Showing posts with label My Little Pony. Show all posts
Showing posts with label My Little Pony. Show all posts

Thursday, August 16, 2012

Time To Suit Up – Part 1 – Wonderbolts

 

One of my costume plans for this year was going to be my interpretation of Princess Luna’s Night guards (a.k.a. Bat Ponies).

Luna's_Guard_by_TheHub

I had a lot of the elements built, including the helmet, which I LOVE, but things just kept going wrong with the build.  Paint not drying correctly.  Pieces warping and cracking.  Me knocking the helmet across the room.  The wings just not working no matter what I tried.  It even rained on the last build of the wings that I attempted.  If it could go wrong, it was going wrong.  I lost close to 6 months off and on work and a good 3 months solid work for all these issues, and I was still no where closer to getting it done.

Now lots of people will tell you, I am not good at taking subtle hints, but after it spontaneously rained on the wings, I started to wonder if I wasn’t supposed to do this costume.  I finally decided that I wasn’t and I shelved the whole project.

After that I was kind of frozen in place for a day.  I had messed up every part of the Night Guard.  I had some critical areas on other costumes that I had to get right.  What if I screwed them up like I did the Night Guard.  I could ruin everything.  I eventually sucked it up and moved on.  I even replaced the Night Guard with another costume:

Unnamed Wonderbolt #2
(Well, that’s what I’m calling him  Sounds better than Generic Background Wonderbolt)

This would have to be a fast and cheap build.  Time and budget are almost gone.

First, who/what are the Wonderbolts you ask.  Basically think of them as the MLP version of the Blue Angels, but they are Pegasus ponies.

Wonderbolts_Poster_S1E01     WonderBolts

The materials list was pretty simple:
Blue Jumpsuit
Goggles
Yellow something for trim and detail
FunFoam/Foam Sheets/Foamies for wings

The yellow something for the trim and details would be provided by Duct Tape brand tape.  They actually make “Fashion colors and prints” of duct tape, and the yellow was actually spot on.

My process was just to lay a strip of tape onto a sheet of plastic and then use an Exacto to cut out the lightning bolt patters.
IMAG0855IMAG0852

After that, it was cut it into sections, peel it off the plastic, and place it on the the jumpsuit.

IMAG0854

The center or “belly” detail was just multiple strips of tape and then a jagged detail to make the lightning bolt look.  It was really hard to find a good reference of what the actual show look was supposed to be.  It tended to change in each image (stupid low budget show ---- I’m kidding!)

DSCN0036

This whole process took less than two hours, and I had a pretty decent costume.

DSCN0033           DSCN0034DSCN0037

The goggles are simple a pair of ArcOne Fly goggles I picked up from Amazon.  They actually fit over my glasses and are a lot of fun.  May just have to wear them around for the heck of it sometime.

41oNvrFnq6L

Lastly I needed the wings (oh, God, more wings!) and the mark on the hip.

Let’s start with the mark.
Capture

Now I had never paid attention to this before, but do you notice there are two different marks?  One is for a male and the other is for a female!  OK, that is a unique attention to detail.

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The bolt with the wing is for a male and the lightning bolt itself is for a female.  Who knew?

Craft foam to the rescue!  Using a sheet of yellow and a sheet of white foam, I traced the outlines, cut the shapes and glued them onto the suit.  Now, yes, I could have use foam for all the duct tape details, but that time and budget thing just got in the way.

DSCN0839         DSCN0840

The cool accident here is that the glue didn’t hold well over the pocket seam, so I can still get to my front pockets.

Alright the wings…ugh.  Keep. It. Simple. Stupid.

Drew the shape of the wing, traced, cut and glued.

DSCN0841DSCN0842

There are two layers on the front, for stability and a little depth.

Hey for about 3 hours worth of real work, I’m going to have a blast with this one.
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Oh and I do have ears
DSCN0066
courtesy of Yaya Han

A tail
DSCN0067
courtesy of Pandora-onii-chan (actually this was for the Night Guard, but I can’t let it go to waste)

And I have a special surprise that I won’t show off until Dragon*Con.

Don’t forget to like The Real Redneck Geek on Facebook.  I post lots of WIP pictures there all the time.

Monday, February 27, 2012

February Catch Up

 

So, I completely blew my once a month update schedule last month.  My bad.  I just don’t know what happened.

Actually I do know what happened.  There just wasn’t much to write about.  Sometimes that happens.  Weather and real life events kept me away from doing a lot of work.

However, between January and February I have managed to get a lot of work done.  Some equal parts planning and design and actual building.

Costume Updates!

For 2012, I am sorry to announce that Bioshock will not be making a return.  I have managed to do something to my right arm, I have no idea what, but it causes me a lot of pain and muscle fatigue.  I cannot see any way for me to be able to carry another Subject Delta drill around for hours.  Even typing after a while becomes painful at the elbow and shoulder, so lugging around over five pounds of drill is right out.
Along with that, Eleanor is also out.  Melinda just doesn’t want to do the Eleanor costume if I’m not doing the Delta costume. So no Bioshock this year, but with Bioshock Infinite coming out, maybe we’ll get a revisit next year.  I keep hearing a song bird in my future.

Portal is still on track, if I can ever get the boots I ordered for Chell’s long fall boots.  Shop.Cosplay.com worked really well and quickly for wig orders, but the footwear is taking forever.  Over 25 days and no updates or replies to emails.
We did get the jumpsuit and my lab coat from Amazon, Chell’s tank top, Aperture Science labels, and PotatOS from Thinkgeek, and some acrylic rods for the core from TAP Plastics.
The ASHPDs did get some more sculpting and a nice coat of primer too.

APHPD - Primed

The acrylic rods from TAP Plastics.IMAG0488

So now that Bioshock is out, does that mean we’re only doing one costume at Dragon*Con this year?  You should know better than that.

If you haven’t figured it out from earlier posts, Melinda and I are big fans of the cartoon My Little Pony:Friendship is Magic.  We thought it would be fun to do a costume from the show.  Now, when I say costume from the show, I do not mean full on fur suit character recreations.  While I admire the sewing skills of the people that create these, honestly, they just creep me out. A lot like clowns.  Just creepy.
NO

No, what we will be going for is along the lines of a more humanized pony form like this.
3073164

This is one of the best MLP cosplays I’ve come across and it is the main reference for what will be Melinda’s Twilight Sparkle costume.
I have all the pieces for the wig now.  A main “base” wig with several hair extension wefts that I will be weaving into the wig to created the tri-colored effect.
I haven’t decided how to create the ears just yet, but the horn is going to be special.  In the show, whenever Twilight uses her magic, her horn will glow.  Naturally, I wanted to create this effect.  Why?  Why not? 
The order of acrylic rods from TAP Plastics did not just have the ASHPD cores, but it also contained what would become a Unicorn horn.

Original 2 inch x 12 inch rod
Original            
Shaped to a very dangerous missile shape
 Shaped

Grooved
Grooved

All lit up
Light up 1

Post flame polishing
Flame Polished

All lit up after flame polishing
Flame Polished - Lit

The entire horn will next be dyed to the correct shade of purple, cut to length, and wired with a simple LED and switch that Melinda can activate whenever she wants to do magic.

Admittedly, the show does not have a lot of male characters for me to choose from.  I could have gone the route others have taken and just made a male version of a female character, but again, the creepy scale started to tip on that idea.  So I decided to take on creating one of the Royal Guards’ costumes.  Not just any mind you, but one of the Royal Guards assigned to Princess Luna.
Luna's_Guard_by_TheHub

Why?  Look at him.  He is totally awesome, that’s why.  Based off the reference image above, I have made this drawing of the design I am going to build.
Princess Luna's Royal Guard Costume Concept

Yup, wings, tail and all.

We are also planning on using the Twilight Sparkle costume with the Chell costume to make a crossover costume one night just for kicks and giggles.  There may even be a “ponified” version of Doug Rattmann wandering around.  Why?  Because it is freaking fun to do. 

Speaking of ponies

What in the world was I thinking?  No, really, I think I totally lost my mind there for a while.  Deciding to build seven additional pony launchers like the Pinkie Pie Launcher and Tank Launcher from November, I must have been nuts.
DSCN0242

Still, I’m pushing through my insanity, and completing the job.  What will I do with all these?  Well, a few will make it down to Dragon*Con, others will be kept, some may end up as gifts to friends, and some may turn up on eBay.

Saturday, December 31, 2011

December Year End Update


Well, it’s the end of another year.  2011 has been a good one, but a pretty rough one too.  I’m glad to put it in the rearview mirror.
Once again, I was able to take an extended vacation during the holidays and I’ve been able to get a lot of projects in progress, but nothing really completed. 
So here is your December 31st, 2011 Works in Progress Post.

Aperture Science Handheld Portal Device

Melinda will be rocking a Chell costume from Portal 2 at Dragon*Con and she has to have a ASHPD for the costume.  Really, this thing is just a bunch of PVC pipes glued together.
ASHPDBuild-1ASHPDBuild-2
A couple of 4” PVC couplers, a 4” piece cut to shape and a 3” piece nested inside the 4”.  The rings on the end are just 3” couplings cut and sanded.  I’m getting really close to needed the lights.
ASHPDBuild-3
I got a new table top sander for Christmas, so I was able to get the angle sanded onto the nose piece a lot easier.
ASHPDBuild-4
I made this detail using my favorite new material, epoxy sculpt.  The B is because this is the B model.
ASHPDBuild-5
Here is the A model with a different technique for the same detailing.  Yes, I am building two at the same time.  Why?  Why not?
ASHPDBuild-6
Better view of the angle on the nose.
ASHPDBuild-PuppyApproved
Belle Approves.
I nearly paid $300 for a ready to assemble kit, and now I’m glad I didn’t.  It isn’t that hard of a build, yet, as long as I take my time and follow the blueprints.  Oh, did I forget to mention I have scale accurate blueprints? 

Special Thank You Surprise Build

Wait, I’m building a special surprise project and I’m writing about it?  Eeeyup.  It’s OK.  I don’t thing Flamingo1986 reads my blog, but Flamingo1986, if you are reading, stop now.
Flamingo1986 is the gentleman that designed the original Pinkie Pie Launcher that I built and posted last month.  Well, after picking up the pieces of my blog after it exploded from the traffic, I felt I owed Flamingo1986 a bit of thanks.  He recently released another set of weapon designs, so I am building one to send to him.
               SurpriseBuild-1                    SurpriseBuild-2
Surprise
I’ll throw in more details later.
Speaking of the Pinkie Pie Launcher from last month…

PONIES PONIES PONIES OMG THE PONIES

Last month my blog got more hits from that one post than anything else.  In one week, I got nearly double an average month’s traffic.  Now, I’m not the brightest bulb out there, but I can recognize when something works.  Apparently pony launchers work really well.  In fact, I now have seven more that I am building.  Yes, I said seven.  Three are based off designs from MaximillianVeers and his variations on the original, the other four are custom design ideas/requests from other fans and Melinda.
YOUREGOINGTOLOVEME
Originally, I was only going to do four, but then some other friends just gave me too many good ideas not to build them.        
PonyLauncherR2
One with all three sections assembled.
 PonyLauncherR2-a
Five with the first two sections assembled.
PonyLauncherR2-b
The remaining six back sections.
After this, I think I’ll be done with pony launchers for a while.
What am I going to do with nine complete pony launchers?  Well, some are going to make it to Dragon*Con in September, some will be kept just because they are my favorites, and the rest will be put up on eBay for someone else to enjoy.

OK.  That’s it.  Everything is very much in progress.  Hopefully, next month I’ll have some completed pieces to show.

Saturday, November 26, 2011

I Have A Pinkie Pie Launcher - IN REAL LIFE!


