electraflier
Well-Known Member
Well. some folks already know me from my War Machine build WIP. I have a long way to go still and while my original intention was to keep plugging away at it and not wear a costume until I was done, I couldn't wait any more.
I joined the Orlando Chapter of Costumers with a Cause (CwC) and with no hero suit, I couldn't really participate. I also go to conventions and after the recent ones, the urge to cosplay became too overwhelming. I have always been a fan of The Man Without Fear! So when the opportunity came along.....:angel
Long story short, I bought a Dare Devil suit from a local cosplayer, member of CwC and all around great guy TJ!!! It is in the classic comic style and not the Ben Affleck movie leathers.. I figured it was a good start and the mega plus is that while I am 50 years old,:darnkids I try to stay in shape, but this will really force me to adhere to my workouts and diet regime... I want my abs back LOL!
Here is a picture of me doing a test fit of this great costume.
This baby was designed by TJ along with an absolutely incredible costume maker. It has no seam down the back!!! It is ultra thick spandex and while not new, it is in very, very good shape given the number of events, conventions and some of the stunts that I have seem pictures of TJ doing in the Dare Devil suit!
Of course I am going to be as fussy as I am with the War Machine and I had to start fixing things lol! there were a couple of seams popping and those are getting the sewing machine treatment. Next were the boots and gloves getting a repaint to a darker red that matches the belt and billy club sheath almost exactly! LOve and I mean I love Rustoleum for plastic in the dark wine color!:love
The Billy clubs that came with the suit were awesome wood ones that have a great pattern of wear on them. I really didnt want them to be "new" looking. I wanted them battered and used, so the problem became, How Do I Make Them More Resemble The Movie Billy Clubs..? Now I know the comic billies were a real hook cane that separated, but I really, really liked the movie versions so I am mixing the comic costume with the movie clubs...*gasp* I know. Marvel can sue me..
Here is a picture of the clubs I had.
another for reference;
At 18 inches they are perfect for the thigh sheath and I do believe the movie ones were shorter at like 13 inches. However, I love the length and Im not going to end up redoing the sheath...so 18 inches it is...
I really wanted metal/silver ends and that began a week long search for anything that would fit on the end and accept paint or would be metal. Nothing, and I mean literally nothing fit the bill. I even looked at custom silver or metal cane tips on line and at 40$ a piece they can keep them... I have too many projects and not enough money or time lol!:sick Besides they didnt remotely resemble what I needed...
Then I had an epiphony!! I want to the Home Depot and tore apart the plumbing, hard ware aisles and found....nothing. :cry
I was about to leave and I was very disappointed when I had one more thought! My dad was an electrician and I thought maybe some counduit of galvanized steel or those kinds fittings might work! The Pipe was literally the exact same diameter of the wood, useless.... the fittings were the exact size of the wood, useless.. they wouldnt slide over the ends.....unless I found a way to mount them!:ninja
Here are the couplers;
So How do I mount these??
I got the idea to cut off the ends and screw in some hex head lag bolts like these,
Next I cut the ends of the sticks off to make room for the additional length these parts would add as I want the same length,
Lightly sanded then pilot holes were drilled to accept the lag bolt.
Now heres the ultra cool and easy way I attached the metal couplers. I taped them onto the ends with the bolt head in the center.
Make sure to wrap the tape ultra tight and center the coupler so you dont get leaks and a missalignment when it all cures
you can see the bolt in the center.
Now the solution! I filled the hole in the center around the nut with Smooth Cast 320!!
You simply let the plastic harden which took like 5 minutes, turn the clubs over and fill the other side. It took less than 2 Oz / for both ends on one side of the clubs/ of the plastic to bury the bolts and seal the metal ends to the wood rods.. I am sure epoxy, Rhondo or any thing that would fill that coupler would work and they only cost like 3 bucks!!
\
After it cured, I unrolled the tape and ....drum roll.....
I am looking for a metal demon and angel face to epoxy on to the coupler and possibly three metal rings to go over them but I am happy with the intermediate steps so far. PLus I think the 320 is strong enough that I could possbly unscrew the ends if I wanted.
This is what the movie stick looked like.
Long way to go yet, but it is a new WIP... The goal for me is to recreate as many of these you see here in this next picture.
