Darth Revan Costume - female version

Hello, all! Well, I've been working on this darned thing since January. I finally got to premiere it at a local convention this past weekend, so I figured I should post a few photos. This is my version of Darth Revan. The armor is a combination of cast resin (mask, vambraces, hand armor) and vacuform (chest plate). A good friend made the cape and some of the other cloth parts and did a fantastic job. I am NOT a seamstress.

Anyway, er...here it is. (As usual, the thumbnails on these boards are squished. Click for the actual photo...)

[image=http://pics.livejournal.com/scendan/pic/000zgs5h.jpg] [image=http://pics.livejournal.com/scendan/pic/000zfpfz.jpg]
[image=http://pics.livejournal.com/scendan/pic/000zsh2s.jpg] [image=http://pics.livejournal.com/scendan/pic/000zqrsb.jpg]
(I had to post this last one, because it cracks me up. I call it my "Geez, these new recruits for the Mandalorian Wars are going to need a LOT of work" picture...)

I'm going to redo the vambraces (sculpted 'em a bit too small and they're a real pain to put on and secure) and maybe trot out the new and improved version come Worldcon or so...

Oh, and I have posted a lot on the boards, but never really started a new thread outside of my fanforce group, so if I've violated TOS or anything somehow, please somebody let me know and I'll make it right.

- Kai

 

Very cool pics! My only suggestion would be to merge the thread with this one - http://boards.theforce.net/costuming_and_props/b10019/20476265/p1 - so all the Revan information would be together.

 

Nice job, Kai! That costume looks great!

Love your caption for the last pic.

 

Looking good there, Kai! We'll have to trade notes on your contacts for my ROTS Anakin when I get it going (hopefully soon).

 

Ok...um, how do I do that?

And thanks for the compliment and the advice.

- Kai

 

Thanks, Loreen! Those guys in the picture were hilarious! They posed for about 5 photos and I just kept cracking up behind the mask. Too funny!

JedHead...will do! The contacts are called "Flame"...just FYI. Don't remember the brand off the top of my head, but if you Google "Halloween Contacts Flame" you should find them. Let me know if you want me to look up the brand name. Can't wait to see your new Anakin!!!!

- Kai

 

I'd be willing to bet that Sister_Sola could merge them for you. At worst, you could repost your first message over there and SS could close this one.

Did you do the vacuforming yourself? I've been giving serious thought to trying that some time.

 

I SORT of did the vacuforming myself...with tons of help. I have a good friend who had build a small vacuform table, and he and I worked together on the project. He was an amazing resource...I owe him LOTS, and we both learned a great deal since he wasn't that experienced either (but very resourceful and smart!). One nice thing about vacuforming is that it is instant gratification! You go from nothing to a finished product in less than a minute (disregarding the bazillions of hours you put in on the initial sculpt, that is!).



- Kai

 

wow! that armor is really cool! what is vacuforming? was it difficult? i'm looking to build a small hand prop (a handle for a small cane) and i was looking for some kind of material that would give me those kind of results...

and the other parts of the costume look really great too. and gotta love your new recruits! whip 'em into shape! i hope you had fun!

 

Basically, Vacuum Forming is a process consisting of taking flat sheets of plastic that are held in a frame, heating them inside an oven to soften them, and pulling them down over a mold. Then with the use of vacuum, the plastic will be drawn down around the contours of the mold.

I've helped make armor with one of these before.

[image=http://members.aol.com/GCGassaway/GENERAL/vac/Vacuform1.GIF]

[image=http://www.dow.com/sal/process/thermo/images/a7.gif]

How to make a Vacuum Form Table

 

I am so glad you posted this! I was going to scramble to write an explanation or find good links, and you beat me to it--with style! I am a rank beginner, so very glad you posted something much more together than I'd've written.

- Kai

 

The link posted about vacuforming looks good...I'd check it out. Also, you can look at links from 501st people who work on Stormtrooper armor as well, or I can dig 'em up.

As for a handle for a small cane, you'd likely be better off either casting it in resin, or even sculpting it (possibly, depending on how detailed it is) in something like Sculpey or DAS clay (Sculpey hardens in the oven, and DAS can air-harden) and then painting it/detailing it, or whatever.

