Twi'lek costume tips wanted!

Hi everyone,

In the ongoing search to find The Perfect Star Wars Costume for myself, I've started thinking perhaps it would be fun to try and make myself a Dark Jedi/Sith Twi'lek (so think red skin and black robes)! Of course I need some suggestions on a couple things.

1) What kind of make up would someone recommend for those folks with sensitive skin?
2) From the scant searching I've done online I've discovered that latex and pantyhose with a lightweight filling are the way to go on the lekku, does this sound right?

At the moment that's all I'm wondering about, but any pointers would be most appreciated!

Thanks!!!!

Sarah

 

I just did an Aayla Secura costume for Dragon Con.

I used Ben Nye make up that was airbrushed on. I wore it for about 8 hours with only a small bit of rubbing off under my ears and chin. Depending on how much of you is going to be exposed and colored, I would suggest a sweat proofer and/or makeup fixative. I had the palms of my hands painted and nothing rubbed off of them.

For the lekku, I would not recommend the panty hose and latex. They will be heavy and not hold their shape particularly well. I have seen only a few people use this technique successfully.

I carved mine out of polyurethane foam and then covered them with fabric to match my body paint. They were very light and comfortable and swung naturally when I moved my head.

Twi'leks aren't easy, but it's a fun costume to wear.

Good Luck
-e

 

I don't see why people just dont make themselves a sort of latex "hat" for the headtails. Just sculpt the whole thing out of whatever (clay would need an armature, but im sure a well-smoothed out papier mache would work well), then make a plaster mold, and slip cast it in latex. I made alien gloves that way, I'm sure it would work for lekku too. Just fill them with fiber-fill or styrofoam beads or whatever. I hear weighting down the tips helps though. And use mask latex, not the "liquid latex" they sell at costume stores. It's not the same stuff lol

 

lol. If only we all knew how to do that meathod, I'm sure we would jump on it in a heartbeat. (well, I would for sure.)

could you maybe post something more specific on it, like how you set it up, how to build the paster mold, where to get the latex, etc.? I know I've been looking for how tos and stuff like that and I've only found one and that meathod didn't look overly practical - the nyolan hose thingy. Or maybe a link to a site with the info?

anywho. yeah, twi'leks seem to be getting popular. hehe. should be fun

 

You can get the plaster (No. 1 Pottery Plaster) at any ceramics supply. I got a 25 lbs. bag of it for 13 bucks I think.

You can get all the other stuff, latex, paints, mould release, sculpting clay, etc. at MonsterMakers and Special FX Supply.

Here are some tutorials that explain how the process goes:
MonsterMakers: How to Make Monster Mask
Special FX Supply: Mask Making Basics
StudioCreations: Sculpting the Mask
Plaster Mold Making
StudioCreations: Pouring the Latex Mask

 

*grin* awesome! It doesn't sound uber difficult. Is it?

which leads me to ask - do you think I could use this method for Aurra Sing's fingers? (if anyone knows what I mean by that - off topic I know but i don't want to start a new one for a short answer question)

 

I know a gentleman that spent hours sculpting and working on fingers for his wife's Aurra costume. Can't remember exactly what he used, may have been some sort of gelatin, but I do remember him saying they only lasted about six months before the material broke down.

The one nice thing though is after you've got a scuplt or cast of your fingers, you'd be ready the next time you wanted to make another set.

 

Actually, Sithkittie, I thought of that once too, making Aurra's fingers that way. I think it's doable. I'm making a set of hands to match my Plo Koon mask right now actually. I made one hand first, but each time I went to the next step in the process, I realized something I should have done differently in the last step. So when I had the finished latex hand (unpainted though), I decided that I learned enough from the process that I'm starting from scratch so I can fix all my problems before it's too late.

If you really really really want to make Aurra Sing's hands, feel free to PM me and I'll tell you what I learned.

If school doesn't get in the way too much (illustration's fun but it takes time), I hope to have the finished hands done in time for Halloween to show everyone. I'm so excited. And if it goes well, I have a dream project for next summer that I'm DYING to do....

 

Yeah I have vowed that I will do the head piece (to which the lekku are attached) not lekku for my Shaak Ti piece by the casting method, I just can't remember what type of foam latex to use.....

I do however think that the lekky themselves would be so much harder to do in this method because of length therefore I suggest people do what I did last year and thats using 1/2" upholstery foam and just form the cones with the glue gun..... this is like doing the polyurethane way but its just easier to find.... and probably cheaper.... only problem is I haven't figured on a way to paint it... i ended up covering it with upholstery vinyl which was a dream to paint... I would like to paint the foam directly to achieve the texture of Shaak Ti's lekku and head... but alas I may just "re-sculpt" the top montrals and re-use what I did last year.....

 

"I just can't remember what type of foam latex to use....."
You don't want to use foam latex. People tend to toss around foam, latex, and rubber allot and often times they don't realize they have their terminology wrong.
Foam latex is used on films and has a very realistic skin material. That's what they used for Jabba the Hutt in ROTJ.
Foam latex, unlike slip latex used for mask-making, has to be baked using heat-resistant molds in an oven. Slip latex sets at room temperature as the mold absorbs moisture from the latex.
After a few months, foam latex turns to cottage cheese. That is why you will never see the original Jabba the Hutt on a display ever, it no longer exists save for the mechanical skeleton underneath.
What you want to use is regular mask latex. MonsterMakers carries two grades of the stuff, soft grade and firm grade.

