"And then, quite separately, we place another order to a Chinese company for these."
"Put it together ourselves."
"Precisely." – Alfred Pennyworth and Bruce Wayne
Recently I have lamented quite a little bit about my attention being split from side projects, and some of them having caused significant delays in creating the batsuit, but these things are not altogether without their own merits.
Things being what they are, and crazy being crazy, they are still moments in my impossible schedule where I manage to derive great pleasure from my somewhat less-than-philanthropic efforts. Besides working on my very first commissioned costume piece, which was already featured in the previous posts, I've also found some time to help build a Halloween party location in Campbellville, as well as a haunted Halloween maze at the PhatBoys Halloween Bootique in Mississauga (pictures forthwith).
Secret Wishes Thigh-High Boot Tops
The flipside of course, is that the clock is still ticking, and I have only 15 days left to finish all the work necessary. That is an extremely uncomfortable timeline, and I am immensely grateful for anything that would help speed up for simplify the work at this point.
So naturally when I saw that PhatBoys carries boot tops, I couldn't resist picking a pair up for myself. Afterall as great as my boots are, they are only 10 inches tall, and by no means do they cover my calf to the knee (as would be accurate to the Nolan costume). So, these Secret Wishes "Thigh-High Boot Tops" seemed like a great idea at the time.
Comparision - Stock boot top vs. bare 10" boot
Little did I remember in my excitement at the time, that Secret Wishes is in fact a Rubie's Costumes brand, and well, I've already had to repair one item of theirs (namely the cowl) stemming from faulty manufacturing.
First of all, credit where credit is due: PhatBoys carries a lot of amazing products, and, had I purchased these boot tops to be used for their original purpose (which is to turn a pair of ladies shoes into thigh-high boots for a day), I'm sure they would look great. Not so much, when I'm trying to hack a single-purpose product for unintended use.
Modified boot tops - side view
Put side-by-side with the original boot, the general sentiment was, that "it looked like an old man's booties from the hospital". I'm sure even Bruce in his old age would find this wholly unacceptable, not to mention the hordes of Batman fantatics out there that would run screaming like little girls.
So the wheels of deliberation, enginuity, and reverse engineering spins. I present modification plans to my mother, and we spend a couple of hours hacking the piece to specifications, chopping off the top and bottom, and seaming the trunk back together, all the while complaining about the bad workmanship of "Made in China".
And voila. No more old man's booties, the full glory of the 10 inch combat boots (or at least the shoe part of it), and the now- knee-high boot tops blend in exactly the way they should, looking like they could even pass for part of the shoe itself. All I have to do is replace those scrapped inner gauntlet pieces for a stock sheet of 6mm EVA.
There are some days when even a would-be playboy billionaire feels stretched too thin. With October rolling in, time's ticking for my suit to be finished, and all the little sidetracks, delays, and other little messes start to creep up. Progress is being made, but with all the slowdowns and details that need to be corrected, there's been little time to make any posts at all, not to mention my computer is still mid-reformat, which is kind of annoying.
Cloak neckline, closeup
That being said, the Red Riding Hood cloak that I had taken on as commission work has been completed and shipped as of last week, and is onroute to its new owner. So, here are some photos for your viewing pleasure. (I apologize that in the rush of getting it packaged and shipped, that I had not been able to secure a model to take better photos. My hope is that my friend will be able to have some photos of her own to send back after she receives the item.)
Pulled back hood, side view
Some differences between this piece and the original movie prop: Material selection wise, the costume makers for the movie chose a linen material, most likely for its light weight and its ability to be torn and frayed at the hem. As I was not able to find a linen cloth with a nice red color (Fabricland has a rather limited selection... I'll exclude the expletives I feel due in that regard), we agreed to use panne velour (crushed velvet), and a cotton rope for the drawstring. In the future I may need to source an online fabric supplier for my work, but for this item, the client and I are both happy with the velvet.
