Creating my first Fursuit!! (and maybe others)

[Scautty]

I'm currently working on a fursuit (to be exact, the head) and I decided here I could post updates on how it's going, maybe give and get advice from others. As of now, I'm in the furring stage, so I can't answer anything about that or anything beyond it cause... Well, I haven't done it.
But yes, to quote the title, if this is a success I will plan to use this thread for any other future projects I may work on regarding fursuits.

NOTE: Pictures will be up soon, hopefully. Computer crashed so I gotta mooch another computer somehow... (I'm using my iPod for internet, and the pics are on my camera.)

Please feel free to have discussion between updates regarding the subject. I can't and won't take commissions noting I'm NOT experienced. Thank you!

[Scautty]

UPDATE 1: Plastic canvas "skeleton"

The whole concept of the structure intimidated me the first time I started constructing, I'll admit it. But really, it's not too bad. The things you have to keep in mind is that you'll need to keep it simple, form-fitting, and still enough to hold all of the foam/fur you'll be putting over it.

Here's mine a/o a week ago:



It's modeled on my camera tripod.

I hope you can see Im aiming to have a moving jaw, which I accomplished by placing a broken piece of ruler in the jaw area, where my chin could rest and still get my head in and out of the mask (PLEASE test the fit of the mask every step of the way, FYI) and I just applied brads on the solid part of the head and the jaw itself, putting a rubber band to each of them. Here, it goes INSIDE the upper jaw, which is okay because I'd assumed (correctly for that matter) that after adding the foam it would rest just a bit lower than the upper jaw, like a normal muzzle would be like.  My next note is the ears, the hardest LOOKING thing on there. ALl you really have to care about is if they're equally apart on the head. Other than that, seeing as it stands perpindicular to how the mesh is, its really not that hard. I tied the two ends of the ear down onto the head (NOTE: this is all held together with yarn. It saves on hot glue and can easily be cut to restructure) and then tied one end of yarn to the middle of the ear and pulled it back until the ear was upright, and tied the other end of the yarn onto the head, keeping the ear up.

If anyone has questions please feel free to ask, the foaming picture and description will be up soon. I'm making a slideshow of the WHOLE process and will post it here for EVERY step of the way.

[Gabag]

I like what you did with the movable jaw

[WingedZephyr]

I know I'm jumping a little ahead in the process, but I'm curious. How do you want to make the eyes?

[Scautty]

I know I'm jumping a little ahead in the process, but I'm curious. How do you want to make the eyes?

Haha, it's completely fine.

I plan on making them the "toony" eyes, as Matrices refers to them. (matrices.net)

I'll use the "chiffon" fabric for the eyes, the fencing deal doesn't seem attractive to me. I plan on maybe using nail polish for the irises, to add a glossy eye look. The eye itself will be made of a plastic bowl I can cut into. I just don't want the 'follow-me' eyes, since it would be awkward having to look at EVERYONE, haha. I may save it for another project however, just to try it out.

[Timmy Fox]

Haha, nice

[Scautty]

Haha, nice

I like what you did with the movable jaw

Thanks guys!

[AirRaiser]

Nice, here's a good place to find stuff. I watch them in my LJ.

http://community.livejournal.com/fursuit/profile

[Scautty]

UPDATE 2: Foamed Head
Here we have the foamed head:



I don't like the angle, I don't know why I chose it... but it still shows alot of what I did.

I basically covered the back of the ears and front edges and trimmed it to be rounded out. I then foamed the lower jaw, thinning my already 1" thick foam to a bit less to easily fit into the upper jaw, but have a little hang out. I layered two bits of foam for the cheeks and carved them, then filled the top and bottom of the muzzle. I did the whole front of the upper jaw/nose area as well. (Haha, I have a placeholder there for when I get a real nose. I may just use clay and pleather. ) And lastly, I outlined where the eyes most likely will be and continued trimming everything to perfection. (The jaw used to look HUGE.)

I know await m trip to JoAnn's this weekend for the fur... In the meantime I'm shaving out foam that peeves me everytime I see it walking into the room.

[Timmy Fox]

Nice
Keep up the good work

[Scautty]

UPDATE 2.5

This isn't a full update for two reasons: I've furred the mask, but not completely, and there's no peekchar.

Once a computer is available I shall show how it looks. It's pretty good in my opinion. At least for my first. I used the same look as my profile pic, but the red fur is a bit darker, cause that's all they had at JoAnn's. I'm working on mouth details and making paws as I await the day I go get the materials for the eyes, but until then I constantly detail the mask to fit my head even better every adjustment and make sure everything is glued down well.

[JellyMuffins]

This looks like it's coming along really nicely, good job 

[Scautty]

This looks like it's coming along really nicely, good job 

Why, thank you!

[Vamp]

jeez, this thing is coming along really nicely! Can't wait to see more big bro!

[Scautty]

UPDATE

Okay, so I finally got a computer. THAT WORKS.

Here's the picture of the furred mask!



Things you must notice:
-The small bit at my neck, it's a big sheet of fur hanging down from the mask I tucked in my shirt to leave the illusion the head is attached to my body.
-The bandana (You will giggle if you saw the vid. ) wrapped around the neck. I glued the back to it so it can cover more of my neck without wasting fur.
-The little trinket hanging from the ear. Just something I found lying around and matched the look. It's freakin' sweet.
-Oh yeah. It's furred. xD
-The cheek design slightly differs from the picture, because I just thought the way I did it seemed more... I don't know, "On edge." I have my reasonings.

Things you must NOT notice:
-The nose area is offscreen because... I have no nose yet. I'm keeping all of the clay molding parts together until after I've finished furring (Which at this point I have)
-That thing on my face? Yeah. That's my new album cover. It's censoring the eyes that aren't there yet. xD
-The jaw IS still movable, but kept it shut until I get to work on the mouth details. The clay molding jumps in here too.
-Lastly... Um, I think that's it.

I'm hoping to have this all done by Halloween, and there's two charitable walking events, "The Crop Walk" and "Band On The Run," I'm hoping to have it done by just to wear to and participate. It'll be so much fun!