A.B.A. (Guilty Gear: Strive) V1 | photos by a.r.cosphoto
Costume Information
Materials + Prep
This was approximately a ~2-3 month project to learn two part mold-making and casting, new prop fabrication effects including the “goop” and gore for the key, and stashbust a lot of linen and denim! Additionally, as this was my last costume before top surgery, I wanted something that would be easily wearable post-surgery with minimal adjustments.
These photos reflect the costume before upgrades, including redoing the skirt pockets, creating full bandage “shorts” rather than a wrap setup on the legs, and adding snaps and additional straps to keep the top skirt and bandage neck wraps in place. Updated photos will be added once the updates are complete, but upgrades are written here!
Head Keys + Hip Key
Mold/Cast | The hip and head “keys” were created using a 2 part mold from a 3D printed master. These keys were rotocasted with 65D with a Foam-It! 3 infill for lightness and shatterproof durability; they were additionally cold cast using a nickel metal pigment from Smooth-On. All key parts were polished, weathered with oil paint for details, and drybrushed with rub n’ buff.
Logistics | The head keys mount onto the wig with chicago screws and a headband in the wig, while the hip key is removeable for packing.
Top/Bottom
Skirt(s) | Both the top and bottom were sewn using an A-line denim skirt pattern for a more flattering fit from various denims and heavy twills. To break up the all white design, ivory was also used and mixed fabrics “reversed” between the skirts. All hardware was weathered and patina’d with Dirty Down Liquid to look like copper patina, as ABA is made of copper. The sleeves are a rayon, flatlined in muslin for better volume shape with a bit of horsehair at the top. The embroidered patch is a custom dyed canvas, sandpapered at edges.
Logistics | Not pictured are the rigging upgrades, including an additional strap to hold up the top, as well as a snap at the bandage top to hold up one of the sleeves. The other off the shoulder one uses a couple of elastics to allow mobility but stay at the upper arm.
Belts | The belts are interfaced pleather topstitched and attached to the functional belt loops with tacks; this allows them to be removed if needed. Both have cold cast half dome hardware with various resins and Alumilite pewter pigment.
Paraclesius (Big Key)
Painting | This prop breaks down into four pieces for packing into a suitcase, with a wooden dowel for the head and a PVC core for the center. The entire thing is 3D printed, sanded, and painted with rattle can yellow over flat black, followed by airbrushed with Turbodork All That Glitters, Createx metallic brown for shadows, and a gold-green colorshift Vallejo to bring in the copper-like tones in the deeper parts. Blackwashing was done with black acrylics, and silver rub n’ buff for drybrushed highlights. All blood was done with acrylics, Dirty Down Liquid Gore, and Fleet Street perma-wet blood products.
Goop | The head “goop” is a mix of SmoothOn Onyx FAST poured over a base of glued on half styrofoam domes and peanuts hot glued onto a flat circle base. Gaffrey Arts heavy body sculpting acrylic in black was used for dripping goop, overhangs, and the axe “eye” and gaps.
Strap/Handle | The center is a pleather cylinder sleeve that is removeable. The strap is functional, with real leather and hardware and a custom-dyed and machine embroidered yellow canvas “cover” with the character’s logo.
Credits/Build Thread
Paracelsius + accessory 3D models from @DangerousLadies
Wig styled by @OmgItsBarri
Bandages
Arms | All bandages are linen, muslin, or linen fused to muslin for added stiffness, tea-dyed and weathered with Dirty Down spray as well as topstitched along the edge to prevent the sandpapered edges from fraying. The arm bandage snaps onto the shoulder and wraps around the arm loosely, with a small loop on my finger to keep it in place. The neck bandages are all sewn together in one place in the back to stay consistently draped, with a couple of snaps in the back.
Legs | The leg bandages are strips sewn over a pair of skintone shorts, with loose bandages sewn or snapped at the edges or elasticated to the shoes. The undershirt bandage are ~30 strips, tea-dyed and Dirty Down stained, sewn into a front and back one-shouldered top that stretches. The calf bandages are similarly made.
Shoes | Shoes are Doc Marten-esque boots that have been completely re-painted, with “goop” stained laces. The rings are dry brushed and “oxidized” with Dirty Down Liquid and looped into the laces. The usual “cut out” in the front of the boots have been replaced with a bandage glued down, as I don’t want my bare feet out.