Folds, side view
Also, during tailoring we decided not to make any arm slits in the sides, as the costume makers did for the movie. Couple of reasons for that: Arm slits require a bit of excess slack to be sewn in from the capelet section, and being that it was cut from a circular pattern, that section is narrow enough as it is. As well, the more seams that are cut into the fabric, sometimes with rougher use the item may get damaged quicker, so the panels were left alone.
Hood and drawstring
Overall, I'm extremely happy with the result. More posts on the way soon!
"Why didn't they put it into production?"
"Bean counters didn't think a soldier's life was worth 300 grand. So what's your interest in it, Mr. Wayne?" – Bruce Wayne and Lucius Fox
Yes, it's official! Project: Dark Knight has been commissioned for work!
Some weeks ago, my good friend from British Columbia was interested after seeing the cape, and asked me whether I would consider doing paid work. Although I had a tight schedule, I was more than happy to accept.
Red Riding Hood Movie Banner
The request was for a Red Riding Hood cloak, made accurate to the movie prop used in the 2011 Hardwicke dark fantasy thriller starring Amanda Seyfried. She was willing to pay a bit extra to have the piece custom tailored, and made for better comfort and durability than a store-bought alternative, so of course I was happy to oblige.
The costume itself is rather unique, from the design to choice of material right down to the colors, it's an extremely powerful and intriguing piece.
Poster showing armholes and hem fraying
The cloak looks like its made from a linen-ey or woolen material, in a blood red color and with a fair bit of fraying at the hem. The rope looks like it was weaved in a similar material as well. The cut of the item is also particularly unique, from the excessively oversized hood to the ruffling folds in the capelet section, to the peculiar low-cut armholes to the wide flare at the hem, this beautiful cloak loudly echoes Lil' Red's character and symbolisms from the 700 year old folk tale.
So far no progress photos, but measurements have been made and the material has been cut. We'll have it ready in time to ship for this Halloween.
"Where does he get those wonderful toys?" – The Joker
Stock Utility Belt
A couple months ago, I received a couple of items that were purchased as affordable, ready-made costume parts for the batsuit. Amongst those was a plastic adult batman utility belt. After a few more aquisitions, some fit testing, and modfications, the utility belt is finally at a stage where it is ready for practical use.
Being the single most versatile and multi-faceted tool in Batman's arsenal, the functionality of the utility belt cannot be understated. This one item carries practically all of the Caped Crusader's tools, weaponry, as well as most of his computerized and pseudorealistic technology.
Utility Belt, Fully Loaded
The World's Greatest Detective is often seen carrying way more than a regular emergency services officer's share of tools and gadgets on his belt. Always pulling out just the right gizmos for his crime fighting needs. The key? Modularization and good planning.
A well planned utility belt not only increases carrying capacity, it also improves ergonomics for the weight carried, and reaction times for retrieving the right tools in a hurry, so that Batman's opponents will never catch him unprepared, fidgetting at his belt for that flashlight or batarang.
Parachute Clips
Over the decades, Batman's utility belt has carried many things from weapons, to stealth tools, to forensics gadgets, to well... You name it, he's pretty much done it.
The belt, as you might've guessed, needed to be sturdy and reliable. Since a rather large proportion of Batman's crime fighting gadgets, his theatricality and the control of his surroundings are reliant on the utility belt and its contents, it just wouldn't do to hold the belt together with a flimsy strip of velcro at the back.
Having found a parachute clip from an old luggage strap, I used that to replace the original velcro strip for better strength and durability.
Batarang Holster
Practically everything placed onto this utility belt has been retooled or repurposed. So far, just the most logical and practical things, but lots more is in the works.
First of all, the Batarang Holster. This was originally an airsoft gun holster, which used a velcro closure. What is it with velcro closures? Don't people understand that velcro is mighty loud and attracts way too much attention?
Needless to say, the velcro was removed in favor for a snap button. Unfortunately, I don't have a picture with a batarang, as currently all of mine have been sold out, and I'm waiting to make the next set.