I have a really great idea coming in future posts for the grappling hook, The goal is to make it actually open and close at the touch of a button! I also want a cane for if I do Matt Murdock....Teaser alert!?? Heck yes!!:devil
I joined the Orlando Chapter of Costumers with a Cause (CwC) and with no hero suit, I couldn't really participate. I also go to conventions and after the recent ones, the urge to cosplay became too overwhelming. I have always been a fan of The Man Without Fear! So when the opportunity came along.....:angel
Long story short, I bought a Dare Devil suit from a local cosplayer, member of CwC and all around great guy TJ!!! It is in the classic comic style and not the Ben Affleck movie leathers.. I figured it was a good start and the mega plus is that while I am 50 years old,:darnkids I try to stay in shape, but this will really force me to adhere to my workouts and diet regime... I want my abs back LOL!
Here is a picture of me doing a test fit of this great costume.
This baby was designed by TJ along with an absolutely incredible costume maker. It has no seam down the back!!! It is ultra thick spandex and while not new, it is in very, very good shape given the number of events, conventions and some of the stunts that I have seem pictures of TJ doing in the Dare Devil suit!
Of course I am going to be as fussy as I am with the War Machine and I had to start fixing things lol! there were a couple of seams popping and those are getting the sewing machine treatment. Next were the boots and gloves getting a repaint to a darker red that matches the belt and billy club sheath almost exactly! LOve and I mean I love Rustoleum for plastic in the dark wine color!:love
The Billy clubs that came with the suit were awesome wood ones that have a great pattern of wear on them. I really didnt want them to be "new" looking. I wanted them battered and used, so the problem became, How Do I Make Them More Resemble The Movie Billy Clubs..? Now I know the comic billies were a real hook cane that separated, but I really, really liked the movie versions so I am mixing the comic costume with the movie clubs...*gasp* I know. Marvel can sue me..
Here is a picture of the clubs I had.
another for reference;
At 18 inches they are perfect for the thigh sheath and I do believe the movie ones were shorter at like 13 inches. However, I love the length and Im not going to end up redoing the sheath...so 18 inches it is...
I really wanted metal/silver ends and that began a week long search for anything that would fit on the end and accept paint or would be metal. Nothing, and I mean literally nothing fit the bill. I even looked at custom silver or metal cane tips on line and at 40$ a piece they can keep them... I have too many projects and not enough money or time lol!:sick Besides they didnt remotely resemble what I needed...
Then I had an epiphony!! I want to the Home Depot and tore apart the plumbing, hard ware aisles and found....nothing. :cry
I was about to leave and I was very disappointed when I had one more thought! My dad was an electrician and I thought maybe some counduit of galvanized steel or those kinds fittings might work! The Pipe was literally the exact same diameter of the wood, useless.... the fittings were the exact size of the wood, useless.. they wouldnt slide over the ends.....unless I found a way to mount them!:ninja
Here are the couplers;
So How do I mount these??
I got the idea to cut off the ends and screw in some hex head lag bolts like these,
Next I cut the ends of the sticks off to make room for the additional length these parts would add as I want the same length,
Lightly sanded then pilot holes were drilled to accept the lag bolt.
Now heres the ultra cool and easy way I attached the metal couplers. I taped them onto the ends with the bolt head in the center.
Make sure to wrap the tape ultra tight and center the coupler so you dont get leaks and a missalignment when it all cures
you can see the bolt in the center.
Now the solution! I filled the hole in the center around the nut with Smooth Cast 320!!
You simply let the plastic harden which took like 5 minutes, turn the clubs over and fill the other side. It took less than 2 Oz / for both ends on one side of the clubs/ of the plastic to bury the bolts and seal the metal ends to the wood rods.. I am sure epoxy, Rhondo or any thing that would fill that coupler would work and they only cost like 3 bucks!!
\
After it cured, I unrolled the tape and ....drum roll.....
I am looking for a metal demon and angel face to epoxy on to the coupler and possibly three metal rings to go over them but I am happy with the intermediate steps so far. PLus I think the 320 is strong enough that I could possbly unscrew the ends if I wanted.
This is what the movie stick looked like.
Long way to go yet, but it is a new WIP... The goal for me is to recreate as many of these you see here in this next picture.
I have a really great idea coming in future posts for the grappling hook, The goal is to make it actually open and close at the touch of a button! I also want a cane for if I do Matt Murdock....Teaser alert!?? Heck yes!!:devil
Last edited:
love
