Dargon – Tinfoil Dragon

Dargon

2017 – Current (in progress)

Dargon (that’s the character’s name, not a typo) is my personal character. Back in 2005, I saw a dragon costume at Texas Renaissance Festival and that inspired me to create my own dragon. However my skill was minimal at the time. Many of my other costumes were built around tests for this. Freya and Anubis were mask method tests. Freya’s stilts were a leg test. Other earlier test pieces exist as well.

Dargon’s head was first debuted at Texas Furry Fiesta 2017. The tail debuted Alamo City Furry Invasion 2017. The wings debuted Texas Furry Fiesta 2018. At current progress on Dargon is on hold pending Classic Game Fest and Rooster Teeth Expo 2018. I plan to have hands, legs, and body suit completed by Alamo City Furry Invasion 2018.

Con photos:

Head Progress:

20170102_002802
The mask started with an eva foam skullcap on my head armature

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I created a paper sculpt and coated it in rondo

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Here I have created the rough foam mask. It doesn't match exactly due to foam being thicker

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I've sanded the base mask and added rough cheeks and brows from foam

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Here the full brows are in place, and a modification to the nose has been added. This modification was later removed

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Brows and cheeks are now sanded and mask is gap filled with DAP Kwikset

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Teeth made from Sculpy II Transparent added

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Teeth made from Sculpy II Transparent added

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Frills made from Smooth-On Flex-Foam-It. Mold made from Smooth-On Rebound 40

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Frills attached using 3M Dual Lock

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Bicycle cables for puppetry which was later removed

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First coat of neoprene added. Notice the detail work burned in with a soldering iron

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Mask painted. Buckram eyes and eye lighting added. Eyes are lit with UV LEDs, and eyes are painted with UV reactive paint

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Scales added to the back of the head.

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Individual scales added near the end of the mask to better blend in the seam from the mask to the scaled cowl

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Repainted mask. The neoprene had begun to oxidize

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Start of the left frill jewelry, made from TNT Cosplay eva dowels

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Completed left frill jewelry. Design based off jewelry design by Cynthia Conner Illustrations

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Right frill, made from spandex

Scales Progress:

20170120_182459
A first prototype of my neoprene scales

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I drew my mold in 2D CAD and commissioned CraftyFoxArt to create a 3d model of the mold

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I had the mold 3D printed

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From the 3D print I created two silicone molds using Smooth-On Mold Max 30. From there I created about 100 plaster molds. In each of those I places a strip of twill tape along the connector and filled the mold with Creature Cast neoprene rubber. Those stips are then sewn together

20170924
A batch of scales freshly painted

Tail Progress:

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Tail structure, made from Sintra (PVC foam board) and hinges

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First version of the cover

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support structure covered in aluminum foil and tape to create a pattern

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Close up of scale progress

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Under scales, made from eva foam

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tail and belly underscales

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underscales attached to a string to keep together, but flexable

Wing Progress: