Jump to content

  • Announcement

    Welcome to the forums!

    If you are a newly-approved member, make sure you check out the New Member Checklist!

    If you are a Detachment member and can't see the member-only area, post here for access.

    -DV

COTF Nihilus build APPROVED!!!!!

C.Skiles

By C.Skiles
in Darth Nihilus

 Share

Recommended Posts

C.Skiles

C.Skiles

Posted
Posted

Greetings,

 

just thought I'd stop by and introduce myself.

 

I'm in the process of creating a COTF Nihilus costume.

 

I just got the mask yesterday (THANKS to Scottrooper)

https://scontent-a-dfw.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn2/1471388_769037273111647_7200949_n.jpg

 

My grandma will be doing the fabric construction parts. Ill be picking up the belt items from a local tandy leather store tomorrow and start working on it sunday.

 

We'll be using the reference library images as well as the chu crew guide by Scottrooper & Twi'Lek Pam.

 

Haven't quite figured out how we're gonna sort out the mask and hood attachments yet. ATM I'm thinking of an elastic strap system for the mask (think halloween hockey mask).

 

Not really sure about the hood yet.

 

anyway, Glad to be here.

 

 

 

btw once I become a 501st member I'll be in the North Texas Squad of the Star Garrison

Link to comment
Share on other sites
C.Skiles

C.Skiles

Posted
  • Author
Posted

I'm still trying to figure out a good way to go about doing the mask and cowl piece (I bought my mask and cowl from Scottrooper from chucrew.com)

 

I know they secured the mask to the cowl using an epoxy putty, but I want to go another route (that doesn't turn the mask and cowl into a permanant one piece fixture).

 

currently on my mask I have a 3 point elastic strap that Ive attached (think cheap jason hockey mask).

 

 

Anybody have suggestions or guide pictures on how they went about attaching the cowl (the cat ear piece - this thing http://chucrew.com/Nihilus/wpimages/wp88422eb4.jpg )

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Nefthys

Nefthys

Posted
Posted

Looks like you are well on your way so far with your build! The belt is looking great so far.

 

For the "cat ears", or hood, I attached mine to the top of a plastic bowler hat (after cutting the brim off). Once I added a little padding inside the hat part, it fits comfortably on my head. This is a picture of how I did mine, I built the hood directly onto the hat and used wire to secure it in place. You could do something similar. If you found a suitable hat type thing, drill small holes in the hood and use wire to secure it.

 

http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn27 ... /hood1.jpg

 

 

I also like having my mask and hood separate. My mask is held on with an elastic, but I've added two snaps to the front of the "cat ears" that snap to the back, top part of the mask to keep them in place. I've seen others use velcro instead of snaps.

 

http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn27 ... 785bea.jpg

 

Hope that helps you a bit. Feel free to ask as many questions as you need!

 

Cheers,

Nef

Link to comment
Share on other sites
C.Skiles

C.Skiles

Posted
  • Author
Posted

I set my mask up with a velcro elastic strap system. I just sewed some velcro onto elastic straps and then glu gun'd the other part of the velcro to the inside of the mask

 

http://img843.imageshack.us/img843/476/kn3b.jpg

http://img577.imageshack.us/img577/5679/brwb.jpg

 

 

and here's my hood

http://img36.imageshack.us/img36/3221/2tcj.jpg

 

 

Im kinda thinking of trying rare earth magnets. glue one to the top and each bottom side of the hood, then put magnets on the inside of the mask to hold it all together. IDK if it will work, but I'll try.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
DisposablHero

DisposablHero

Posted
Posted

I have the same mask and crown as you. I also did my mask the same way, with the elastic straps. While I'm not 100% happy with the way the crown is mounted I'll share my way. I have a piece of velcro at the front of the center strap right up against teh mask as well as velcro on the side straps. I know there are much better ways but I can't use Scott's method as my head is just too large. If I permanently fastened them together I'd never get it on or off my head. The only idea I've had so far for a better system is to maybe mount a hinge at the front, that way the mask can pivot out and maybe magnets on the side to hold it in place.

 

Hope this helps.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
C.Skiles

C.Skiles

Posted
  • Author
Posted
I have the same mask and crown as you. I also did my mask the same way, with the elastic straps. While I'm not 100% happy with the way the crown is mounted I'll share my way. I have a piece of velcro at the front of the center strap right up against teh mask as well as velcro on the side straps. I know there are much better ways but I can't use Scott's method as my head is just too large. If I permanently fastened them together I'd never get it on or off my head. The only idea I've had so far for a better system is to maybe mount a hinge at the front, that way the mask can pivot out and maybe magnets on the side to hold it in place.

 

Hope this helps.

 

 

would you mind sharing some pictures?

 

thanks

Link to comment
Share on other sites
C.Skiles

C.Skiles

Posted
  • Author
Posted

well the robes are "finished"!

 

went to my Grandma's (seamstress) to try everything on. The only issues I really noticed were that the sleeves don't go 'in far enough' into the under tunic, as you can see in the pics.

 

and the outer skirt doesn't come close enough to the center line of the costume.

 

Please keep in mind that the belt I'm wearing is a place holder as I haven't built the real one yet.

