New Replies (Page 4,731)

[IMG]http://i1152.photobucket.com/albums/p495/dbshark94/SJ%20Costume/AprilDonJaw.jpg[/IMG] Last "boney" inspriation pic... still from last Nov. April and I hold a section of Mastodon mandible with a nice tooth in it. (All this stuff gets donated to our local museum). Right about then, I begin to have the itch to build something "Giger-like"... along came this site and you guys and my inspiration to make an SJ costume after 33 years.

OOPS... forgot one more fossil pic worth showing... [IMG]http://i1152.photobucket.com/albums/p495/dbshark94/SJ%20Costume/Tuskwithtip2.jpg[/IMG] This is a 4 ft. section of one of the tusks I finished cleaning for the museum around Christmas. Notice the tip is intact! (That's rare.) Now that I'm properly motivated... on to the costume building...

Very interesting ...but now you are raising the bar ..im expecting nothing short of exceptional !

[IMG]http://i1152.photobucket.com/albums/p495/dbshark94/SJ%20Costume/IMG_0345-1.jpg[/IMG] First I quickly sketch what I'd like to make. I know I can't finish a complete costume in 3 weeks (part-time), so I'll attempt covering the SJ in some sort of "other" costume (business suit?), maybe carrying a Giger-esque briefcase labeled "Prometheus"... or maybe he could carry an ampule with a handle on it like a briefcase?... Haven't quite decided. This choice allows me to go back and finish the entire costume at a later date.

[IMG]http://i1152.photobucket.com/albums/p495/dbshark94/SJ%20Costume/IMG_0346-1.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i1152.photobucket.com/albums/p495/dbshark94/SJ%20Costume/IMG_0347-1.jpg[/IMG]

I'll probably only have time to make the head & shoulders and hands.

[IMG]http://i1152.photobucket.com/albums/p495/dbshark94/SJ%20Costume/IMG_0348.jpg[/IMG] Tools & supplies... at this point, it's important to not go cheap. I hit the Home Depot and bought the contractor's package of Scotch masking tape. "If it don't stick good" you're in a world of hurt when you begin sculpting with it. 5 rolls=$20... not bad.

[IMG]http://i1152.photobucket.com/albums/p495/dbshark94/SJ%20Costume/IMG_6371.jpg[/IMG] Start creating basic shapes; bones, head, shoulder pads, with chicken-wire.

[IMG]http://i1152.photobucket.com/albums/p495/dbshark94/SJ%20Costume/IMG_6372.jpg[/IMG] Rough shape of a bone (no it's not that... stop thinking so Gigery).

[IMG]http://i1152.photobucket.com/albums/p495/dbshark94/SJ%20Costume/IMG_0350.jpg[/IMG] Head & shoulders shaped from chicken-wire (be sure to round off all sharp parts with pliers!)... or you'll regret getting in it.

[IMG]http://i1152.photobucket.com/albums/p495/dbshark94/SJ%20Costume/IMG_6373.jpg[/IMG] I used to use newspaper for paper-mache', but I realized I enjoyed sculpting with it dry and crumpled up (covered with masking tape) more. It's also a lot lighter, and less messy/smelly.

[IMG]http://i1152.photobucket.com/albums/p495/dbshark94/SJ%20Costume/IMG_6378.jpg[/IMG] The back half of the head (the smoother part) gets covered with flat newspaper to hide the chicken-wire pattern. Then covered with masking tape.

Db this looks very exciting - please keep the pics coming! Also sounds like you could give some authoritative input on whether you think the original SG is fossilised or not!

[IMG]http://i1152.photobucket.com/albums/p495/dbshark94/SJ%20Costume/IMG_6376.jpg[/IMG] I start to shape crumpled paper and small sections of masking tape (sticky side out) to adhere to the head to begin to detail it.

[IMG]http://i1152.photobucket.com/albums/p495/dbshark94/SJ%20Costume/IMG_6377.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i1152.photobucket.com/albums/p495/dbshark94/SJ%20Costume/IMG_6380.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i1152.photobucket.com/albums/p495/dbshark94/SJ%20Costume/IMG_6381.jpg[/IMG] Making progress with the right side of the head. By this point (3 days in, about 12 hrs. of work), I've pulled as much tape off and started over, as I have added. My original idea was to have the mouth open like the original SJ in 1979. But once I saw the concept of the closed mouth (around the front hose) online, I decided to have the mouth nearly closed.

Meanwhile, one of my twin sons, (13 yrs, old), asks to help, and makes me 10 origami fingers. I show him how to detail one of them with small pieces of twisted tape and he does the other 9! [IMG]http://i1152.photobucket.com/albums/p495/dbshark94/SJ%20Costume/IMG_6354.jpg[/IMG] Eventually, I'll get a long latex glove and add them to the glove with more biomechanical muscle detail going up the glove. Thanks son! (Proud papa!)