Unless you’ve been living under a rock, or haven’t been on the Internet in a long time, there is a TV show that airs on Hasbro’s TV network, The Hub, called My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic (MLP:FIM).  This show was created by Lauren Faust, who also worked on the Power Puff Girls and Fosters Home for Imaginary Friends.comicon2011large
The show has a target audience of girls aged 6 – 11.  However, something about the show has caused the fan base to grow beyond the target demographic.  Well beyond the target.  Something about the show appeals to people of a much broader age group and has jumped even the gender barrier.  These adult fans of the show are known as Bronies (Bro + Pony = Brony) for males and Pegasisters (Pegasus + Sister = Pegasister) for females (this is a new term and not well known yet).  The brony phenomenon has been getting a lot of attention lately.  Even making the front page of the Wall Street Journal.
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There was even a rather large study done to try and determine what makes up a brony.  The research project got over 1300 responses in just 72 hours.  The results can be found here and are quite interesting in busting many of the myths about bronies.
Now, I told you all that to tell you this. 
I am a brony.  I love to watch a TV show with candy colored ponies intended toward 6 – 11 year old girls.
i-dont-always-watch-shows-for-little-girls-but-when-i-do-i-watch-my-little-pony-friendship-is-magic
Those of you who really know me should not be surprised.
Now what does that have to do with prop building?  This:
my little pony, friendship is magic, brony - Your Argument Is Invalid
When I first saw this image, I laughed myself to death.  Something about it just makes me smile.
I was fortunate enough to be able to find the original artist of the Pinkie Pie Launcher (PPL) on deviantArt.com, Flamingo1986 (Zachary Rich).  I approached Zach about building a real life Pinkie Pie Launcher shortly after Dragon*Con this year.  He provided a more detailed drawing for me to work from.
pinkie_pie_launcher_by_flamingo1986-d3gluka
Armed with this, I began getting materials for the PPL build.
The main body would be an 8” concrete tube and I would glue wooden slats to the outside to get the effect I wanted.
The concrete tube only come in 4’ lengths, so I ended up with enough to make two.
PPL_Tubes
To create the section in the middle where the launcher narrows, I made MDF inserts, cut the remaining tube pieces and forced them into the inserts.
PPL_TubeInsert
PPL_InsertDetail       PPL_TubeAssemblyPPL_TubeSidePPL_TubeSide2PPL_Detail
Yes, the first insert I made was very much too small in diameter, but nothing that couldn’t be fixed.
Next came the wooden slats.  I used a 1/8” project board.  Same stuff as peg board, but without the holes.  I regretted this from the first cut and will never use this material again.  Live and learn.
PPL_SlatsPPL_TubeAndSlats
PPL_Primed
When it came time to glue the slats in place, I used Liquid Nail and straps to hold them in place while the glue dried.
PPL_SlatsAndStraps2                                  PPL_SlatsAndStrap
Much trimming was required after the glue set up.
PPL_SlatDetailPPL_Slats2PPL_SlatsInPlace
Next came the handles.  I cut these from 3/4” MDF and glued them into place along with dowel rods to help support.
PPL_Handles
PPL_Complete2                                    PPL_Complete4
More sanding (the sanding never ended), more priming, and adding a scope.  The scope actually has optics in it.  My foster kittens somehow found a door peep hole optic in my basement, and it works perfectly.
PPL_CompletePrimedPPL_CompletePrimed2PPL_CompletePrimed3
PPL_DeltaApproves

Subject Delta approves.
Now it would normally be time to paint. 
PPL_Rainbow
Problem is it is now November.  Warm days for painting are few and far between.  There was some rushing to get just the PPL painted, yet alone figure out how to paint a second one.
Much masking tape was used in this process.
PPL_Taped                                         PPL_Taped2
PPL_Coat1
Still the final results were pleasing.  At least they make me and Zach both smile.

PPL_FrontPPL_ScopePPL_Scope2PPL_Side
I used a paint that I had never used before for the gold detail work.  Another point in hind site that I would not repeat.
PPL_HandleDetail1PPL_HandleDetail2PPL_HandleDetail3
Really though, it’s not much good without ammo.
PPL_Loaded1PPL_Loaded2PPL_Loaded3PPL_TargetLockPPL_TargetLock2
Of course it doesn’t just use Pinkie Pies.
PPL_AlternateAmmo
Kittens are super effecting too.
But what to do with the second one.  Well there is another character on the show named Rainbow Dash.
Rainbow_Dash
Rainbow Dash can create what is known as the Sonic Rainboom.  Thus the Shoulder Mounted Rainboom Cannon (SMRC) was created.
SMRC_Top                                SMRC_Side1SMRC_Side2                                SMRC_Side3SMRC_Side4            SMRC_BarrelSMRC_FrontOn             SMRC_Scope
The two together.
FontAngle1FrontAngle2FrontOnSideBySide1TopDown
There has been some touch up done to the PPL in the above pictures and there is more detail I want to add to the SMRC, but the weather will not allow it at this time.  So I’ll just have to revisit these in the summer and get them ready for conventions.
YouAreDoomed
I have a Pinkie Pie Launcher and a Shoulder Mounted Rainboom Cannon in real life.  Your argument and all hate are toast.
UPDATE
I've gotten several asks and even a comment below if the cannons actually launch or if I thought about making them actually launch.  First, nope, they don't actually launch anything.  Second, yes, I did think about making one actually fire, but I wanted to keep these convention friendly, and conventions don't really like shooting weapons of any kind.  I may revisit this later and make a working model, but that will come later.
UPDATE 2
This is entirely my wife’s idea.  I can take no credit.  She thought the Rainboom Cannon was just missing something, and then she figure out what it was.  The Rainboom Cannon has now been renamed The Rainbow Dash Tank Launcher.
Tank_Launcher2Tank_Launcher5Tank_Launcher7Tank_Launcher8Tank_Launcher11
How else is Tank going to keep up with Rainbow Dash?