April 30

Where is Snoopy When You Need Him?

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In January, Rapola posted about the Radio Flyer scooter he turned into the Red Baron’s plane.

He took a new Radio Flyer scooter (from the 2000’s), got rid of the plastic parts and gave it a red baron inspired make-over. While it looks like a relic from the 1950’s, that is due to Radio Flyer making toys in China, to lower specifications than we have in the States. Rapola got this for $28 at a local auction.

Steel wool and stripper took care of the old paint. A couple things they were trying to accomplish with the fiberglass:
1. Patch all of the holes from the cheap plastic grill/steering column
2. Cover the ugly factory seam where the the two halves of the body meet
3. Lay foundation to better profile the scooter

This was actually the third scooter he’s done, last one was a P-40 Warhawk themed scooter. No word on if he sells them once completed, or if he keeps them for his own collection.

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April 25

“Ahsoka Quinn” as a Star Wars/Batman Cosplay Mashup

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Knightsgarrison recently posted her Ahsoka Tano/Harley Quinn mashup on Imgur, because a friend (pictured above) wanted to cosplay as Ahsoka at Star Wars Celebration, but knowing that Ahsoka is to Star Wars as Harley Quinn is to literally every other con in the world, we figured…they’d just do both. It was her first time building something so involved and she learned (and screwed up) a lot along the way. She’s pretty proud of the results.

The seams drove her crazy. Luckily, it’s canon that Ahsoka sometimes wears head/lekku jewelry, so she bought some studded ribbon and glued it on. It doesn’t hide everything, but it helps a lot.

Total build time was 24 hours, spread it out over a month, and the total cost was about $100.

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And as a total score, Knightsgarrison’s friend got a picture with the voice of Ahsoka herself: Ashley liked it so much she asked her assistant to take a picture with her own phone.

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March 19

AT-AT Walker Mailbox

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According to Roadside America, there is an AT-AT Walker mailbox in Kansas City, MO. It’s reported the homeowner made it himself, after a drunk driver took out the original, and that it’s anchored with six feet of rebar and 500 pounds of concrete. It’s not going anywhere if another driver hits it.

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March 7

Batman’s Original Utility Belt Was Made Out of Sponges

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Who didn’t want to own a Batman utility belt as a kid? In the 1960s, the Ideal Toy Company manufactured one for purchase, complete with Bat-Cuffs and “Bat-A-Rang.” It was fun but looked nothing like its TV counterpart. The bright yellow, pouch covered belt hanging around Adam West’s waist was an iconic part of his Batman outfit.

Let’s peek into the Batcave closet and take a closer look at the secrets of the belt. There were several versions and add-ons during the production of Batman.

Believe it or not, one of the utility belts was made of kitchen sponges. When the show was first broadcast, such source material would never have been noticed. However, with our HD broadcasts, the detail is right there on screen. You can see the dishwashing-ready accessory up top.

Thankfully, the absorbent “pouches” were later replaced with wood blocks, sometimes covered in leather, which were then painted with yellow latex gloss paint.

The pouches were, in some cases, interchangeable to add the deep triangular pouch used to holster the Batarang on the belt. As for the tubes that are seen on the belt, those were simply wooden dowels painted and added to break up the belt a bit from the rectangular pouches.

With a little time and effort, you might be able to make yourself. So get ready, chums. Be it for cosplay, Halloween or for fun, you can make “those wonderful toys” for yourself.

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February 26

Star Trek and Recycled Leather Purse

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BenaeQuee of Craftster just posted this awesome purse. She submitted this purse to an art show within a Star Trek themed con. She had been dying to make a bag featuring real leather, and this was the perfect time. She had an old jacket that she rescued from being trashed and used it’s leather on this bag. She also accented the side pockets with red piping for a little pop of color, and she chose to go with a red zipper to coordinate with the piping. The bottom has feet, and the lining has a hidden galaxy print in the pocket.

BenaeQuee also used this handbag as an opportunity for a look at how they are constructed. If you check out her FB page here, you can see a tutorial on how she made it.

Category: Craft, Geek, Girly, Sci-Fi | 1 Comment on Star Trek and Recycled Leather Purse