of the tusks so the eye holes were at forehead level.  luckily i have an excellent sparing partner who i completely trust
here he is with a couple of friends

(http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm182/darthhart/297.jpg)

Ah I see.

Nice group shot   ;D

Is that guy really walking around barefoot?

yes he is.  this was took a C2E2 in illinois.  we are all members of the rebel legion.  saesse tiin is my sparring partner.  we put on shows and demos pretty regulary as part of the rebel legion.  Anybody in wisconsin let me know

i have also seen a rodian jedi but the eyes fog up so bad they couldnt see a thing.
the plo koon and saessee tiin mask from rubies are prtty good but need whole new paint jobs and some conversion work, ive heard the kit fisto mask is really bad

    I would love to pull off a Yuuzhan Vong!  The facial disfigurement wouldn't be that bad with the right latex appliance, add in some body modification and boom your done.  Their accessories could be interesting to craft with their organic versus tech viewpoint.  Hmm...now you've got me plotting...  Thanks for the idea!

Yep that would be a good one...can't think of to many of those...but as they were anti-jedi, would you incorporate light sabers into your plans?

My Vong knowledge is limited...seemed a bit out of canon context to me, I have not taken the plunge...though I recognize the look potential  :)

Honestly, I love the Twi'leks, but those could be hard with all the make up and head tails. I think it would be easier as a human, because you would also have to learn a new language. A mirulaka is also a good idea, because they're very force sensitive and make good jedi, as well as being very human, apart from being eyeless. It also wouldn't cost very much to buy. If you want to be an alein, be a mirulaka.

Shi'ido. I would bow down and worship whoever can pull that off.

For the sake of simplicity, ease of wearing and vision, and lack of funds/talent, lol...
the character/costume I'm working on is half-Kiffar. All I need to add is the tribal markings with face paint.  ;D

I've seen a couple of girls pull off the Darth Talon costume very well... and not in the lame body-suit way but full-on body paint with all the markings and the head tails. Very awesome.

The basic form?  I would think much more would be a stretch as they are shapeshifters and can look like anyone else.

I meant a shapeshifting costume. It would be impossible to do as they can increase mass, and even without that it would be very nearly impossible ::) I repeat - if someone does it, I will bow down and worship them ;)

   The Vong are from some of the better novels in my opinion.  They are what led up to Jacen Solo becoming a Sith.  Well, the start of it.  I'm a huge fan of the novels, not so much this new Clone Wars series that is rewriting "history" (Mandalorians are a peaceful species???) 
   
   I don't see the Vong as antiJedi as much as they were anti-technology.  All of their stuff were living organisms that were mimicked regular devices so making accessories for they could be pretty unique and cool.  As for the light saber, DAMN RIGHT I'm gonna use.  (Heck I think I'm gonna use it with my Edo era outfit.) Ganner Rhysode sacrificed himself to save Jacen and his rescue team.  He pulled the "You Shall Not Pass!" and defeated hundreds of Vong in single combat.  He became known as a God that guarded the way into the underworld, The Ganner.  Who is to say I couldn't be a disciple of his.  Although I'm more likely to have stolen the blade from a vanquished Jedi...

The Vong were extremely technophobic, probably from witnessing the Silentium-Abominor wars, and they did obviously express anti-Jedi sentiment, but that is beside the point. A Vong costume would be awesome ;D

You could be one of the Shamed One revolutionaries, or the Vong from Cade Skywalker's time...

I was thinking last night... has anyone seen anybody attempt a Selkath costume?

I actually was considering one of these on my short list.

Selkath...the main issue is the prey positioned eyes...makes decent viewing tough
(http://images.wikia.com/starwars/images/a/a9/Pushing_Slash_JATM.JPG)


Ithorian...this is on the back burner due to reduced dueling potential
(http://images.wikia.com/starwars/images/1/13/Ithorian_-_SWG_TCG.jpg)


Ortolan...the one I am working on now...
(http://images.wikia.com/starwars/images/8/88/BeloTusus.jpg)

(http://i1066.photobucket.com/albums/u409/IaCthugha/200px-Selkath.jpg)

Hmmm.... a pretty new addition to the canon universe... seems somewhat difficult (especially the feet), but definitely not impossible.

Hmmm the feet are an interesting one...I would use illusion for this one.

Say a size 10 shoe for the wearer...the alien would have a 11-12...a thin silicone appliance installed directly onto a shoe with the wearer's toe limit being the webbing point of the dual alien toe.

Fun stuff.

 Togruta!

A Balosar would be easy - just hide some antennae in your hair.  I would love to do a Selkath, if I had the money/capability of doing it right.

But really, if I'm going to do an alien Jedi....it has to be blue Twi'lek Jaden Korr from Jedi Academy:
(http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee96/AtomicStables/SW/Jaden2_zps6389fc93.jpg)

An easy one to do is a Mirialan

(http://i1145.photobucket.com/albums/o516/Sbowles94/PB090089_zps0bc96efc.jpg)

The main problem with doing a Togruta, Twi'lek,  Nautolan  or even a Ithorian. Is finding someone who makes the headpieces, hands and so forth. Or you have to do it yourself. Either way it adds a lot of extra cost. I haven't really looked into doing a a Nautolan or Ithorian, and I'm just starting to look at doing a Togruta. But here is some info about my Twi'lek

I'm a Twi'lek (photoshoot next week) and there are 2 main problems with doing a twi'lek.

Here is the link to my Lekku topic: http://www.saberforum.com/index.php?topic=12628.0 (http://www.saberforum.com/index.php?topic=12628.0)

1. Body Paint

a. it takes a long time to put on and dry
b. body ink is very costly so if you use water based paint you are always having to touch up during the day and avoid water like the black plague (and when you live in Seattle, WA that's very hard)

2. the headpieces though are made out of latex and foam they are heavy, the bigger the headpiece the heaver they are going to be.

a. you have to be careful with them they aren't made out of glass but they aren't made out of steel either
b. you will have a seam on your head you have to hide, meaning you have to wear a head wrap even if you didn't want to.
c. you have to store them inside the house in a box, and them pillowed on top of some poly-fill (pillow fluff)

To give you an idea of the cost of a Twi'lek, here are my numbers for my costume.

Lekku - Pam - $154

Body Ink - Reel Creations - $60

Airbrush and compressor - $120

Jedi Costume - $500 (the cost if I didn't make it)
-Robe
-Tunic
-Turtleneck
-Pants
-Tabards/skirt
-Boots
-Jedi belt with pouches and food capsules
-Head wrap for lekku

Saber (for me a double bladed) - $650 (Make that $350 for a single with sound)

Time to get dressed and ready to go out, 3 hours.

I did put in extra work because I'm a member of Rebel Legion and I troop events with them; however I hold true to the rule if your going to do it do it right or don't bother.

If you want to get an alien costume I would highly suggest you roll your self over to the Rebel Legion forum. They are all about costuming and they have some great information and can help you find a tutorial, or even help hook you up with the people who make the aliens. You can also flip threw their membership database and see all the costumes people have. I know there are a few Togruta, a good handful of Twi'lek, a couple Nautolan, and I think maybe one- two Ithorian (if I remember right)

Membership Database: http://www.rebellegion.com/members.php (http://www.rebellegion.com/members.php)
Costuming Tutorials: http://www.rebellegion.com/costuming.php (http://www.rebellegion.com/costuming.php)
Forum: http://www.rebellegion.com/forum/index.php (http://www.rebellegion.com/forum/index.php)

I hope this helps you or someone else in some way.

Cheers,

Eiyame (Freya)