Hey, /cgl/ first time posting here with a few questions.I want to get into cosplay and my first project would be Sol Badguy from Guilty Gear (pic related). I've looked up some costumes on the cosplay sites I've found around the web and they look like shit. What are some suggestions for a newbie with no tailoring/cosplaying experience for making stuff actually look good?
Commission it and be attractive.
OP again:Also, maybe Ragna the Bloodedge. I'm a big fan of both Guilty Gear and BlazBlue
>>6101877I'm more getting into it for the making of the costume, actually. I need a hobby other than playing video games and I'd like to work with my hands.
>>6101886Learn how to sew, look up prop tutorials.
>>6101892I understand what you're saying, but where do you start with your costumes? Do you buy a base kinda template and alter it from there or do you start from scratch? I'd like to use good materials (for example, Ragna has those metal plates on his trench coat and I think that's awesome) but is it ridiculously impractical to try and make it genuine looking?
>>6101868Props for choosing guilty gear, first off. My first costume was Faustif you're not experienced things may be kinda tricky for a costume you can't buy or modify.Learn to analyze a costume and figure out what you could take and modify to make it look like the characters outfit. the top you could probably make out of a vest or jacket. Always pick good material for your base. It'll almost always cost more but the end result looks fantastic.For example I had the choice between modifying a tuxedo or a raincoat for my Vicious costume but I went with the tux because it looks and feels so much more swag than the cheaper coat.White jeans if they make them, or some good white slacks would cover the pants. Lots of belts, you can use dog collars from pet stores as well as normal belts, you could probably make the belt accessories out of foam or plastic. The sword wouldn't be too hard to make out of wood or even foam.If you have any craft skills to see or make props you can probably do those parts yourself, but you may want to commission the parts you're not so adept with.None of the premade buyable costumes I see look good or worth the money
>>6101910Thanks for the tips. And brofist returned, my friend.I'd like to make his sword of wood, most likely. I'm being really honest here I have NO previous experience in any sort of shop/home economics setting. I somehow managed to skip both those classes in high school. What kind of tools would I need to shape the wood properly?
>>6101940sword making isn't that hard, just expect to redo things a lot till you get used to the basics of woodworking You'll need at least a saw. Handsaw if you're on a tight budget. Get a jigsaw or scroll saw (or both!) if you got money.Lots of sandpaper. Get everything from 60 to 400 grit at LEAST. I sand to 1000 on my blades but I'm OCD like that.Wood filler. This stuff is god.If you can afford one, get a mouse detail sander from black and decker. I love mine to death. Cheap and really good at shaping.Chances are you'll eventually get the sword looking good but then fuck up the paint job. Painting is more important than the material you use!!!!!!! Practice applying paint on some scrap wood before you paint your main prop. I redid my scalpel at least 5 times thanks to being a paint noob.There's a lot of other odds and ends you'll need which vary from project to project. But even with no experience you can pick it up real fast. Just never rush your work.Pic related, the first katana I made, was only my 2nd woodworking project
>>6101992also yeah the paint got fucked up because I learned the hard way that I should've lined the inside of the saya.This is before the silver got all scratched
>>6101992>>6102001Awesome! Thanks for the info. I'll probably work on the sword first and pick up some white jeans (jeans appear to be canon for him according to a little wiki I found) soon and start fleshing it out.I was thinking the fest wouldn't be too hard, but finding one that red may not be easy.Have you ever done any leather working at all? I'd like to make his red crotch flap thingy right and it looks like the rim is made with belts.Here's a higher quality picture so it's easier to see what I'm talking about.
>>6102027gf does the sewing for me. I do accessory and prop work for her, I can't really help you with the cloth side of things.It keeps bouncing around in my head that white jeans might be hard to find though. If they exist.
>>6102036If I can't find them I'll probably pick up dark grey/black and maybe bleach 'em or something. Maybe. I don't know anything about clothes either.
>>6101868OP you should start practicing sewing small things and work towards bigger goals. Sol Badguy as a first costume isn't a bad start but you'll wanna get familiar with making things before you jump into sewing a full on costume. Go to Joann fabrics or another store that orients around fabric and sewing and pick up some basic patterns for making jackets, shirts, pants, etc. Get a grasp on using a sewing machine, even try out making your own patterns and work from there.Also here's a Tutorial thread that was up a little while ago, if anything in there seems handy, be sure to use it! http://archive.rebeccablacktech.com/cgl/thread/S6070771
>>6102102Thanks for the link, I'll check it out!
