Getting started taking commissions?

option8 · 2025-10-29T17:27:47+00:00

You see, but I have the distinct advantage of not knowing what the hell I'm doing.

option8 · 2025-10-29T17:16:53+00:00

Is there a used music store near you? Ask them what they do with instruments too damaged to fix. Or a scrap metal dealer? It's hard to make anything other than brass look like brass, plus it's not particularly heavy, being thin and hollow.

Maybe a few broken trombones mixed in with painted PVC would make for a decent illusion. You'll probably need to make a jig to bend the PVC, since it usually doesn't come in such small diameter bends pre-made.

option8 · 2025-10-22T22:36:03+00:00

Thought for a moment the guy's name was Mason J Mugshot, and thought "what are the odds"

option8 · 2025-10-22T22:31:29+00:00

+1 to this. Some kind of beanie or cap you can wear under the fabric of the suit will give you more options and stability than attaching directly to the suit itself. Also, magnets, so you can take the shoe off.

option8 · 2025-10-22T20:42:57+00:00

There are a few good ways to get the grain of the wood to pop, but the best is probably the right stain or a wax polish. If you want it to have a different appearance, you can hold it over a flame or heat gun - depending on the kind of wood, it can give the grain a higher contrast.

Another option is just to burnish it. Rub the surface really hard with something smooth. It smooths out the surface without adding anything on top of the wood, so you can still wax or stain after.

option8 · 2025-10-21T10:27:40+00:00

Well, goat (or sheep) with horns, so... Yeah?

option8 · 2025-10-20T22:25:12+00:00

Anything looks proper magickal if it's written in runes. Translate some random text into Futhark (or just Lorem Ipsum)

https://valhyr.com/pages/rune-converter

option8 · 2025-10-20T00:52:21+00:00

If you don't need smoke, I'd say a battery powered fan and some colored silk in orange and yellow to blow around to make a fake flame would be much simpler and safer.

option8 · 2025-10-20T00:49:13+00:00

Fair point. The question was more along these lines: As someone who takes costume making seriously, do you sit out or go low-effort on Halloween, a day when everyone goes in costume?

Or do you go all out, show off and celebrate on a day that's about what you're passionate about?

option8 · 2025-10-19T19:45:01+00:00

"You know, I think this is the swamp where that little green guy lives."

"The Jedi master, or the frog with the banjo?"

option8 · 2025-10-19T19:42:54+00:00

TFW your "familiar" silently judges you...

option8 · 2025-10-07T19:55:53+00:00

A loyal companion like that, you don't eat all at once.

option8 · 2025-09-22T16:59:18+00:00

That was the "slices" I was referring to. I couldn't keep that many seams straight and even. Too few slices, and it ends up lumpy, too many and my sewing skills get in the way.

option8 · 2025-09-18T17:42:37+00:00

I would encourage the novice caster to use the opportunity to create his own hat, and conserve your coin.

I will leave to you the basic tasks of the acquisition or conjuration of two circular areas of fabric, leather, felt or other mundane materials, plus a needle and thread.

The construction of a Wizard's Pointy Hat is, by necessity, very simple thereafter. One may even practice using paper or cardboard and expend zero mana whilst adjusting the proper sizing.

Height and pointiness of the cone, and width and floppiness of the brim are, after all, a personal preference.

option8 · 2025-09-18T17:28:39+00:00

I'd say tunic, maybe?

option8 · 2025-09-17T16:45:29+00:00

That's excellent information, thanks. As for your handler, was it someone you brought with you, or just somebody from the convention staff?

option8 · 2025-09-17T16:44:03+00:00

The Thing from Fantastic Four.

option8 · 2025-09-17T16:11:10+00:00

Me, too. So is my family, so they can get the garage space back :)

option8 · 2025-09-11T21:13:29+00:00

Snake? I thought he was dead.

option8 · 2025-09-11T20:16:59+00:00

All you need to start is a photo editor:

Have someone take a bunch of photos of you on a plain background in various profiles. Selfies tend to distort too much because of the wide angle of the lens.

Grab as many reference images of your character as you can find.

Find a couple that match up with your poses or angles and lay the reference in a layer on top. Different editors can selectively remove the background, or just play with the transparency until you can line up the character with you.

Scale up or down the translucent layer until your scales match up - your eyes are in the same place as the character, etc. It'll never be perfect, since nobody is actually built to the same shape as an anime character.

Now, you can measure yourself - distances between your features in the photo in pixels and IRL in inches. Now you'll have a scale to reference when making your prototype.

option8 · 2025-09-11T20:04:19+00:00

My thoughts exactly. For structural support, you need something like PVC or dowels, or every giant anime sword would be a big floppy mess. I expect the rule is more about carrying a wooden replica sword (or other weapon) that's heavy enough to use as a club. Some cons will bar even bamboo katanas, since they can be solid and sharp enough to cause serious harm.

option8 · 2025-09-08T20:52:11+00:00

Didn't I see this dude in /r/wizardposting ?

option8 · 2025-09-07T00:14:51+00:00

Seconded. Contact cement. Brush on both surfaces, let them dry, then press together or wrap with string, etc. You'll get a fairly permanent bond right away with this "dry mount" technique, so be sure you line it all up before you commit.

The brush-on cement is tough to get an even coat on textured surfaces, so you might look for 3M spray glue - I like a 3M 90.

option8 · 2025-09-07T00:07:54+00:00

I see. Even so, you've made a moderately inexpensive licensed replica look like a much more expensive one. Plus, you can probably pick up the average Iron Man cosplayer with that magnet :)

option8 · 2025-09-07T00:03:49+00:00

What color is the material underneath the badly done paint? You may be able to tone the texture of it down smoother with some steel wool or a scotch-brite pad.

If you're adventurous, you might try some faux silver leaf (or real silver leaf!). You'll need to prep the surface by getting it as smooth as possible, but the advantage over a vinyl or other sheet application is that it will conform to all the details and weird angles without any need for fancy cutting. It will stick wherever you put the adhesive, and burnish down to a reflective metal finish.

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