Postponed Until October 2013 (Posted 12th April 2013)

Due to time constraints, Zagato is pushed back to London MCM Expo (October 2013). With my studies and going away, I just don't have the time to complete him within four weeks (away for a week in a couple of week's time).

However, I will still be working on him regularly.

Breastplate Ready For Papermache (Posted 8th April 2013)

The breastplate is now ready for the papermache. However, I won't be doing that until the other pieces of armour are fully made and have all of their details attached as well.

I will tackle the pauldrons next with regards to detail I think. Mark and I are still working on the construction of the crown but should be finished with that soon.

When all parts are made and have the details on, the lot will be coated with papermache. Some time during all that, the spiked fingers will be made, along with the brooch and bracelets.

More Breastplate Progress! (Posted 7th April 2013)

The details on the breastplate are going well. I just need to finish the collar and the right hand wing shapes, and then I'll move on to the windy details of the pauldrons. >_<' That'll be fun!

Crown Progress (Posted 4th April 2013)

This is the progress Mark and I have made on the crown. We still need to make the front part to stick on before all the detail can go on though. I have sat it on top of the wig and head to give more of an idea of the appearance. I still need to do some more trimming on the wig though I think. It also rests on there better rather than just laying around elsewhere.

Details On Breastplate 1 (Posted 30th March 2013)

I have added some of the details on the breastplate today. What I have done there has taken me a good hour. I'm going to try to do more of this on this piece of armour as well as the pauldrons to save some time for when Mark is next over to give me a hand (which also gives him experience in cosplay-making).

I'll try to finish the details on this piece in another two to three sittings, and then tackle the detail on the pauldrons.

More Pattern Drawing (Posted 29th March 2013)

I've done some more pattern drawing on the armour ready for the detailing to go on. Unfortunately I can't do this with the coronet yet as it's still far from being finished. Mark and I should be working on this very soon though.

I will get some more pictures up very soon, and in the next couple of weeks I hope to also start on the brooch, bracelets and spiked gauntlet fingers.

More wig progress with me wearing it! (Posted 28th March 2013)

I thought I'd wear the wig to show what it looks like on me. Hopefully when the crown is done I'll look a lot more like Zagato. I'm pleased with how it looks on me for now though. It was just for a little sneak peak really.

Pattern Drawing (Posted 26th March 2013)

I've started to draw the patterns on to the spike pauldrons of the armour.
This way I'll know what patterns I am going to put on and where.

The crown still needs to be build up with Mark the next time he's over, but it will save time to add at least the drawn details on the rest of what we've made before that time. I also need to make two bracelets, a brooch, and the spiked finger armour on top of all that as well as putting Richard (and his sword) together as well.

Crown Progress (Posted 17th March 2013)

Some progress has been made on the crown, but it is the biggest pain in the arse piece to figure out and put together. I knew this was going to be the case from the start, but it's already been a fiddly one to make the frame for.

The details will go on the rest of the armour shortly as well. Once everything is covered with paper mache, we can work out the attachments and paint it all. It doesn't end there though. A brooch, spiked finger armour, and bracelets need to be made as well. Oh yes, and I also need to buy the shirt with the mandarin collar.

Pauldrons progress - SPIKES! (Posted 10th March 2013)

Me and Mark got the spikes on the pauldrons today. That was a pain in the backside, but at least it's done. It was mainly getting the angles as correct and matched up as possible. We'll be adding the detailing to most of the armour soon.

Our next moves will be on creating a back panel for the pauldrons to attach to, and making the frame for the crown.

Wig styling, continued - the fringe (Posted 7th March 2013)

As Zagato has bits of his fringe showing across his face from underneath the crown, I have tried to group sections of it together as shown in the picture. I had to do this, or it would have remained too fluffy and wouldn't have done what I wanted it to do.

The moment of truth will be seen when the crown is made.

Crown plans (Posted 7th March 2013)

I have drawn up plans for how the crown should be able to work and sit in place without interfering too much with the wig. I think this might be the most pain in the arse piece to be made.

It needs a brace to sit on top of my head, and a back brace to secure it around the back of my head under the wig.

Pauldrons (Posted 27th February 2013)

Mark and I have made some more good progress on this today. We've made the main part of the pauldrons, and next time we'll be making the spikes that jut up from them. We did have a couple of mishaps, but those have been sorted out and will be touched up on next time as well.

Further to this, we'll be making a start on the base of the coronet.

Breastplate (Posted 24th February 2013)

The main breastplate is made. At least the construction of it is done now. The details will need to go on soon, and the spike pauldrons will be made as well.

This is going to be damn uncomfortable to wear, and I might need to have the pauldrons attached outside the hotel room at this rate. It's going to be big, and if I try to walk through the hotel with the entire lot on, I'll probably end up feeling very claustrophobic. My wig will be heavy and I'll have a large coronet/crown on as well.

Armour Plans Of Action! (Posted 21st February 2013)

My friend Zanzibar07 is helping me with this as it needs to be fitted together a certain way, and the method of doing this requires two people to get the proportions right.

We had some great ideas when he came over last, and now that we have plans of action for each piece of armour now, we're going to crack on a lot more shortly (hopefully at the weekend).

It's still going to be intense getting this done, but it's do-able.

Wig Styling in progress! (Posted 15th February 2013)

I have now started to style the front of the wig for Zagato. I hate brushing this damned thing!

I need to get the fringe to taper from the foreheard down the sides so it will be visible when I make and wear the coronet.

Such length! 60 inches!

Armour Plans B - Back (Posted 6th February 2013)

As I will be covered from shoulders to feet in cloaks, the armour cannot work the same way it did for Zio. In-fact, the method for Zio didn't work brilliantly either.

I intend to make a main breastplate with a section cut out around the back under the collar so that I can feed the hood of the back cloak through along with the ties. The ties will then come around the front, where another hole will be made either side for them to slip back under and be tied.

Wig and further preparations (Posted 14th January 2013)

Well, the wig arrived recently, and I'm rather pleased with it despite it being a complete and utter bitch to brush. The length is very accurate, but I need to style the front when possible. Perhaps I should make the coronet before I do this though.

I'm considering buying velvet cloaks, though this is still in debate. However, as I have minor sewing skills, making full capes myself would mean more cost and probably MANY mistakes that I cannot afford.

The preparations for the armour are slowly coming together.

Armour Plans - A (Posted 27th December 2012)

I have started to draw out some more in-depth armour plans for Zagato now. This is only the first set (plans A), as I need to consider how the cloaks will attach over the top and bottom (which will be in plans B and potentially C as well).

In other news, I have bought the wig and it's on its way!

Designs (Posted 3rd November 2012)

Before I can make this, I need to think about how I'm going to put it together.
I can make the main frame much like I did Zio's one, but I need to be sure that I can get the damned thing in the suitcase along with the other armoured parts, and potentially a spare costume too. That might fail and I may end up having to take an extra suitcase...FUN! Not.

The other problem besides the armour is making or finding suitable cloaks. They need to make me look rather imposing, so this is going to take a lot more thinking to figure it out so it will work effectively and not fall apart.

Preparations (Posted 20th August 2012)

I set myself this challenge to see if I could take it up. CHALLENGE ACCEPTED!
I have come to the conclusion that the large spikes of the pauldrons here aught to be about a foot and a half in length and rise up at somewhat of a 45 degree angle...

Alright...help...
No, I'm alright, I can do this. Once Amano Faris is complete, I'm getting down on this. The deadline is May Expo 2013.