This page was primarily to document my Darth Sion costume. but ended up being to vent/show how badly even a carefully organized plan can go horrifically wrong.
Just for information, here is a little background.
Me:
I am a fairly lucky person. Scratch that. I am extremely lucky. I attribute most of this to my ability to adjust my plan to coincide with what will happen anyway, regardless I am accused of having everything 'always work out'. The amount of madness this weekend exhibited sure balanced things. This will be my first convention. Not sure what to expect.
The Character:
Darth Sion existed approximately 4000 years before Star Wars 4:A New Hope. He studied under Darth Traya, and alongside Darth Nihilus. The three formed the sith Triumvirate.
One of Sions defining characteristics, is that he survives through hatred and use of the force, allowing him to take what would be otherwise mortal injuries. Because of this, his skin has been burned to the point of resembling cracked plaster. He is introduced in the 'Knights of the old republic 2' game.
The plan:
My girlfriend, roommate and I had planned to go to this years Fan Expo, in Toronto Canada as the triumvirate. We were going as Traya, Nihilus and Sion respectivly. Since my plan for the Sion costume was messy and complex, I would be wearing standard jedi robes for the first day. I refer to them by their character names throughout. They have no real problems with their identities being exposed, but better to err on the side of caution.
The Costume:
As far as star wars costumes go, this was actually quite simple. There are very few pictures and almost all of these contradict each other in some way. I ended up going with this picture and observations from the game itself. From the ground up it included:
Strapped boots that come up to my knees.
Pants.
Belt which goes above the navel and has 4 shaped plates.
Glove which extends almost to the shoulder on the right arm.
Cracked skin covering entire exposed area and right eye.
Red lightsaber.
Preparation:
3 weeks to Con:
The main issue with the costume is the skin. I had a couple of ideas on a concoction that could replicate this. Most of these involved plaster of paris. The first step was what I like to call 'Swatch day'. Completely terrorizing the bathroom (much to my roommates dismay), I tested aproximatly half a dozen different combinations of materials. Most of them failed, but some failed quite spectacularly such as water and plaster of paris. It has to be scrubbed off skin and DOESN'T come out of hair. So after a couple hours and a now bald patch on my chest, I settled on Elmers carpenters glue, plaster of paris and a couple drops of acrylic paint for color. The undercoat to crack to would be a layer of acrylic to be tested at a later date.
I should note that the idea is for the plaster to shrink and crack when it dries, exposing the skin underneith. The plaster must still be adhesive enough to stick to the skin though. Washing off when I'm done is a welcome bonus.
The mix I've discovered only flakes tiny chips and will not wash off when wet. It will however easily wipe off if submerged for more then 5 minutes in hot water.
I buy the tickets online and reserve a hotel room. I get the second last room in the last hotel in the greater Toronto area. Sweet Deal!
2 weeks to Con:
I run off to fabricland to pick up some material for both the Sion and Traya costume. Nihilus had been completed approximately 4 months previously for another event. Total materials for both is about 70-100 bucks.
1.5 weeks to Con:
I test the plaster mix with a paint undercoat. It looks badass. Nothing flakes.
Being a jedi, I don't have a red LED for my saber. I have 2 red sabers, but am quite fond of my custom one, and would much rather carry it. 20 bucks gets one express shipped directly from the manufacterer.
4 days to Con:
I was currently in the middle of exams for my last semester at college. So balancing that, the related parties, the convention and the move 2 hours away which would happen the day after I return was... stressful.
The girlfriend comes up, and I make the belt to my Sion and start work on the Traya.
My LED has arrived with time to spare.
I pick up the plaster and glue in bulk for the costumes. Unfortunately they are out of the elmers brand. I am rather distressed about this, as I only tested the one brand. I decide to pop a couple bottles and test them on my finger. Seems similar enough. I buy a liter of another brand.
I've also sewn a pocket into my jedi robes, eliminating the nightmare of trying to carry a wallet wedged in your belt.
1 day to Con:
The day mostly involved throwing stuff into various boxes whether it was to come with us to the con. I carefully sort all the costume stuff and pack it into a box to bring with us. I also pack the materials to make costumes and lightsabers, expecting everything to go wrong.
Find out roommate is bringing friend. Luckily she already has a leia costume, so all is well.
Friday:
Gf, friend and roommate come up with supplies. We load the car and head out. The trip there is uneventful. Being horrifically bad at following directions, I ride shotgun and make sure the roommate doesn't put us in the lake. We run into fairly heavy traffic on the way in, but I had us leave an hour and a half ahead of schedule to compensate. We get there a half hour before I expected. The room has just been readied.
2pm:
We get into costume and get rollin to the con. Something I noticed was odd about Toronto is the reaction of the crowds. I'm part of a chapter of Fanforce in London, (The London Rogues), which mainly concentrates on charity events with some of the local community centers. Due to this I have a fair idea of how kids react to seeing a 'real jedi knight'. Toronto was the first time I had ever seen a human male between the ages of 8 and 12 give me the stinkeye. Usually they freak right the hell out, making me question how much sugar they should be allowed to have at community centers. The adults seem to be more passive too. I guess seeing star wars charactors wandering down the street is the norm. We get to the con fine.
We've decided rather then each carrying a bag, we'd have a communal backpack to hold everyones stuff. We will take turns carrying it throughout the day.
3pm:
Lines lines lines. We had to wander around for a bit to find out where it even began. Ironically Leia, the only one to not prebuy a ticket, managed to pick one up in 5 min. We wait for a half hour. The line moves quicker then expected. Dark lords of the Sith pass time playing cell phone games.
I've been looking at events on the Expo's site for the last while, and am particularly interested in participating in the masqurade and listening to Buzz Aldrins speech the next day.
4pm:
SON OF A FUCKING BITCH!!!
I realize I forgot the bag with the LED and my soldering iron at home. This will not do. I require a red saber for the masquerade. I did bring 5 sabers, just in case. Two of these were red one of which nihilus weilded, a blue, another custom purple for Traya and my green. I leave the group which is waiting outside to stomp around in the convention to cool down. (As Leia didn't prebuy her ticket, she was not granted early access. We decided to wait.)
10 minutes later I return to the group disheartened.
5pm:
Were in the con walking around. Having not eaten since the car ride, me and Traya decide to take a break at the food court. We sit and talk about the sights, and eventually wander off to find Nihilus and Leia. Later on we find them near the enterance minus a backpack. Upon pointing this out, they exclaim they must have left it in the food court.
5:30pm:
Backpack is good and gone. My robe, a machined bladeholder for my custom saber, Trayas sunglasses and all the days swag was in it. I tear Nililus a new asshole. All of us being pissed at each other, hungry and tired, decide to leave. Approximate time in convention 1 hour 10 min.
The entire walk home is in silence. Nihilus refuses to speak. We realize that he's not actually being in character. He swears off ever going to a convention again. 15 minutes later he's going to spend 1400 bucks on clone armour for the next one.
Nihilus has also agreed to pay for all the things lost in the bag. The only irraplacable peice being my bladeholder. Although it is a simple matter to make a new one.
8pm:
Time to prepare for Sion. I pull out the clippers and take off any long hair above my waist.
I look less ridiculous then I expected. (I have no problem altering my appearance for a costume. Cosplay is serious business.)
Saturday:
7am:
Wake up, plan out the day. There is an electronics store approximately an hours walk away. It must have the LED and equipment I need. We set out at approximately 9:30.
12am:
I picked up a new LED and soldering iron at the store ($30) and Traya gets new sunglasses and we end up back in the hotel. Time for the madness to begin.
I get covered in paint.
As the paint dries, I tear up the lightsabers innards. This is the point I realize the iron i got doesn't actually come with solder. Which makes the first such iron I've seen. I think there may be enough extra solder elsewhere in the hilt to use.
We plaster me. This is the messiest thing ever. The entire hotel bathroom gets trashed in the process. Early on it seems to be going well, but as the first parts dry, it seems to be dropping bits off.
I've now covered my right eye, and am trying extremely unsuccessfully to get some solder for the lightsaber. Nothing works out, I almost melt the LED and can't tell where the iron's end is in the first place. Never underestimate the power of depth perception. After pretty much destroying the inside of the saber I give up.
Roommate goes to put on the Nihilus costume. His mask is shattered. There is no fixing it. his costume is pooched and the plans for the triumvirate are foiled either way.
I grab the hot glue gun to try and both bullshit solder my saber together and fix nihilus' mask. When I plug it in, there is a loud bang and I look down to see cordless smoking remains in my hand. (Shows me for buying a $1 glue gun.)
I realize now that everything is going horribly wrong. The plaster is flaking everywhere. Chunks the size of an ear are constantly falling off. There is nothing I can do at this point. I stand in front of the mirror and watch peice after piece dry up and fall off. I am now debating on whether to go at all. I'm sure that with a costume this messy, there is no way I'll even be allowed in. Keep in mind I'm not even sweating yet. I decide to suck it up, and see what happens. I put the rest of the costume on and take pics for a potential 501st application. Unfortunately I couldn't see enough to finish the boot straps for the picture. Looking back at pics I also realize, I had put it on far too thick.
The "Finished" Costume
As I'm about to leave I look in the mirror and smile. My chin falls off.
12:30pm:
I've now torn the costume off and am in the bathroom tearing up the plaster. I have decided that there is no salvaging the situation. The costume has to go. In the tub to soak.
I've sent the others to the convention, with a promise I will show up later.
1pm:
Another fun fact about the other brand of glue, is that it really doesn't come off. I am however angry enough to tear the plaster off anyway without regard to the pain. It dawns on me that Aldrin is speaking at that moment. One of the main events I came for was happening right then, and I'm in a hotel bathtub pulling plaster of paris out of my armpits.
I vow to myself to tell this story.
1:30pm:
Can't find my pass. Tear the hotel room apart, no dice. No answer from anyones cellphone either.
2pm:
Find the pass, and head out to the convention. I put my trashed custom on my belt as a prop and bring my blue backup saber instead. My spats have fallen apart on the jedi robes from all the walking the previous day. Having no glue gun I decide to melt the glue with the soldering iron. This produces a lot of smoke. Before this traya had pointed out that there were devices related with this that I should be concerned about. I will specify what I expected with the following joke.
Knock Knock...
Who's there?
The fire department!
Luckily I managed not to set off every smoke alarm in the hotel, and got the spats fixed.
Later:
The rest of the day wen't well for the most part. I noticed I got a lot more dirty looks then before. Is it because shaved head + jedi robes = Mace Windu? Is interracial cosplay discouraged? Transgendered seems to be going strong.
I'd like to thank the 501st and legion members that came out. Their costumes were pretty sweet. We even ran into another Nihilus. Actually most of the costumes we saw were good.
Being distracted all day, we never even got tickets for the masquerade and were refused enterance at the door. At this point we had tired of the day, and just wanted to sleep anyway. So we said goodbye to the con.
Epilogue:
The ride home ended up being a backroad adventure looking for a highway, because I fell asleep in the navigators seat. Somehow we managed to get home faster then expected, likely due to the fact that dirt roads move faster then Toronto highway traffic. We got home and I moved the next day without incident.
The moral of the story is don't trust last minute decisons to work out in your favor and have at least 2 backup plans.
And put a towel down if you have to cover yourself in plaster. Ended up scraping the hotel room floor for an hour to get it off.
