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Vixen-T-Fox In reply to TheBluHipsterAJ [2016-07-29 22:13:52 +0000 UTC]

The costume was modelled off of the Excalibur Sonic Jazware figure and official screenshots from Sonic and the Black Knight. Although most people portray it higher, it does actually in fact start that low down. The final boss battle forces Sonic's body to bend backwards, which causes the cape to clip higher up on his back.

I've done the homework and was puzzled by it as well. But the costume is accurate

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Vixen-T-Fox In reply to Taiamatalah [2013-12-28 17:24:34 +0000 UTC]

Thank you for the positive feedback

Even for a veteran cosplayer, athlete or someone used to dark enclosed spaces, I would urge people against making this sort of costume! I nearly passed out on stage with this thing on and I only really had the head on for a few minutes. I'm glad the competition final didn't go on for as long as the previous year. 

I love this costume to pieces, especially after the number of hours gone into it. I want to wear it to a lot more events, but it's just lethal in its current state. Vision isn't something I'm too worried about, as I usually have someone there with me or people make sure to give me space. But it was so hard to breathe in that thing and overheating was an issue. So I'm going to study up on making fans to fit inside the head. I reckon it could become awesome with the right ventilation

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Taiamatalah In reply to Vixen-T-Fox [2013-12-29 11:52:45 +0000 UTC]

You're quite welcome! You did an amazing job on it.  

That is a good thing the judging didn't go on long; I've been to some conventions where they mustn't care for the cosplayers and took forever doing that, and some of those people looked like they were dying. Pretty horrible experience for them, I must say.

Oh, at least you have a partner to help you around, and the mesh (I'm assuming) on the eyes must have more visibility than some I've seen. I've seen some full bodies go without partners, and I always wondered how well they could actually see (apparently enough). Hope the ventilation works out. Too bad the body doesn't look like it has room for those ice pack things or fans of sorts, so hopefully you could work enough into the head to be tolerable.  

And, not to bother you, but, I was just curious, about how long did it take to fully complete it, sword and all? I always wondered how long something like that would take to make.

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Vixen-T-Fox In reply to Taiamatalah [2013-12-29 17:21:23 +0000 UTC]

Overall I think it took 6 months.

I started it boxing day last year, using the Excalibur sonic figure as my main source material. I had a few months off (broke me leg so couldn't do much towards it). Then worked flat out to finish it.

So it probably could have been built in 3 months, but it's good to step back from it for a while to work out any problems with the design.

As for the mesh for the eyes, it's actually the white material people use as the base of many cross stitch projects. It's great for painting and drawing on and I had tested it before with my Shadow and Sonic costumes. It let's in a good amount of air and close to the eyes, it gives a nice wide field of vision (providing you don't go adding a visor!!!)

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Taiamatalah In reply to Vixen-T-Fox [2013-12-30 08:04:31 +0000 UTC]

Well, that's time well spent! It's important to take breaks with an endeavor like that (even if they aren't voluntary O.o).
Oh, that mesh; yeah, I know what you're talking about now. Cool to know. Thanks for the info!

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Vixen-T-Fox In reply to shadowbane2009 [2013-11-02 17:05:55 +0000 UTC]

No need to worry. I had one for the costume, as seen via linky link :3 Just didn't have it ready when I had taken this photo.

www.deviantart.com/art/Sonic-a…

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shadowbane2009 In reply to Vixen-T-Fox [2013-11-02 18:29:49 +0000 UTC]

H@ now that's sum serious fun there

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Vixen-T-Fox In reply to tentenswift [2013-08-20 19:48:22 +0000 UTC]

Thank you for your feedback

Honestly, probably the worst heat imaginable! Because of how much foam was needed to construct all the plates and there's practically nowhere to vent, it just gets hotter and hotter. Without the head on I was able to just about cope without too many problems.

With the head, the vision is poor and little air gets in because of the visor and the eyes under. Although it's possible to vaguely see where you're going, it's not really advisable to go anywhere without a helper. On stage it was dire, as I was flaking out. I'm glad the contest results were so much quicker this year, or I don't think I would have lasted. What made the costume worse was the heels! But I'm a nut for accuracy!

I don't advise anyone to make an Excalibur Sonic costume. The only reason I made one is because I'm a mad woman that enjoys the challenge of insane costume projects. I hate the suffering in this costume, but at the same time, I absolutely love my costume and yes, I will be wearing it again as often as I can for other conventions!

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tentenswift In reply to Vixen-T-Fox [2013-08-20 21:06:51 +0000 UTC]

I think you and I were in the same boat. With Metal Sonic, the visibility was from the mid-section and down. Mostly people's feet. So, when people motioned at me, I had no clue. LOL! The heat was the same. I could only go about 15 minutes at a time with only one fan in the neck shooting upwards into the head. I don't want anyone to die in a Metal Sonic costume. I was aware of the issues the costume had and I wore an emergency tag around my neck in the event someone had to cut me out of the outfit. I was alone. You were very lucky to have a handler around to keep an eye on you and make sure you were fine!