"I do however think that the lekky themselves would be so much harder to do in this method because of length therefore I suggest people do what I did last year and thats using 1/2" upholstery foam and just form the cones with the glue gun..... this is like doing the polyurethane way but its just easier to find.... and probably cheaper.... only problem is I haven't figured on a way to paint it... i ended up covering it with upholstery vinyl which was a dream to paint... I would like to paint the foam directly to achieve the texture of Shaak Ti's lekku and head... but alas I may just "re-sculpt" the top montrals and re-use what I did last year....."

Upholstery foam construction is actually used allot to make realistic creatures. They use it at Jim Henson's workshop. My friend Skip is working on a Predator suit made this way. I am making my Chewie feet on my stilts this way and plan to do my own Predator this way. Basically what you do is you paint it with layer after layer of liquid latex. The liquid latex will soak into the foam and after a couple of layers it will create a skin. You can then use latex/rubber-based paints to paint on it.
Some people paint directly onto the foam. One of the Predators as well as the Alien drone/warrior at Dragon*Con were done this way. I think you should put the latex skin on first as it looks more reaslistic.

For carving the foam I recommend getting a good sharp pair of scissors as well as an electric carving knife (about $10 at Wal-Mart) thatis good for starting off. The scissors are good for detailing. An exacto knife might help for small areas but it's not good for deep cuts. I've heard that at Jim Henson's workshop they used belt sanders to get everything smooth when they were done, but I know that the aforementioned Predator and Alien didn't use this.

You can get the foam iself for pretty cheap at Jo-Annn's. They have all kinds of different sizes, thicknesses, and densities there. I think I picked up a 3" thick, 6' long, 3' wide piece of foam for $30 or something like that.
Obviously for something like Lekku, you'll want to build up a large block to carve from. For adhesive I do not recommend tacky glue or hot glue as the adhesives are strong and will be hard to cut through without leaving a bump from the glue. I recommend getting that spray adhesive from the Wal-Mart hardware department.

 

Yeah! I'll be getting an internship job at a special effects company in Hollywood this summer, making masks and other prosthetics for film and tv! After that, I'll be able to help and offer real ideas to people making masks and such!

 

Unlocking and bumping in response to recent query.

 

THanks for opening up this thread... surlygurlie

JediTorenYeah... I tried to paint the uphosltery foam at my first Shaak Ti costume attempt in 2002 even got it at JoAnns didn't take and it got heavy... but its awesome stuffing....Now..I have been told by my experienced makeup guru/penpal that the best is foam latex... and I agree with you... its far too difficult and requires addditional appliances.... So I am assuming that you are saying I should get my latex at monstermakers? Is this the best product/vendor?

Here's my plan.... now what the position I am in is that I have an oil clay sculpt of Shaak Ti's head.... not the front low hanging lekku or the back one.. but the montrals in the front.... sculpted head piece without lekku out of oil based clay on armiture (almost done) create plaster molds....etc... the latex would be used to create the outer skin... I would then stuff it with upholstery foam.... MAN I am running out of time and I have yet to start working on her tabbard.

Sorry if I am posting about Shaak Ti a Togruta not a Twi'Lek... But I guessed it would be the best forum.

Thanks for the advice on the spray adhesive.

 

Okay, I posted in another thread, but no one answered me, so I thought I'd go ahead and post again here.

First off, I'd like to say, all this information thus far has been really helpful.

However, I still have questions. What is latex chalk? Where can I purchase it? I've heard a lot of people refer to this, but I've no idea what it is, etc.

Also, what is the difference between latex molding and latex chalk? Is there a difference in quality?

And on the polyurethane foam, what does that cost and where can I purchase it?

 

Bump...

 

I made a Aayla costume last year. I did the lekku by using a pair of little girls white cotton tights from Walgreens (under $5). I died them with rit dye. I cut the feet and re sewed them so the tights were pointy at the end. I used light weight foam stuffing (kind used for throw pillows that looks cottony. It's very light and the lekku swung naturally and looked good, and did not sag. I painted Aayla's forehead markings on the lekku with the same model paint I used for the ears (saw off the tips of juicers!) and held the hole thing on with the helmet piece, I made.

My Aayla costume cost less than $100 to make and looked quite convincing.

 

Thanks for the details on that. That sounds really simple actually, here I was dreading the whole process!


But I'd still like to know what latex chalk is.

 

Hi everyone!!

I was surfing thorugh here a few months ago looking at loads of threads and (im sure it was on this forum) I came across someone who had posted a picture of an AWESOME Aayla Secura belt which their friend had made for them. It was a really great job and now ive searched for ages and i cant find the said photo. I think it was in a non - aayla thread maybe.

Could anyone maybe remeber who posted it or direct me to the thread? i would love you forever!!! lol