3rd April 2012: finished chain and pendant ..how the finished chain and pendant looks.
3rd April 2012: pendant finished pendant finished and painted. The silver is not as bright as the chain ..so I might see if I can make a mould and cast it in white metal sometime.
29th March 2012: Milliput base layer completed Base layer sculpted in Milliput..now leaving it to harden. Then I will go in and smooth out the holes and imperfections.
29th March 2012: pendant progress - armature Pendant in progress. I decided to make the pendant out of Milliput. So I started by making a wire armature to give more strength. The paper printout is covered with selotape to stop it sticking. The armature is cut out of stiff wire for the spine of the pendant and the adder coils are bent out of paperclips. Pieces then carefully superglued into positon. Settingn powder sprinkled on to speed up drying time. Ready for Milliputing...
27th March 2012: pendant - beginings Not sure exactly how Im going to make the whole pendant yet, but this is my start - a clasp from a necklace..will be buried into the top part of the pendant to form a small but strong dangling loop.
26th March 2012: Blackadder emblem - artwork done Finished the artwork for the Blackadder Emblem - It was really tough researching for this, couldnt find a decent picture of it anywhere. Only found a tiny pic, which was very pixelated when I blew it up. Traced around the basic shape and then referring to the large ref photos I drew in the details and refined the sketch. Then coloured the red in and and scanned it into PS. Edited the scanned image to make it bolder. Finally adjusted the image size to the right size for the sleeves, flipped for the other sleeve, and a small version for the pendant which hangs from the chain of office.
20th March 2012: Chain of office - wip Been making progress with my Chain of Office. Couldnt find anything remotely like it anywhere - Scoured ladies fashion shops in the high street. The best I could find are these flower chain belts from eBay. I bought the last two to make sure I will have enough parts. First step dis-assemble the belts into seperate flowers. Next I cut the flower shapes down into diamond shapes with wire cutters. Then rounded the sharp edges off with metal file. I got some tiny chain links from the jewelery making shop around the corner..and assembled the new diamond chain. This is just the base - Still to go on each piece of the chain is a large red diamante and a cluster of smaller white diamantes.
Why have I started on this first?..because I was bidding on eBy for a long out of date Butterick pattern for Medieval costume doublets and hose, which ended today. Darn it, No I didnt win! :/
15th March 2012: bits Getting bits together - Red Gems arrived for the detailing of the ornate Chain of Office. From what I can make out it looks like silver ovals with red gems and detailing ..Im waiting for two metal chain belts to arrive which will form the base of my chain of office - needs modding from flower shapes, also need to make the Blackadder pendant which dangles from it.
Also in pic is the heavy black velvet fabric which I will use to make the doublet and circle cape. Im hoping that the silver ric rac will look ok for all the embroidery detail..I just cant imagine embroidering so much!
8th March 2012: Beginning the Ruff Found some answers last night incl a great How to Make an authentic Ruff from this web site http://www.elizabethancostume.net/index.html
Examining Blackadders Ruff closely, it looks like a plain white fabric with a pattern detail running along its outer edge - known as Blackwork: Black silk thread was used to hand embroider complex patterns using a double running stitch.)
Pic shows a blow up and what I think the pattern looks like.. Im not planning to hand embroider though! My sewing machine has a stretch stitch which looks close..so I will do some experimenting. Note that on the inside face of the ruffles the black thread does not show! My guess is that the fabric is doubled over - well thats how Im going to do it anyway. Suits me as the fabric edge will then be closed. So because the fabric will be doubled over and because in some freeze frames Blackadders ruff appears almost translucent I decided to experiment with white cotton voile. in the post now. ^^
2nd March 2012: makeup and wig test Wig arrived today so I did a quick makeup test. This might be as good as it gets, my face is very different shape to Rowans and my blue eyes arent helping.. Hope this cosplay is gonna work!
Clothes are just standins for the makeup test. Although the wool and red taffeta fabrics are what has just arrived in the post. One thing I learnt from doing this.. using black eyeshadow makeup for the beard is not going to work because it rubs off onto the white collar too easily - this will spoil the white ruff awfully. So my next idea is to try painting prosthetic glue straight onto my face and stick wig fibres in it, then trim it all like a real beard when the glue has set.
28th February 2012: Original screen costume Ref and planning.
Costume layers
Ok the first hurdle is done..figuring out the fabrics and getting some decent ref pics. Fotunately I came across a pic of the screen costume from when it was auctioned. First question what fabrics? - Thanks to the amazingly knowledgeable Odangochan, via my help thread, I now know that the screen costume was in fact Ostrich leather! - This explains the puzzling spot pattern which is def there in photos. Apparently the spots are where the Ostrich feathers would have been.. like a plucked chicken.. :/ So Im not worrying about accuracy in this respect -Instead I plan to use normal leather. Its waaaay cheaper too. ^^
The jerkin has split vents which are lined with wine red silk/Taffeta inserts.
