Character:
Yubel

Series:
Yu-Gi-Oh GX

Convention Debut:
A-KON 19, June 2008

Awards:
Best Craftsmanship, A-KON 19

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Production Notes: This costume contains completely no prefabricated pieces, other than the contacts in my eyes because I'm not a super-scientist eye doctor.

The wings are a system of PVC piping rigged up through a nylon harness, adhesing pipes to 45 degree and 95 degree elbow joints for each wing angle via E-6000 multi-purpose glue. Between each length of PVC piping, as well as the joints, is a layer of foam padding to protect from damage to both myself and others, over that is a layer of felt, then lastly a 2-way stretch leather. The claws at the top of each wing as craft foam, painted and then enforced with several coats of "Hard As Nails" polishing solution. The fishing lines are to make sure the wings don't drift too far apart from each other on their own weight, and also that when knocked that they have a general location they wish to fall back into. The fabric of the wings skin is a silk-cotton solid with a shine finish on one side, and have about 12 feet total of fray checking to make sure they can stand up to the adventures of a convention.

The wig is actually two full sized wigs, the lavender of which is colored using both RIT brand dye and sharpee markers diluted in alcohol. The two wigs are adhesed both together and to a rubber cap, and padded underneath with a 6 inch layer of foam for comfort and volume. The uni-eye is hand-cut plastic, painted and coated with several layers of "Hard As Nails" strengthening solution.

The pieces of the body suit are a 100% cotton gauze separated at the waist. The "clothing" was made of the same matching 2-way stretch leather custom tailored to fit Yubel's awkward design. The "knee-eyes" attached to the leather are craft foam lined at the back and edges with said leather, painted with acrylics and glazed over with "Hard As Nails".

The monster pieces are lined with a poly-cotton blend cut into individual strips to simulate the Akira Toriyama style beast-like characteristics. The yellow bone adornments throughout the costume are Crayola model magic, shaped and painted with Acryllics, then glazed over with "Hard As Nails" for shine, placed in their various positions throughout Yubel's monster arm, "human" arm, and monster foot. The monster foot also contains a rubber insole to protect myself from possible injury and to maintain structure as much as possible.

The "human" shoe is a heel modified and split to accompany the weight that would be put on it, since the monster foot has no arch support or heel, and requires me to stand elevated on one foot.

Photos credit: Eurobeat King, Sky Pirate, ACParadise, SvK