Black Widow WIP Photoshoot

A whole bunch of cosplay packages arrived for me today. This prompted a photoshoot...

It's still very much a work in progress, but it's starting to come together, and I'm excited!

Oops

Adventures in cosplay: It turns out that the belt I ordered was a size too small. I ended up ordering another one. So glad I caught that before it was too late!

Also, here's a look at one of the Widow Bites after yet another coat of Mod Podge...

The hard coat is actually hardening, so I think it should work. I had an interesting idea for how to make my Bites unique, but I have to wait for another package to get here before I can try it! Also, the gloves accidentally got ordered from China, so they may not get here until just before the con (hopefully sooner though, if I'm lucky!)

I found a pair of chunky heeled combat boots in my wardrobe (I know it sounds weird, but it's true) that I may use instead of my Loki boots...I haven't decided yet, I still need to get some test photos!

I located my nylon webbing, so that I can make the utility belt, now it's just a matter of waiting for packages and time...

Widow Bites

I will begin by saying please don't read this blog thinking this is a tutorial. If you want to know how things work out, read ahead before trying anything. For example, I attempted to glue the bullets to the links with Krazy Glue, but that didn't work at all, so I ended up re-gluing them all with my trusty E6000, which seems to hold them a lot better.

I also sized them up a couple of bullets so that I could slip them on and off without having to remove bullets every time. Once the glue was dried and the bullets and links were assembled into two "bite" bracelets, I started painting.

 And clearcoating...

And painting...

 And clearcoating...

I'm using this stuff for the clearcoat, since I can't use spray paint.

It isn't turning out to be as "hard" a coat as I would like. I'm hoping that it can withstand the stress of a convention.

Black Widow Begins

Bullet belt and patches arrived today!

As I am starting/well into a new costume, I thought I'd start blogging about my adventures. I still consider myself a new cosplayer, as I have only been "officially" attending conventions for a couple of years. I've been making my own costumes and props for much longer, out of whatever was available to me. I also apprenticed with a replica prop resin casting shop for a summer. Every costume I try seems to teach me something new! My projects tend to be a mix of found, crafted, and bought-from-another-artist items. 

My facebook page can be found here, with photos of my previous cosplays and lots of character shenanigans. Acting is half the fun! The other half is creating! 

 I have been ordering most of my Black Widow accessories from a variety of places. I found a custom-fitted suit on Amazon that is quite frankly, amazing. It's shocking to me that I could get something to fit my 5' curvy figure for that cheap, and have it arrive looking so good! I also lucked out on an eBay wig

I'm nowhere close to a natural redhead, and I've never wigged before. I'm pretty happy that this (unstyled at the moment) wig turned out looking so good!

Also, I am not buying boots for her this time around, as I can use my Loki boots pretty easily.

Today's packages included my drop holsters (which turned out to be tight fitting, but I think I can make them work) and rubber training guns (very cool!), as well as SHIELD patches and a very fake looking bullet belt.

I have plans for these bullets. I've heard that other Black Widow cosplayers have used them before, but had problems with them falling apart. I decided to try gluing the links in before painting them.

Hopefully, with the center ring glued, they won't be as likely to fall apart. I can still attach them together, but the bullets won't be loose in the links.

     If this works, the next step will be painting them. This is going to be interesting. I want the paint to be durable enough to wear well at con, but I can't spray paint (roommate agreement, no aerosols allowed).

Also left to do: Sew the patches on. Make the "Widow" belt. Make the utility belt. Hope the gloves arrive in time to mod them before the con (I accidentally ordered them from China). Do something with the wig so that it isn't so frizzy. Learn to do Natasha's makeup. Practice poses. Learn to speak Russian (ok maybe not, but how cool would that be?).

This is probably the most "storebought" costume I've done, and it's still a ton of work! I'm excited to see it come together though!