[IMG]http://i1152.photobucket.com/albums/p495/dbshark94/SJ%20Costume/IMG_6351.jpg[/IMG] Left side is getting there, so I try it on and show off the head and fingers to the family... (creepy eye in there)... maybe it really is a biomechanical suit, like Ridley said?

[IMG]http://i1152.photobucket.com/albums/p495/dbshark94/SJ%20Costume/IMG_6382.jpg[/IMG] Front view showing added shoulder work.

[IMG]http://i1152.photobucket.com/albums/p495/dbshark94/SJ%20Costume/IMG_6384.jpg[/IMG] Left side view of added shoulder detail.

[IMG]http://i1152.photobucket.com/albums/p495/dbshark94/SJ%20Costume/IMG_6389.jpg[/IMG] More detail...

[IMG]http://i1152.photobucket.com/albums/p495/dbshark94/SJ%20Costume/IMG_6386.jpg[/IMG] CU of shoulder left detail. Remember it's just paper and masking tape over chicken-wire...

[IMG]http://i1152.photobucket.com/albums/p495/dbshark94/SJ%20Costume/IMG_6387.jpg[/IMG] The head with fingers on the side. Last pic for awhile. Next installment will show the head completed. Then fingers get attached to gloves and detailed. Then everything gets covered with liquid latex and air brushed for detail. I consider this costume to be a mix of the original SJ from the 1979 "Alien" movie and updates according to what I've seen online for "Prometheus". Wish me luck! Comments and critiques welcome.

@Enderwiggen: Thanks for the kind words. I'd like to think the original SJ (from '79), was a mysterious, ancient, fossilized remnant of a nobel long-lost alien civilization that fell prey to a chestburster (just like Ridley implied in the original movie). But if he's found a way to tell its species' story through "Prometheus", while keeping true to the original universe (DNA), whatever he wants to call it, so be it. PG-13, R, prequel or not, in 122 days, I'm at my nearest IMAX in a seat!

Watch someone post these as "New SJ PICS" for Prometheus.

You made that with just masking tape, newspaper & chicken wire? Just goes to prove you can turn something so simple into something wonderful. Major kudos to you Db, can't wait to see the finished product.

Lol Jeffomorph! Ridley can hire me any time he feels like having a little more chicken-wire around the set! I'm probably way off in the design. I know the Prometheus SJ's are a lot more streamlined (according to the "statues" seen behind Shaw in that pic.) I just liked the original idea of a big, mysterious elephantine head and torso melting into a chair, rather than a "suit of (tight fitting) biomechanical [quote][/quote]armor" wearing army boots.

@Engineer Prototype: Thanks! I started using this method mostly out of bugetary concerns. (I've probably spent less than $40 on supplies for this costume so far.) But through the years, I've really grown to love just how detailed you can get with it.

I like your thinking Db. I wouldn't even say your way off the design, Who is to say all Space Jockeys/engineers are the same? Your thinking fits nicely with the "used future" style. We all know the suits are bio-mechanical so whats to say that after it being worn by the user for a long period of time could make the suit change or morph with who or what is inside?

That is some seriously impressive work. Thanks for the step-by-step, I'd like to get into sculpting, myself.

Great ideas there EP. The ultimate green factor. Recycled biosuits!

@Dewey70: Thanks. Just start with some paper and a good (sticky) masking tape. Make something small and work up from there. Facehuggers are a great way to begin. And when you're done, you have something light weight and wearable. Don't be scared to rip it apart and start over... it's just paper and tape!

FYI: At this point, I'm about 30 hrs. (4-5 hrs. per day) into the project...

that is incredibly similar to original in texture and tone, and slightly waxy looking... some fantastic work here. im always in awe of people with real talents and skill that are of benefit in the real physical world!!!

Really fantastic work [b]Db[/b], keep up the great work! If you get the piece finished and upload a wide shot of the whole thing, I'd love to make a mention of this on the front page Prometheus news column.

Hey, great work! Alas, creativity doesn't run in my genepool. I'm forever envious of those who have it.

@F-it: I realized after I got a handle on the design, that by using the masking tape, I was closely mimicking the "look" of the original. Hopefully with some shades of tan and brown air-brushing it'll look pretty close. @BH: Thanks for the support. I would consider it an honor for the costume to be mentioned. @ Gehirn: Thank you, I consider myself fortunate to be listed among the creative types in this forum. It certainly houses some of the best artists and writers I've ever seen. It also has some of the best "thinkers" too... And that's where it all really begins.

Did you ask Dr. Who?