My "new recruits" just cracked me up. Tooooo funny. Rock on! *bangs head*

- Kai

 

Yeah, there are a lot of people out there that have experience with vacuum forming.

That was just stuff I found doing a quick search last night to answer the basic question about what it is.

 

[color=006699]Kai,

I recall some in progress sculptures of the armour for a Darth Revan on this board that I believe were yours. I am very impressed to see this suit at this stage. For this effort, you should have your own thread.

I'd be interested to see the full costume, specifically what treatment was used on the boots.

If you are older than 18, you may wish to send an application into the 501st.

Be well,
Thomas[/color]

 

Hi, Thomas!

The progress pics I posted were in the thread "Calling all Sith and Dark Side Costumers" or some such. So, if those are the in-progress photos you mean, yep, those were mine. I started work in January - with lots of help from two friends, one who provided immense amounts of advice and support on the armor, and another who did the sewing on everything that couldn't be bought--the cape, mantle, hood, red "bit" and the cloth part on the belt. Both were of immeasurable help.

As for full pics, with boots included...let me see...neither of these is the "full" costume, as the mask is off (I could tolerate it for a while, but have to work up to having it on all the time...!)

[image=http://pics.livejournal.com/scendan/pic/000zyeeg.jpg]

And here is a rather silly one of me posing with a beer (which I don't even drink!), but it shows the boots a bit more. Hey, even Sith Lords need a cold one now and then, right? Especially after a day on the battlefield...

[image=http://pics.livejournal.com/scendan/pic/000zxfg1.jpg]

The boots are more designed to give me additional height than to look totally accurate. However, the Revan model in the games has huge clunky boots, so they're not too inaccurate...although I suppose Revan didn't actually wear platforms! I'm only 5'4", so I really needed the extra 3" to give the costume the remotest air of authority.

Oh...here's a screencap showing boots...

[image=http://pics.livejournal.com/scendan/pic/000q7hhr.jpg]

I'm waaaaaaaaaaay over 18 and have considered submitting the costume to the 501st. Not sure of the submission guidelines for EU characters. I'd have to look that up to make sure it meets requirements.

- Kai

 

veryyy good revan. The fact that revan can be a girl or a guy too, is a very cool factor. For the 501st acceptance, i think they are sort of iffy with this costume still and some of the other EU. You can still try to get in. Best thing is contact your local garrison, check the 501st main page for that. Then contact them and become friends with them. Having your Commanding Officers push for your acceptance is what really helps. Getting my anakin in fast was only because of my CO's nagging lol . Also u need 3 referance pictures for the gear to get in. The only trouble with EU gear, is that many events we do require movie cannon costumes.

 

Thanks for the input. Yeah, I have seen that many events require canon movie "face" costumes only. But... *shrug* Worth a try, right? I'll meander by my local garrison's page...I know a lot of the people there already, to varying degrees.

- Kai

 

On the off chance that the 501st isn't looking for an EU costume, you could always try the Grand Army of the Republic. While they concentrate on the PT, they seem to welcome all Star Wars costume styles.

 

Thanks for the explination! That was SOOOOO cool! I've never even looked into armor... mmmm.... thanks again!

 

I think Thomas has a bit of "pull" when it comes to getting costumes approved for the 501st. He is the Legion Membership Officer for the entire 501st Legion! He has some stunning EU costumes, as well.

Contacting local 501st/costuming people is always good. If you plan to join, these will be the people you go to most events with.

The costume looks great. It's always nice to see something a bit different, especially when it is done well.

 

I believe I've also see you posting progress pics on the Santa Cruz boards, too.

I "cruise" those boards, and even post there, once in a while.

 

LOL! Yes, SCFF is my home base. And I've seen you post there...just had a brain spasm and didn't make the connection. Ow! Brain spasm! Ow!



- Kai

 

Thanks for the tip, Otter! I've not checked out the GAR - do they have a website?

 

DOH! I suppose Thomas would have a bit of pull, at that. Here I am hobnobbing, and didn't even realize it. Thanks for the compliment and the advice.

Now I'm just hoping to see more Nihiluses (Nihili?), Malaks, et al. More KOTOR costumes, please! (And yes, I've been cruising the boards looking for other KOTOR era costumers...found some cool ones...)

- Kai

 

www.grandarmy.org - Check 'em out. I'm sure they'd be quite impressed with your outfit.