Jerkin buttons down the centre with ornate buttons. Jerkin also has leather epaulettes and picadils.
Next layer under the leather jerkin is the doublet which is black velvet with piping on the outer edges inc shoulders (often doublets had detachable sleeves.) In the photo you can see the velvet sleeves and mandarin collar and just about see the bottom hem of the doublet which follows the same shape as the jerkin. Doublet sleeves have the Blackadder emblem embroidered in red and silver - an adder wrapped around a dagger. Also the blackadder emblem appears on Edmunds chunky necklace.
Next layer worn under this is a white shirt with lace cuffs.
Pants - also known as pumpkin breeches, or pansied slops - panes are the strips of fabric running vertically. Slops are same wine red fabric as jerkin vents, with matching leather panes, waistband, and breeches.
Not seen in this pic is a cape or caplet - this is a circle cape made of black wool with Lots of gold embroidery. The cape is carried over one shoulder with its teather running diagonally across the body. Also running diagonally across the body is the Baldrick - that is, the wide belt with ornate buckle which holds the rapier sword at the hip.
Finishing off the costume - leather over knee riding boots with metal spurs.
Time to get some raw materials in...
Quinzel - 25th February 2012 So much win! I adore Blackadder, can't wait to see this :D.
Numta - 25th February 2012 Amazing idea! haha this will be amazing!
Sephirayne - 25th February 2012 Oh awesome. Looking forward to seeing this.
Anonymous - 25th February 2012 This is going to be quality <3
Amy-Lou - 26th February 2012 You legend, such a fun character to play too!
Captain_Marvelous - 26th February 2012 FINALLY! Your back to making AWESOME COSTUMES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! cannot wait to see this hun! good luck!
RebaSephiroth2 - 26th February 2012 Yay! Go for it, Steve! XD
Debbie Ella - 27th February 2012 Brilliant! :D
Mighty Odango - 27th February 2012 I've been in love with this outfit since I was a little girl - I was brought up on Blackadder! I hope you bring it to another event so we can all see :)
Ranma1-2 - 27th February 2012
wow so much love for this already ^_^ Thanks everyone. Ok since people like the idea so much I will wear it to cosplay events too. (why did I think you would all hate this simply because it is not a crossplay!?) There might even be a masquerade skit... ^^
Ok my first problem - deciding what material the original costume is made out of and what I should go for. The main body looks shiney - like leather? and the sleeves look matt, so thick cotton fabric.?
Captain_Marvelous - 27th February 2012 the main body of it is deff leather :) the cotton side is open to interp.
Ranma1-2 - 27th February 2012 Cheers Luke.. orig ref pics were quite dark and hard to tell. The new pic I just found of the screen cos at auction does look like leather. It has some kind of regular bobble pattern on it tho, is puzzling.. Maybe there is some kind of leather working which makes this pattern?
Violet Kestral - 27th February 2012 BEYOND awesome. I really hope you take this to a cosplay event sometime, would be amazing to see =D
dan-dan - 27th February 2012 epic love this such a blackadder fan cant wait to see when this is done
Vovea - 28th February 2012 God this would be so cool. Looking forward to seeing pics! :)
Minxie - 28th February 2012 Cannot WAIT to see this, whenever you do it :D
Ranma1-2 - 29th February 2012
^^ Thanks everyone.
Minxie it is already under way ;P getting some bits and pieces together to make a start and orderd some stuff.. :)
alytheluvly - 29th February 2012 OMG YES! Love blackadder!! :D
Alias Cosplay - 2nd March 2012 This is awesome, looking great.
Anonymous - 2nd March 2012 Ohhh wow, you've got the perfect look!
Zelvyne - 2nd March 2012 The makeup test looks great ^_^ Best of luck with the clothing.
Captain_Marvelous - 2nd March 2012 Looks fantastic my lord!
Leolarua - 2nd March 2012 oh god that make up test is awesome! i cant wait to see the rest
Ranma1-2 - 2nd March 2012 Really..you guys like the makeup test that much? Phew! I was thinking maybe trimming a little off the sides of the wig. And Im going to experiment with prosthetic beard making as the black makeup was rubbing onto the shirt collar too easily..I want my ruff to stay clean and white when its done.
PixiePopNixie - 6th March 2012
You have his expression down to a T. Snotty pompous prick is a hard look to do, so cud-dos to you! lol
The make-up and wig looks good XD and the casual look Blackadder looks good :P
Ranma1-2 - 7th March 2012 Thanks Nixie ^^ Casual look is closet stuff until I get the real costume parts made. Got some bits to begin now, eg leather coat arrived so I can start cutting that up for my supply of leather.
