Completed September 2004 – Best Craftsmanship Anime Iowa 2004

Construction
I analyzed this costume to death! I stared at the game and counted the number of straps and studs to get it as accurate as possible. I studded both our costumes, and sewed eyes on my pants/shirt that I threaded hand-dyed leather strips through. I airbrushed the straps and parts of our armor to make them slightly metallic.

I made my sword out of clear acrylite that I shaped with a heat gun. I had dreams of filling it with a mixture of dyed water and mineral oil (to make it look swirly), but while I was gluing the two halves together with marine epoxy, I DROPPED MY SWORD. The tip cracked clean off and I sat and cried for about 20 minutes. Because of the crack, I had to forego my epic vision and airbrush it instead. I look at it as a blessing in disguise, because I’m sure the thing would have broken eventually and soaked my costume. A far worse outcome. Just let me believe that would have happened. I sculpted the dragon hilt out of pink insulation foam, which I paper mached and covered in Paperclay. It is painted with acrylic paint.

Photos by Elemental, Deathcom Multimedia, limebarb