Doctor Doom Costume

My favorite comic book character is Dr. Doom. I've wanted a suit like the character's every since I was a kid and as an adult discovering the concept of "cosplay" I discovered I could create an accurate outfit that didn't need to break the bank (I'd much rather spend the big bucks on my 4-year old triplets). The entire costume is almost 98% home made with only two completed items purchased- a pair of Darth Vader costume gloves (immediately altered) and a thick leather belt which is actually from the women's section of a store which is worn as-is. The mask is paper mache and duct tape, painted over in battleship steel paint- the mache was laid over a clay sculpt built over a plaster armature of my head, secured to my actual head with an elastic band. The "rivets" on the mask as well as on the perimeter of all the body armor pieces are metal brads from the "Recollections" brand, in various sizes. The tunic, hood and cape are all fabrics purchased from a local fabric store, cut into patterns and sewn together mostly with a sewing machine and a few odds and ends done by hand. The gauntlets have been customized with plastic drinking cups glued over the flared forearms to give the impression of hardened armor, tex! tured with sticky back miniature "bolts" which are miniature rubber pads (used on desktop items to prevent scratches). The gloves were then reinforced with duct tape around the fingers and thumbs and then segmented armor pieces were pinned on with metal brads (the brads end up looking like rivets). On both the gloves and facemask, I used green "light-up shoelaces" from a bargain bin in a retail store, placed underneath the armor and then strung around the perimeter of the hands and face to create a "power" effect. The "armor" is crafted from Creatology Foam Sheets- The foam can be folded, cut, layered and even raised to create armor plating, especially after you line the edges with the metal brads. The armor pieces are secured to the body with elastic strips using glued/pinned on velcrobstrips to join the pieces together. The armor pieces after being cut and pinned/glued/taped together are then painted with battleship steel hobby paint completing the effect. Armor pieces incl! uded segmented shoes, leg and forearm greaves, knee guards, upper arm guards, and shoulder guards. The "wrist and ankle motors" are tops to my children's squeezable smoothies, and the inside elbow/knee joints are steel-painted plastic peanut butter cups adorned with miniature rubber pads for texturing. The outside elbow joints are cardboard with foam sheets glued on both sides and paper mache faceplates glued over the foam. Each faceplate has eyeholes where oscillating submersible tea lights are inserted so that the eyes glow. Inserted in the mouth of the faceplate are arms from Marvel Legends action figures, giving the impression that Doom is swallowing his enemies. Lastly, the raised shoulder pads are actually painted plastic covers from packaged women's razor blades (much of the little odds and ends detailing on the armor are re-purposed common household items).