Mighty Odango - 8th March 2012
I'd really recommend a proper prosthetic beard/tache set over makeup or just gluing hair directly. They're a little pricey but can be reused and look much, much better - see my Xiahou Dun costume as an example.
http://www.dauphines.co.uk/c-moustaches-and-beards.htm
You want one of the lace ones like the Hairraisers :)
Fables - 8th March 2012 This is amazing! Youre going to look so good, I've never seen anyone do a Blackadder costume before!
Ranma1-2 - 8th March 2012
Odangochan - Thanks..I see what you mean, your beard looks fab. Thanks for the link, I just went to scope those beards out. Hmm they are a tad pricey - which means I must at least try to make one. I will try to follow how those hairraiser types are made. If I can tie hair fibres onto some net that might work?
Faye - Thank you ^_^ cant wait to start putting it together. Its been a LOT of researching, cuz I want to do it pretty authentic. And a lot of scrabbling around looking for fabrics and buttons etc.
Nomes - 8th March 2012 This is incredible! I can't believe how much you've managed to make yourself look like him. It's the posture and expression, but even your face shape looks different to in your other cosplays.
Ranma1-2 - 8th March 2012 Hi Nomes ^^ Yeah that is part of cosplay doing the acting roleplay part. I was allways doing impersonations at school for laughs, so I guess I have a knack at immitating others. :)
MissAriel - 8th March 2012 This looks really great so far! :)
Anime_Angel - 18th March 2012 no fucking way, that is definatly new with a few other exceptions like darth maul lol you look really good in that gettup^_^
Ranma1-2 - 18th March 2012
Thanks guys.
I know, shocker right!? ^^
Anime_Angel - 19th March 2012
Yeah water balloons is allot more effective than I thought, aslong as they are thick enough and not TOO full, they really do work, I would join a SF group but the chances are unlikely as I cosplay on the Friday just to get all the shopping out the way lol but I'm willing to join one if I'm invited though lol
Yeah it's quite a shock you cosplaying as that guy, you do it so good aswell because you and the character seems like the same age (or close due to atkinson being over 60) where most cosplayers are all young lol
Athora.x - 20th March 2012
WOW! oh my god..... Ranma as a guy, what the hell?!
No srsly this is going to turn out AMAZING! I absolutely love Black Adder :)
Ranma1-2 - 20th March 2012 Thanks Athora - I will try to do him justice. ^^
jaks-kingdom-dwarf - 27th March 2012 OMG one of my all time fave shows ever i love you for doing this :D
Ranma1-2 - 27th March 2012 ^_^ Thanks. Hope I have it ready for the weekend! Long way to go still :S
jaks-kingdom-dwarf - 29th March 2012 well it looks awesome already :)
Ranma1-2 - 29th March 2012
Thanks. :) So it looks like I will have to wear the test version much as it is for the Medieval banquet cuz Im running out of time fast. 2 days left! 8I
Wanna get my Blackadder pendant finished and fixed onto the chain of office necklace. It would be nice if I can make the pumpkin breeches to wear over the leather trousers. I have a stand-in velvet shrug jacket I have de-sequinned which I can wear under the leather waistcoat and might be able to quickly add some leather epaulets to the waistcoat if there is time..arghh still have to make my fake beard too!
Acanatane - 29th March 2012 wow! this looks so good already!
Ranma1-2 - 30th March 2012 Aww thanks. Made a start on my false beard, how hard can it be...
Anonymous - 4th April 2012 Loving your progress =]
Anonymous - 11th June 2012 Blackadder = awesome. And a perfect one for you to do as a non-crossplay :-p
Ranma1-2 - 12th June 2012 Thanks guys. ..Edmund most likely on for next year now.
Anonymous - 24th June 2012 Boo, why the delay Steve? :(
Ranma1-2 - 25th June 2012 Lunar_Kitten - Too much work on costumes recently, I really need to fix our house (boring I know, but very neccessary) thats why I aim to wear costumes that are already made for the Oct Expo. eg Darth Maul returns for Oct..so if you fancy seeing that skit on stage... Then next year I can work on Blackadder.
Chibi - 26th June 2012
Holy macaroni! This is looking amazing!
So much love <3
Ranma1-2 - 26th June 2012 Chibi - too kind ^_^ long way to go still to do it real justice.
Eatmethoubean - 27th June 2012 holy moly this is frickin sweet!!!!! i literally love it so hard!
Fizzykat - 14th September 2012 love IT!
FullMetal-007 - 18th August 2013 Trully can't wait to see this finished 83 Love Blackadder <3
Ranma1-2 - 18th August 2013 Thanks for the comments guys. I would love to finish this. It needs a lot of time though, so unfortunately it wont be finished in time for any of this years events. Maybe next year though if I can work on this through the winter months. :)