 

full frontal

https://dl-web.dropbox.com/get/Nihilus/ ... aBDVIMhkuQ

https://dl-web.dropbox.com/get/Nihilus/ ... VAtzB34t-w

https://dl-web.dropbox.com/get/Nihilus/ ... 8tqRC44mQQ

https://dl-web.dropbox.com/get/Nihilus/ ... U87frWJRng

https://dl-web.dropbox.com/get/Nihilus/ ... ubdLo7oVww

 

 

sleeve details

https://dl-web.dropbox.com/get/Nihilus/ ... a_d4W8uRkA

https://dl-web.dropbox.com/get/Nihilus/ ... tfiBnmFgaw

 

 

 

 

and a pic of my modded Saberforge Gladius saber (just cause)

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/o56mowjx3ywk ... 211615.jpg

I took the head and butt pieces off and replaced the brown leather with black goat skin leather :)

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Nefthys

Nefthys

Posted
Posted

Looks great so far! I don't think the sleeves are really much of an issue. If you look super close at a lot of Nihilus costumes, you can probably see a bit of the sleeve under the tunic, I know you can on mine. You want the idea that there is a shirt under the tunic, so you are fine. Keep in mind you will also have a cloak going over your shoulders as well and that will help push the tunic down a bit over the shoulders and hide that gap.

 

The outer skirt should warp all the way around and meet in the middle at the front. My outer skirt is separate from my robes and attaches with a belt under the outer tunic, but over the under robes. I made the outer skirting about 12 feet long, then sewed a loop of fabric at the top to slide a belt through. Once all that fabric is on there you get a very full and flowy lower robe which you want for Nihilus. You don't have to go as extreme as 12 feet of fabric like I did, but the more you have, the better the robes will look.

 

Hope that helps!

Cheers,

Nef

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Nefthys

Nefthys

Posted
Posted

Something else to point out, as a comfort thing. You might want to add a dart to the very bottom part of your sleeve where your wrist is. You'll find when you need to put the gauntlet style gloves over the top, cramming all that sleeve in there might bunch up. If you have your gloves, try them on and see how they fit. I know on my kit it was really uncomfy having all the excess fabric bunched up in the gloves around my wrist. I ended up taking about 2 inches of fabric off around the wrist area just so it fit better. The dart shouldn't extend past the gloves so that it is visible, just small enough to fit the end of the sleeve in the glove.

 

Again, this is just a suggestion and you don't have to do it. Something I learned from experience trooping in my Nihilus!

 

Cheers,

Nef

Link to comment
Share on other sites
C.Skiles

C.Skiles

Posted
  • Author
Posted
Looks great so far! I don't think the sleeves are really much of an issue. If you look super close at a lot of Nihilus costumes, you can probably see a bit of the sleeve under the tunic, I know you can on mine. You want the idea that there is a shirt under the tunic, so you are fine. Keep in mind you will also have a cloak going over your shoulders as well and that will help push the tunic down a bit over the shoulders and hide that gap.

 

The outer skirt should warp all the way around and meet in the middle at the front. My outer skirt is separate from my robes and attaches with a belt under the outer tunic, but over the under robes. I made the outer skirting about 12 feet long, then sewed a loop of fabric at the top to slide a belt through. Once all that fabric is on there you get a very full and flowy lower robe which you want for Nihilus. You don't have to go as extreme as 12 feet of fabric like I did, but the more you have, the better the robes will look.

 

Hope that helps!

Cheers,

Nef

 

 

yea fixing the outer skirt is on the list of things to fix. my seamstress used two 45" panels sewn together but noticed after it was done that it didnt come close enough to the front. that will be fixed soon

 

 

I may have her remake the sleeves all together (I bought 6 yards of cotton broad cloth)... and lengthen them to attach them farther inside the under tunic and to have some kind of tapering at the end by my wrists. cause I had issues getting all that fabric into my glove solo. had to have help with that.

 

 

thanks for your input so far.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Nefthys

Nefthys

Posted
Posted
as far as how it's built, we've followed the CRL and Scottrooper's guide pretty much to the letter so far...

 

:chewdance:

 

I did the same thing when I built my Nihilus. There are always little things that pop up that are different for each person building their kit. Your's is looking great so far!

 

The weathering looks awesome! Remember as you walk around trooping, that it will also acquire it's own natural weather as well, which is handy for this kit. You will also leave bits of black string where ever you go, hahaha!

 

Cheers,

Nef

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Nefthys

Nefthys

Posted
Posted

Looks good! Hope you don't have to wait too long to hear back. It'll be great to have another Nihilus amoung the ranks!

 

Cheers,

Nef

Link to comment
Share on other sites
C.Skiles

C.Skiles

Posted
  • Author
Posted
Looks good! Hope you don't have to wait too long to hear back. It'll be great to have another Nihilus amoung the ranks!

 

Cheers,

Nef

 

 

god why does this process have to take so bloody long?

 

I sent my first pics in on the 2nd.

on the 12the I sent in updated pics (they wanted me to make the knot bigger, shorten the back of the cape, and adjust how the cowl sat on my head)

took my "GML" like 6 days to forward the pics up the chain (long story...)

 

 

I was really hoping I could have gotten all this done by the new year, but it's looking like that ain't gonna happen.

:aarg:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
 Share
Go to topic listing
×
×
  • Create New...