Baton Holster
Also in the lines of weaponry, I've elected to add a baton to the belt. Some of you might be thinking, "Hey Batman doesn't use any batons!", and you are right... At least, partially.
In the DC comics storyline, the Earth 2 version of Batman does carry two tonfas, which are similar enough to law enforcement batons. The reasoning is simple. How many large animals, or supersized villians does Batman encounter every day? Add that up, an suddenly batarangs and smokebombs seem pretty puny, and Batman's martial arts training can only go the distance so far without breaking his back.
Key Silencer
Even in Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight, Batman is seen to have mechanized kubotans loaded into his gauntlets to give him combat superiority over his opponents. So the use of a law enforcement or military baton is not entirely out of the question. Just don't break any laws by beating people up with it.
A key silencer, absconded from my other holster belt since my days as an emergency medical responder. Seeing as even Batman occasionally requires the use of keys, especially to his own vehicles and property, a key silencer is an essential tool to keep from making that annoying jingle every step he takes.
Bat-Cache-O-Cash and Misc Items Pouch
This neat little item is another addition from my old holster belt. Originally this was just a glove pouch, for storing nitrile gloves and barriers for first aid use, but now it's been repurposed to carry the Bat-Cache-O-Cash, and other miscellaneous things, like... a credit card, and driver's license maybe?
You never know when Poison Ivy suddenly wants all your money for a venomous kiss, or when even the Dark Knight might get pulled over on the highway, and might then be required to produce his credentials from an outfit practically devoid of pockets.
Flashlight Holster
Flashlight. Actually, this holster is repurposed also from a previous portion of the EMR belt. This holster used to carry my multitool, but since my LED flashlight seems to fit so snugly in this holster, I decided to use it for now, and go through the trouble of adding a top flap at a later point in time.
Also, I've elected to purchase this LED flashlight, as opposed to using my old Mini Maglite, simply because it's so much brighter. That, and it costs so much less than getting a new LED Maglite, or a replacement kit for the old one.
For now at the very least, Batman will be able to read documents and search crime scenes for clues without any trouble.
Handcuff Holster
So what happens after Batman beats up the criminals? Well... He can't exactly just leave'em there, and GCPD is a little far away. Waiting for the police officers to show would take a bit of patience and gambling on luck.
There's a couple of solutions to that. Tie the evildoers up with rope, or... If they're strong enough to escape even a hogtie, cuff them up with a sleek, black pair of nickel steel handcuffs. Just pray they don't have a key like you do, Batman.
Smartphone and Tools Holster
And last but not least, the tool pouch. This cell phone / tool holder, like the batarang and baton holsters, has been retooled, replacing the stock velcro with a snap button. Two of the compartments have also been amalgamated so that the tools fit properly.
Currently, this holds a smartphone, a multitool, and a rather uniquely shaped racheting screwdriver with various popular bits. The racheting screwdriver as actually hacked together from two separate screwdrivers, taking advantage of compactness and the pistol-like handle. All of that is stuffed into the tool pouch.
Other ideas that have been deferred until later, are smoke pellets, lockpicks, a batline (rope), and a forensic evidence kit. If need be, it's good to know that the belt still has room for possibly one more holster to be added.
"Too expensive for the Army?"
"I don't think they tried to market it to the billionaire, spelunking, BASE-jumping crowd." – Bruce Wayne and Lucius Fox
Progress! Yes, I promised progress, and I hereby deliver an installment. Remember those short, 30 second scenes in Batman Begins where Bruce Wayne spends a seemingly miniscule amount of time creating his batsuit? I think costume makers far and wide will agree, this stuff is exhausting!
Months have gone by since this work began, and now we're closing on crunch time, with still a heck of a lot left to do. I will never look at costumes the same way again.