Even with as big as a mesh you have for Sonic's eyes, the visor limited your vision that much? 

You deserve to keep wearing the costume. There's a lot of detail and a lot of work put into the outfit! It would be a shame to retire it after one event. :3

You know what I'm curious about? How I can see some of these people go in costumes for 3-4 hours at a time. Wtf how? LOL

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Vixen-T-Fox In reply to tentenswift [2013-08-21 06:39:21 +0000 UTC]

You were lucky to add a fan. I had considered it with mine, but I had hoped the mesh in the front would allow enough air through. Definitely going to take a look at adding fans for the next wear out.

Although the mesh was over a wide area, I knew from my Shadow cosplay that it limited visibility a little. With Shadow, it was easier to wander about on my own with the vision, but with him  the brow was much higher as well. I made Excalibur Sonic look more serious, so I basically lost most of the visibility in the middle of the head, with the visor cutting the side views into pieces as well. If I needed to look at something properly I had to keep lifting the visor, otherwise I just couldn't see!

I think your costume was amazing the spooky thing is that after SoS 2012, I had decided for 2013 I was going to make a metal sonic costume with glowing eyes and jets! But as Christmas came along, I changed to Excalibur Sonic because I had yet to see one built. I'm glad to see someone follow through with the metal sonic one XD!

Those people that go for hours in those costumes are mad! I think they must have a load of fans and one of the cool pack suits or something. They probably have a lot of stamina as well, so basically everything I don't XD! I wore a Tails cosplay in 2011 and wore that non stop for 3ish hours before having lunch and then put the head back on for another 2 or 3 for the afternoon and nearly died in it! The price of the bigger costumes.

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tentenswift In reply to Vixen-T-Fox [2013-08-21 11:35:49 +0000 UTC]

Have you had any experience with cooling vests? I was given a suggestion after the event about potentially switching out the fans to a cooling vest with a neck strap. They allow you to be suited up for 2+ hours at a time with changeable gel packs that take about 20min in ice/water to be good to go for another 2+ hours. I love my Metal costume and I want to wear it again, but that heat. Holy sweet Jesus, that heat. xD I can only imagine how hard it is on you, too. The problem with the cooling system is that it's well over 200$. ;_____; I guess it's an investment worth dumping money in to, so that I don't fall out of character with head removal. Cry forevar.

I encourage you to do Metal next year if you do! Make the eyes super bright glowy! People love that so much. I would love to see that, too. Your Excalibur is so badass. I know you can pull off a perfect Metal.

Oh. I also notice the complete lack of Metal Sonic mascots. I intended to change that. I think I did. With a silly small head. FUUUUUUUU--Don't make that same mistake as meeeeeee.

Now onto Neo Metal Sonic. xD 

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Vixen-T-Fox In reply to tentenswift [2013-08-21 12:09:57 +0000 UTC]

I've looked into the cooling vests before, but like you said, very expensive! Since most of my costumes tend to be skin tight, I don't think I'd get one under the suit easily anyway XD! But yes, for other costumes it would be worth investing in.

I've got a few ideas in mind for next year, but I haven't fully decided yet. I want to try a simpler design next year so I can enjoy SoS more, but still make it badass! Evil Super Sonic is currently winning.

I think the head for your metal sonic looked awesome! But if you're interested in increasing the size, you should follow the technique I now live by of making a giant circular frame and sticking a helmet inside. This gives you much more breathing space and you also have the basic round shape for any sonic styled head. I find it also seems to make it correctly proportionate to the body. The only downside to a larger head though is the increased weight! Excalibur Sonic wasn't too bad as I learnt from my earlier costumes that making the spikes out of full blocks of foam is a really bad idea! So his spikes were hollow and filled with light teddy bear stuffing.

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tentenswift In reply to Vixen-T-Fox [2013-08-21 12:43:09 +0000 UTC]

I absolutely will do the circular head bit. The head actually looked nice size-wise. When I finished the body is where I realized I dropped the ball on that one. For Neo Metal, I need to do some serious planning on his head. That thing is massive, so ill need enough of a pull forward to keep the head from rolling back from the weight. Hollow or not. @_@

This year was a great learning experience. I look at your costume and feel left in awe at the amount of detail and accuracy that is displayed on your suit. I admire it quite a bit. CALL ME JELLY. The proportions!

The year after Neo Metal will be my last submission for contests. I'm just going to revamp and redo Metal 1.0 and just chill with the peoples as Metal. This is because I refuse to do anything but Metal Sonic. XD

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