Construction Details:

The Helmet:
I was so afraid to start this bad boy, what a mass of detail and tricky fitting! I started out with a paper patter for the mask part around my face, trying to get the layering and eye holes aright, and once that was completed I used those pieces as the patterns for the foam. I covered the entire mask portion with worbla, adjusted the fitting, and once happy with that, began patterning the dragon head. This started out as a paper pattern as well that looked really similar to a duck bill ball cap (and it looked even more ridiculous once the worbla was on it). Despite the stupid initial look, I knew I was going to be happier with the look once I added the additional details. The ears, the antennae, and the horns were all sculpted with solid worbla. I made the eyes out of resin and layered tinted film on the back for a little pop of color. Once I attached the eyes, I sculpted the rest of the dragon details out of paperclay. The tail of the helmet is a rolled Arda Wigs weft in Platinum Blonde that I dyed purple at the base and sewed into the helmet.

The Gauntlets:
These were actually the first pieces I completed. I started with a paper pattern and once happy with it did the real thing with foam and worbla. Putting the whole thing together and making sure I could slip my hand through was quite a challenge, but I'm happy with the result. I also tried something new with these pieces, rolled worbla trim. It took a few attempts to get the technique down, but I think it looks pretty accurate!

The Pauldrons:
Same as before, these started with a paper pattern that was actually really similar to my Umi pauldron pattern. Again, used worbla to cover the foam and solid worbla to sculpt the wings. I added just a bit of paperclay to the base of the wings, just to give it more dimension.

The Tabard / Buttflap:
I make a test pattern out of butcher paper which eventually became the pattern pieces for the actual design. I knew I wanted to used suede for this, since it looks like leather to me anyway, and luckily I already had most of what I needed on hand! I used the paper patterns to cut out the pieces, heat n bonded them in the correct placement, and then spent the whole evening appliqueing them.

The Torso Armor:
Again paper patterned and then used to trace onto foam and worbla. This thing has been a monster to put together, but I'm pretty pleased with how it came out.

The Belt:
This was so much easier to pattern, especially after all the practice I've had making fins from scrap pieces of worbla. I basically used the same technique that I used for the ears and pauldron fins, rolled scraps of worbla to the right thickness for the "veins" and then used two pieces of worbla smooshed together for the fins. I have some spare styrofoam balls laying around from my Usagi wig, so I used one of those for the belt buckle, covered it in worbla and added the teeth details on top of that. It looks like a purple Batman belt....

The Bodysuit:
I found the coolest crocodile (dragon) patterned stretch vinyl fabric and bought that for the base! Originally it was a green and brown color but I airbrushed it a dark purple color to go with the rest of the costume and added the white piping detail. I think once it was painted I built it in a night which must have been some kind of record for me.

The Spear:
Because I ran out of time on everything else the spear was made in an evening the night before I planned on wearing the costume. Luckily I was able to pull it together and finish it in time because it would have been pretty boring posing without a prop. Now that the con is over though I'd love to touch it up and make it as smooth as the rest of the armor.

Personal Thoughts:

I was a little late to the FF4 party but I'm so glad that I eventually jumped in. This game has a great story and very loveable characters so I jumped at the chance to cosplay from it. Originally I was thinking of cosplaying Rosa, but one of the other girls in the group preferred her so I decided to cosplay Kain instead, he was my favorite anyway. I seriously have something for the tragic character type. ???

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