So, currently the armor pieces are currently still being worked on, and will probably be the focus of most of my time up to the project deadline. A big milestone has been achieved though, and that is the tailoring and seaming for the cape, and the completion of the cowl repairs.
A rip in the cowl
I've done quite a few things to the mask, mostly geared towards extending the life of the product, and improving fit and usage.
Remember this big ol' rip above the velcro closure? I relayed my disappointment in the lack of quality in this officially licensed cowl a couple of months ago.
Rip repaired
After long deliberations and a few trial and error attempts, I've managed to come up with a solution.
The latex material on the cowl apparantly has been treated in such a way that regular liquid latex will no longer bond to the cowl's surface, and so I ended up using rubber cement and tinting it with base colorant to patch the rip. It's still visible somewhat up close, but it'c close enough that it isn't blaringly obvious, and at the very least, this supposedly good cowl I paid good money for is fixed and will hopefully give me a good few years of use.
Invisible zipper closure
You may have already noticed that the closure looks a little different than it did a couple months before. After seeing how dangerously close the velcro closure was to that rip, I didn't want to risk reopening the tear, and so it was replaced with a 7 inch invisible zipper, sewn directly into the latex. The combination of a zipper, and the fact there's a staple keeping the two sides from separating at the top, helps immensely to keep the mask in good shape.
The mask and the halo
And last but not least, is the most invisible modification of all. This cowl was purchased with the understanding that it was a "one-size-fits-most" product, meaning that in truth, it did not really fit my head perfectly.
I was lucky enough that it was larger than my head, and there was some void space to fill in the inside. My friends Adonis and Debbie, who had previously operated a halloween costume store, suggested that I craft a foam halo of sorts to fill the empty space.
Following their advice, I crafted a halo of sorts, that in truth looks like a dwarven miner's work hat, and fitted it inside the cowl. It not only improves the fit, but it also cushions enough space between my head and the latex, which allows my skin to breathe better underneath the mask. Awesome.
Mother, sewing
After all of that was done, a long wait ensued following the original patterning and cutting of the cape fabric. Since my wonderful maternal-unit (read: mother) had agreed to help me tailor and sew the cape, this part of work was left to the mercy of her schedule, and that of her friend's (from whom we borrowed the sewing machine).
But, fortune was with us this week, and amidst an absolutely crazy schedule, I got to take some time out and behold this spectacle, and to direct and supervise the work.
The cape (rear view)
I will say no more other than that she is an absolute monster. The woman sews at super-ultra-turbo-speed. In less than an hour and a half, the work that would've taken me an entire day, was finished with flying colors, summa cum laude. All I had to do was trim some stray seams and threads, and iron it.
And what's more, the result speaks for itself! As I mentioned in the original planning posts, this cape is made with a panne velour material, which is a crushed velvet made from polyester. The material makes for a heavier cape, but it affords a lot of comfort from the velvet pile and gives some amount of tolerance to stretching.
The panels were cut originally from 6' of material, but unfortunately that doesn't leave too much for seaming and whatnot, and when all was done the cape does not drag the floors like its Hollywood counterpart. But I'm okay with that. Having it hemmed at boot height makes for a lot less maintenance in the long run. There's also a little tiny bit of overlap on the seams between each panel to give the illusion of having a glider skeleton built in.
And here we are... The cape and the cowl, patiently awaiting the rest of the batsuit to join them in the fight for justice.
"What does someone like me do?"
"Drive sports cars, date movie stars... Buy things that aren’t for sale. Who knows, Master Wayne- if you start pretending to have fun, you might even have a little by accident." ‒ Bruce Wayne and Alfred Pennyworth
Yes, I admit this post is not directly related to the project itself, so for those expecting progress photos and such, I apologize for the shameless plug and segway. That being said, it is crunch time and progress is still being made, it's just that there are no significant milestones to demonstrate. I will post new progress soon as it happens.
Batgirl #10 Sketch
That being said, what does a billionaire playboy do on his spare time? Well... Aside from driving sports cars and dating movie stars, this would-be billionaire playboy has taken up an occasional stint of comic art.
I've posted previously about my friends Adonis Howard and Brittany Marr. With Don's instruction and inspiration from both, I've been drawing here and there with varied results. This piece, a black and white sketch of the Batgirl #10 cover, is one of my first finished works. One I'm actually proud enough to display on my DA. More soon.
"I know exactly who he was... he was the Batman." — John Blake and Jim Gordon
5 Drive-In at Oakville
The Dark Knight Rises at the 5 Drive-In! The epic conclusion of the Nolan Dark Knight franchise shines in spectactular blockbuster glory.
Dark Knight Rises
The expectations were set unrealistically high both by Nolan's amazing cinematography and by the fans, and the gates were flooded with movie-goers for the event way before doors opened.
The evening was filled with the buzz and excitement of the fans, the flurry of the staff and artist panel, the anticipation of the raffle and prizes, and of course, the Dark Knight himself.
Suiting up in front of the Batmobile
This entire past month of preparation finally came together in the one event, and I must say that I am truly impressed by it all. The set up crew got there around 6pm, and from there it was touch and go.
Everything came together as quickly and seamlessly as possible, the Drive-In staff were extremely helpful and accomodating for all of us, and everybody pitched in to make it all happen.
Even had me some face-time with Batman Glen from Orangeville, not to mention his gear (*silly grin*).
Adonis and Brittany
Caroline, Jill, and Adonis
The artists panel featured some amazing talent, headlining Adonis Howard, Brittany Marr, Caroline Austin Smith, Jill Dhakura, amongst others, all drawing free sketches after free sketches for Batman fans and movie-goers alike until the cows came home.
I have to give it up for these guys, because after the sun came down, and while everybody else were enjoying the movie, they were still drawing like nobody's business.
Batman Glen and fans
And Batman Glen. Wow, I can't see any kid to have ever met this guy and then grow up to not like Batman. What a public face and personality. Kids were climbing up all over the Batmobile, and the guy just grinned and beared it. He even gave me a couple of pointers as to building the suit and the batmobile during a short break.
Fans pay tribute to Batman and Batgirl
But of course we can't forget the fans. The turn out for the event was absolutely amazing. People were lining up to get pictures with Batman and the Batmobile, to get free sketches from the artists, and all in all the fans made such a wonderful day of it all, it was really incredible.
Movie-goers crowd the event
We did some special things for the fans as a special thank-you. On top of the free sketches that were given away, seven prizes were raffled off at the event, including graphic novels and a Batman card game (courtesy of Todd from Image Collections), as well as an Arkham Asylum styled batarang.
Aside from a few minor hiccups here and there, all in all the event was, in my opinion, a huge success. The whole cast and crew worked seamlessly to bring the whole thing together, the staff at the 5 were awesome, and the fans made us feel like it was all worth it in the end.
"We were in this together, and then you were gone. Now this evil... rises. The Batman has to come back."
"What if he doesn't exist any more?"
"He must... he must..." – Jim Gordon and Bruce Wayne
Some days, it seems like the work of a masked vigilante leading a double life just doesn't seem to end. While multiple things have been happening in the workshop lately, suturing the mask, doctoring tools and holsters for the utility belt, my "other mask" (that of Bruce Wayne) has been busy.
Wayne and the Batsuit
What possibly can a billionaire-playboy not push off to his butler/employees? Well, a promise made and an opportunity of a lifetime. Through a group of my good friends, specifically my comic book artist friend Adonis Howard and comic book store owner Todd Mara, I've come to be involved in a promotional crew for the new Dark Knight Rises movie (in theatres today!)
The 5 Drive-In at Oakville invited us to make a big event of this Saturday's showing of the Dark Knight Rises, the third and last installment of Christopher Nolan's epic Batman trilogy. So for the past month or so we've been rather busy creating signs, banners, and artwork, and pulling the whole thing together.
Bruce Wayne dances with Selina Kyle
For our work we've been rewarded with admission to the advanced screening of this spectacular show last night, before the rest of North America even gets a chance to see the opening title. Something that others would spend anywhere between $70-$150 per seat for in theatres.
But all the money in the world couldn't have prepared me for this. This magnificient end to the Batman legend shines through all those that came before it, leaving all of us gripping at the edge of our seats right from the very beginning, all the way past the very end. Every angle, every movement, every detail was true to the iconic mood and theme of the Dark Knight.
Catwoman, defiant
The care in putting detail into plot development is unbelievable. What's more, as the plot develops, those of the audience who are initiated into the plot of the past two movies slowly come to realize, that Nolan's quite carefully and quite deliberately weaved these two prequel blockbusters in a way that seems like he was planning and building up to this climactic finale all along.
Now, I will admit, that I'm a sucker for certain parts, and I really do wish there was a bit more focus on Bruce Wayne (Batman), and on Selina Kyle (Catwoman). But with this many layers to unfold in so short a time, and so many things to blow up... Nolan quite successfully floored even a lifetime Batman fanatic like me.
In the grime and the wreckage of Gotham city under siege, the Dark Knight truly shines.
I can't wait until we all get to see it again on Saturday.
"It's a problem with the graphite, sir. The next 10,000 will be up to specifications."
"At least they gave us a discount."
"Quite. In the, uh, meantime, Sir, may I suggest you try to avoid landing on your head?" – Alfred Pennyworth and Bruce Wayne
While work is ongoing to help bring the armor templating back on course, a care package came through across the border via a friend's planned visit, on relatively short notice, which deserves a rather gigantic personal thank you.
Adult Batman Full Mask
Even through a bout of baggage loss and holds, my friends find a way to pull through, which is absolutely amazing.
For being the most expensive item on this particular trip, I'm thoroughly disappointed with the Adult Batman Full Mask. While I completely understand that this is supposed to be a one-size-fit-all kind of item, and that I was probably going to have to make do with some foam lining on the inside, there were a number of manufacturer's imperfections on the item, the least of which being frequent bumps, scuffs and discoloration on the mask's exterior, no doubt due to a bad molding or mold release.
Aside from that, the nose sockets were uneven AND misaligned, and the eye sockets have imperfections in the edges.
A rip above the closure
The worst was the velcro on the back. Not only did the terrible sewing job start to tear as soon as I tried to undo the velcro to inspect the closure, there was a gigantic dollop of a bump right at the top of the closure, which led the back of the mask to rip as soon as I tried it on for fitting. Huge disappointment.
And this is supposed to be an officially licensed product. For $34.99, us amateurs could've done better. DC, it's time to stop outsourcing your manufacturing to China. That said, I'm hoping with some work I could still recover this mask and be able to get some amount of use out of it.
River Road Pecos Mesh Gloves
On the bright side of course, the other two items were absolutely spectacular. The River Road Pecos Mesh Gloves were exactly how I imagined for them to be, and because of the good tailoring, I am almost afraid of ruining it by adding any more features to them.
If I do, it'll be only to add some knuckle guards, and maybe a little bit of resistive thread on the fingertips for the touch phones.
I really can't say enough about these gloves. They're comfortable, they're an absolute perfect fit (Thanks to the amazing online help at Motorcycle Superstore), not to mention the quality is just superb. Very cool.
Adult Batman Utility Belt
Last but not least, the Adult Batman Utility Belt. Overall, no complaints about the item. The quality of the item is good, and it is exactly as ordered. Plastic, which is a bit of a shame, as it will probably see less years than it should, but then again, the detail on this thing is just gorgeous.
While I'm probably going to do some work on this item, namely replace the velcro closure at the back with a plastic buckle, and add a foam and velcro lining in the front to accomodate an inner belt, I'm glad this item came as ordered, and will accomodate various standard-sized holsters with little difficulty.
